Public Schools

One reason: Higher-income, high-achieving kids often aren't in the testing pool. They attend private schools or their parents opt them out of state tests.

California lawmakers only spent just a few minutes discussing in public the hundreds of bills they introduce. But these 10 measures had hours of intense debate in 2025.

During the pandemic, federal money flooded into state and local coffers. Once that funding ended, government spending didn't adjust downward.

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

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

California health officials will now decide which ingredients, additives, dyes, and other forms of processing don’t belong in school meals and K-12 cafeterias.

Lawmakers are considering creating an inspector general role just to oversee charter schools. It might slow the charter school movement.

The Legislature is considering phasing out chemical additives in school meals linked to health problems. Opponents say the definitions are so broad that it could ban items like tomato sauce and olive oil.

Los Angeles Unified School District wants to "avoid" charter schools taking over several hundred district buildings. A judge may decide if that's legal.

Existing law makes it illegal to threaten people in many cases, but what happens when the threat is against a building, such as a school or a place of worship?