education

A report on California school policy finds the state lags in student achievement, and prescribes a much bigger investment in preschool.

Education

Report: To close California’s achievement gap, spend a lot more on preschool

California lags other states in closing the achievement gap for disadvantaged students. A new 10-year report suggests a major state investment in preschool.

By

Ricardo Cano

• September 18, 2018

Education

The one idea that has the state teachers’ union allied with Tuck over Thurmond

In a role reversal, the candidates vying to become California’s next schools' superintendent disagree about a bill that would require later instruction start times for middle and high school students.

By

Ricardo Cano

• September 11, 2018

Newsletters

School, Kavanaugh, Tesla and what’s ahead

The California Public Utilities Commission reports that since 2011, the state has paid or will pay $199.3 million to offset consumers’ cost of installing Tesla’s batteries.

By

Dan Morain

• September 4, 2018

Teachers unions and charter school advocates are battling for the future of California's classrooms.

Newsletters

Schools, illiteracy and poverty

A suit can proceed challenging California schools over a failure to teach African-American and Latino kids to read. Eleven of the 26 lowest performing school districts in America are in California, the suit says.

By

Dan Morain

• July 30, 2018

Newsletters

Brown’s fire plan to help utilities

Gov. Jerry Brown proposed Tuesday that the state ease the liability standards when electricity providers’ equipment sparks fires that destroy property. Utility stock rose. Insurance industry blasts the idea.

By

Dan Morain

• July 25, 2018

Tiffany Stelle and Donald Hui, teachers at Mission San Jose High School in Fremont, joined a tailgating action over stalled contract talks. An agreement has since been reached. Photography by Penni Gladstone for CALmatters

Economy

California teacher pension debt swamps school budgets

California schools may need to use over half of all their new money to cover growing pension obligations—prompting some districts to predict deficits and many to begin cutting programs, reducing staff or drawing down reserves.

By

Jessica Calefati

• July 22, 2018

Education

California won’t judge schools on whether student test scores improve over time—not yet, anyway

Advocates for struggling students say measuring progress over time is key to closing the achievement gap.

By

Laurel Rosenhall

• July 19, 2018

Newsletters

Jerry Brown’s vision for online education

Gov. Jerry Brown, who began his career nearly 50 years ago by winning a Los Angeles community college seat, visited the Community College Board of Trustees Monday to describe his vision for the future of online education.

By

Dan Morain

• July 17, 2018

Keshara Shaw poses with her son, Mikahi, at their Los Angeles apartment. She wants interdistrict transfers in California to help move her son to another school district out of safety concerns.

Education

Don’t like your kid’s school district? Transferring could become easier—if they’re being bullied

A bill advancing in California's Legislature would allow students to transfer to a school outside their own district, but only if they are foster children, migrants, previously or currently homeless, plus one other category with a broader scope: kids being bullied.

By

Elizabeth Castillo

• July 16, 2018

Economy

Can Democrats shield Californians from new GOP tax law—despite IRS opposition?

California Democrats have either concocted a clever way to thwart the Trump administration’s tax plan by gaming the tax credit programs, or they're engaging in magical thinking.

By

Antoinette Siu

• July 11, 2018