Education

WhatMatters

Will new school plan get kids back on campus?

Good morning, California. It’s Wednesday, February 10. Local control likely preserved Gov. Gavin Newsom and state lawmakers are primed to unveil this week an elementary school reopening plan — one that seems likely to preserve the current model of local school districts negotiating agreements with teachers unions, raising questions as to whether the deal will […]

By Emily Hoeven • February 10, 2021

Commentary

Creating pathways to postsecondary education will help ensure success

Here’s why investing in programs to promote postsecondary education is necessary to meet California’s future workforce needs.

By Guest Commentary • February 10, 2021

Reader Reactions

Another argument in favor of student debt forgiveness

Student loan forgiveness will give California more teachers and give our struggling children smaller class sizes.

By Guest Commentary • February 10, 2021

WhatMatters

Big announcements on the way

Good morning, California. It’s Tuesday, February 9. School reopening deal coming Get ready for some big developments in the state’s pandemic response. At a Monday press conference, Gov. Gavin Newsom rattled off a list of big-ticket items likely to be unveiled within the next week. Here’s a closer look at what’s coming: A school reopening […]

By Emily Hoeven • February 9, 2021

Commentary

New Education secretary should look to community colleges in recovery

As Miguel Cardona prepares to take the helm of the U.S. Department of Education, community colleges can provide a path forward.

By Guest Commentary • February 9, 2021

CalMatters en Español

Vacunas para maestros en California determinadas por ubicación, suerte

La vacunación de los maestros se ha convertido en un escollo central en las conversaciones entre distritos y sindicatos para los estudiantes que regresan en persona. El suministro limitado de vacunas y el final del año escolar que se acerca rápidamente podrían amenazar algunos planes de reapertura.

By Ricardo Cano • February 9, 2021

CalMatters en Español

La baja asistencia al jardín de infantes crea un problema de primer grado

Perderse el jardín de infancia siempre ha provocado brechas en el aprendizaje. La pandemia ha agravado el problema al crear una cohorte de niños más grande de lo normal que necesitará atención adicional el próximo año escolar.

By Elizabeth Aguilera • February 9, 2021

Commentary

Racial (in)justice and the UC budget crisis

We fear the budget crunch could lead the UC to fail to deliver on the soaring hopes for social mobility for underrepresented minority students.

By Guest Commentary • February 8, 2021

WhatMatters

High school ethnic studies controversy heats up: Guiding principles ‘compromised’

The politically fraught work of developing an ethnic studies curriculum for California public high schools just got more contentious. In a Wednesday letter to the state Board of Education and Department of Education, the original curriculum’s authors and former advisory committee members demanded their names be removed from the text because its “guiding principles … […]

By Emily Hoeven • February 5, 2021

Commentary

Gov. Newsom’s unlikely foe: teacher unions

Self-interested attacks by teacher unions on the governor bring us no closer to balanced policy on how to reopen schools.

By Guest Commentary • February 5, 2021