education

A close-up view of a student holding a pencil while working on a worksheet in class.

Commentary

California colleges must partner with K-12 schools — not blame them — for students facing barriers to college

A UCSD faculty study says 1 in 8 students arrive at college behind in math or another skill. But they shouldn’t be ‘sorted out’ of their chance at college.

By Michal Kurlaender • January 29, 2026

A graduate in a black cap and gown walks through rows of seated graduates holding a diploma, with a large crowd filling the stadium stands in the background

Higher Education

Bachelor’s degrees at community colleges: Lawmakers say yes, UC and CSU say slow down

The latest bill would allow Southwestern College to create up to four additional bachelor’s programs aimed at workforce needs in south San Diego County.

By

Mikhail Zinshteyn

• January 28, 2026

A group of people participate in a demonstration outdoors, holding signs in support of transgender rights. One sign reads "Protect Trans Kids," while another states "Trans People Have Always Been Here!" A person with red hair, wearing a denim jacket and a face mask, raises an arm while holding a sign that says "Let All Kids Play." Others in the crowd wear pink bandanas and buttons, standing among trees with autumn-colored leaves. The late afternoon sunlight casts a warm glow on the scene.

Education

Trans youth still have a safe haven in California — but that could change

Lawsuits and Trump administration policy changes are targeting trans athletes, bans on outing by school staff and health care. Some California policies are in jeopardy.

By

Carolyn Jones

• January 23, 2026

Students sit on desks in a classroom as a door on the far left side of the room is partially open.

Commentary

Newsom wants to overhaul state oversight of California schools. Will students benefit?

Gov. Gavin Newsom dropped a brief and vaguely worded section into his State of the State address earlier this month, suggesting an overhaul of how California’s vast public education system is managed. “It’s long overdue that we modernize the management of our educational system,” Newsom said, “and so in the budget I’ll be submitting tomorrow, […]

By

Dan Walters

• January 23, 2026

A close-up of a student holding an open book at a classroom desk, with other students reading in the background. Some students wear face masks, and the classroom walls are decorated in bright colors. Books and school supplies are scattered across the desks.

Commentary

California politicians wrongly fixate on education spending instead of results

Gavin Newsom’s boast about per-pupil spending in a recent speech exemplifies the Capitol’s focus on money in its education debates, rather than results.

By

Dan Walters

• January 16, 2026

California Gov. Gavin Newsom gestures with one hand while speaking from a wooden podium inside the state Capitol, a microphone in front of him and a large dark display mounted behind.

Politics

Gavin Newsom forecasts a rosier California budget and banks on AI boom continuing

The governor’s 2026-27 budget proposal projects $9 billion more in revenue than anticipated, banking on the AI-driven economy to last.

By

Yue Stella Yu

• January 9, 2026

K-12 Education

Schools chief was caught off guard by Newsom’s plan to pare down the future scope of his job

Newsom proposed shifting oversight of the Department of Education from the superintendent to the State Board of Education. The move would concentrate more power over K-12 schools with the governor, who appoints the school board.

By

Carolyn Jones

• January 8, 2026

Four children stand outside a classroom against a wall with a row of hooks holding colorful backpacks. Two children on the left are facing each other, appearing to talk, while the two on the right focus on their bags. The scene captures a typical school day with bags of various colors and patterns hanging along the wall.

K-12 Education

Newsom K-12 school proposal would shift more power to governor

The move is intended to simplify California’s convoluted education governance, which policy analysts have said can be inefficient, redundant and sometimes at cross purposes.

By

Carolyn Jones

• January 8, 2026

People wearing black cap and gowns with red, green and white colored sashes stand in front of chairs during a graduation ceremony in font of attendees in an arena.

Education

More Latino students are attending Cal State. But where are the Latino professors?

Faculty representation at Cal State is lagging far behind the growing number of Latino students. That burdens the small circles of Latino faculty who take on more mentorship tasks, many times in non-tenure positions and for lower pay.

By

Angel Corzo

and

Brittany Oceguera

• January 8, 2026

A classroom full of high school students sits facing a whiteboard and projected slide titled “Algal bloom” during a biology lesson. The teacher, wearing a mask and cap, stands at the front of the room gesturing toward the board. Students take notes on laptops and notebooks, with posters and educational materials visible on the walls.

K-12 Education

This change could deliver billions of more dollars to California schools. Here’s the tradeoff

By basing funding on enrollment, not attendance numbers, schools would lose the incentive to get students to show up every day, a new report finds.

By

Carolyn Jones

• January 7, 2026