K-12 education

A wide-view of a classroom as students sit in round tables and raise their hands in the air.

K-12 Education

California K-12 schools brace for another year of uncertainty: 2025 in review

California schools are likely to face continuing threats of funding cuts and more uncertainty.

By

Carolyn Jones

• December 25, 2025

A close-up of a student’s hand holding a pencil above a desk while writing on paper, with other blurred students seated nearby in a classroom.

K-12 Education

California schools will have to do more to prevent sex abuse under new law

The law creates an array of measures to educate school staff, beef up reporting requirements and stop teachers credibly accused of abuse from getting jobs at other districts.

By

Carolyn Jones

• December 23, 2025

A person is sitting inside a gym room that is darkly lit with a ray of light landing on the back of the person sitting. The person is facing away from the frame with his back lit up by light from the sun shining through the gym, with the word “Columbia” written on the back of a black sweatshirt.

Education

California schools that need foreign workers for teacher jobs can’t afford Trump’s new visa fee

The Trump administration is now requiring new H-1B visa applicants to pay $100,000. School districts that depend on hiring foreign workers to fill teacher jobs, especially in special education and bilingual education, say they can’t afford the new fee.

By

Sophie Sullivan

and

Alina Ta

• December 12, 2025

K-12 Education

Rural California gets a lifeline in school funding as Congress restores money it cut

A century-old program pays for schools, roads and other services in 39 California counties.

By

Carolyn Jones

• December 10, 2025

A view of two silhouettes of students walking through a dark hallway of a school with light shining through a doorway at the end of the hallway. One silhouette holds a lunch box and a water bottle in one hand.

Commentary

California’s schools can’t afford to cut counselors. They keep kids alive in dangerous times

With suicide and violence stalking students, counselors are often the first to notice kids in trouble. They're also among the first to lose their jobs to budget cuts.

By Ayo Banjo • December 9, 2025

A person wearing shaded glasses stands next to a railing, with a city skyline in the background, out of focus.

K-12 Education

California students with disabilities face ‘terrifying’ special ed cuts after Trump changes

Trump has cut funding to Medicaid, which pays for many services for students with disabilities. He also gutted the Office of Civil Rights, which helps enforce disability law.

By

Carolyn Jones

• December 4, 2025

Commentary

California’s education leadership mishmash makes it hard to know who’s accountable

Experts say there are too many confusing layers in state and local education governance. The governor should hire the state's schools chief.

By

Dan Walters

• December 4, 2025

A wide view of a teacher holding up four fingers in the air as they stand in front of students seated on a pink carpet inside a classroom.

Commentary

California schools can stop truancy without arresting parents.

California parents of chronically absent students could be arrested, charged with a misdemeanor, fined up to $2,000 and face a year in jail. A new law will end the practice.

By Jon England • November 25, 2025

Three students walk across a schoolyard holding hands while other children gather and play in the background near portable classrooms and basketball hoops.

K-12 Education

Will California’s new K-12 antisemitism law make up for Trump’s civil rights cuts?

The new law aims to educate school staff and investigate discrimination complaints. It stems from a surge in antisemitic incidents in California following the Israeli attacks on Gaza in 2023.

By

Carolyn Jones

• November 21, 2025

Two people sit across from each other at an outdoor table on a college campus, talking quietly. Leaves are scattered on the ground, and a brick archway and greenery appear in the background. Another person sits further behind them, partially visible.

Commentary

California’s rural youth struggle alone with mental health. Their peers could learn to help them

Suicide is 50% higher among rural young people than among others in urban or suburban environments. Many also live too far to get counseling.

By Alonzia Quinn • November 19, 2025