public schools

A police officer leads a student across a busy street near a school after reports of a shooting.

Capitol

When should police be involved at school? A California bill would let teachers make the call

In the final week of session, legislators are debating whether to give more leeway to public school teachers when to report students to law enforcement. Supporters say disabled and students of color are unfairly disciplined, but opponents say school safety is at risk.

By

Jenna Peterson

• August 26, 2024

Buttons with different pronouns at the We Care Health Fair in San Diego on May 18, 2024. Photo by Adriana Heldiz, CalMatters

Politics

‘It’s frustrating’: Why a gay California senator is annoyed by his own LGBTQ health info bill

Sen. Scott Wiener is irked that he had to introduce a bill that would require health officials to ask LGBTQ people for demographic info on state health forms. He says they should have been doing it anyway.

By

Ryan Sabalow

• June 21, 2024

Students in International Community Elementary and Think College Now Elementary volunteer at the César E. Chávez Education Center living schoolyard in Oakland, California, on April 29th, 2024.

California Divide

Scorching schoolyards: California groups want more trees, less asphalt at schools

Too few trees at California’s schools mean there’s little protecting students from a warming planet. Here’s how advocates say the state can pay for more shade.

By

Alejandra Reyes-Velarde

• May 21, 2024

Princess Momoh-Danga, left, spends time with friends Jada Lash, center, and Kyyah King, right during an end-of-year celebration for the Sisterhood at Oakland High School in Oakland on May 10, 2024. The Sisterhood Black Girls Group is supported by the California Community Schools Partnership Program (CCSPP), which allows the students to participate in activities such as college campus visits. Photo by Juliana Yamada for CalMatters

K-12 Education

These California schools connect kids to community services. Will they survive budget cuts?

Gov. Gavin Newsom launched the community school initiative with $4.1 billion in grants to connect students and their families to medical care, counseling and other services.

By

Carolyn Jones

• May 17, 2024

A MUSE School student walks near one of five solar Sun Flowers designed by filmmaker James Cameron for the school in Malibu, in 2015. Photo by Jonathan Alcorn, Reuters

Commentary

California schools can’t keep pace with utility bills. Solar energy offers a needed lifeline

New regulations made new solar installations financially unviable for school districts where utility bills remain a top budget expense. A legislative fix, Senate Bill 1374, could help restore the incentives.

By Sam Davis and Hugh Awtrey • May 7, 2024

Mario Ramirez Garcia, 10, works on schoolwork at home on April 23, 2021. Photo by Anne Wernikoff, CalMatters

Capitol

Will less homework stress make California students happier?

A bill from a member of the Legislature’s happiness committee would require schools to come up with homework policies that consider the mental and physical strain on students.

By

Lynn La

• April 23, 2024

Dermatologist Dr. Margaret Parsons at her practice, Dermatology Consultants of Sacramento, in Sacramento on March 18, 2024. The practice experienced a cyber attack in early February. Five weeks later, they are still having issues with their network. Photo by José Luis Villegas for CalMatters

Technology

California doctors struggle to make payroll one month after ransomware attack

A cyber attack crippled claims processing nationwide, forcing doctors and hospitals to forgo payments and risk medical supply shortages.

By

Khari Johnson

and

Ana B. Ibarra

• March 21, 2024

K-12 Education

California schools gained billions during COVID-19. Now the money is running out

California schools got $23.4 billion in federal pandemic relief money. Low-income schools that got the most may be hardest hit when the funds expire this year.

By

Carolyn Jones

• March 5, 2024