public schools

Sonja Shaw is running for a seat on the Chino Valley School Board in the Inland Empire. “I’m running because I want to make sure that parents have a voice on the board, and to preserve the rights of a parent,” Shaw said. “During the shut down, parents were pushed out, and we have had enough—these are our children, our future.” August 14, 2022. Photo by Pablo Unzueta for CalMatters

WhatMatters

Local school boards face off with CA leaders

During the 2022 campaign, CalMatters state Capitol reporter Sameea Kamal wrote about how the state Republican Party — struggling to win statewide office in deep-blue California — decided to focus on local school boards with its “Parent Revolt” program. The GOP’s goal: To capitalize on parents’ anger over COVID-19 shutdowns and concerns about “critical race […]

By

Lynn La

• July 24, 2023

Students at Willie L. Brown Jr. Middle School in San Francisco on Feb. 23, 2023. Photo by Shelby Knowles for CalMatters

Commentary

California’s achievement gap defies extra billions in school spending

For the past decade, California has spent billions of dollars to improve the education of at-risk children, but there's scant evidence that it had the intended effect.

By

Dan Walters

• May 21, 2023

Students from Castaic High School walk past a plume caused by the Route Fire in Castaic on Aug. 31, 2022. Photo by Marcio Jose Sanchez, AP Photo

Commentary

Earth Day: California schools remain vulnerable to closures caused by climate change

Earth Day Op-Ed Contest Winner: 3rd Place More than 100 high school and middle school students across California submitted opinion pieces to CalMatters’ inaugural Earth Day contest. The contest theme was “How have changes in climate impacted your community?” Guest Commentary written by Andrew Zhou Andrew Zhou is a junior at Monta Vista High School in […]

By

Guest Commentary

• April 19, 2023

An empty classroom at Willie L. Brown Jr. Middle School in San Francisco on Feb. 23, 2023. Photo by Shelby Knowles for CalMatters

Commentary

Truancy has reached crisis levels in California schools

Nearly a third of California's public school students are chronically absent, but the crisis is not getting the attention it deserves.

By

Dan Walters

• April 9, 2023

Inside the Newsroom

CalMatters 2023 events are bringing journalism directly to community members

The in-person and virtual CalMatters events this year will serve as unique gathering points for civically-engaged Californians.

By

Sonya Quick

• April 7, 2023

Senate President Pro Tem Toni Atkins speaks in the Senate chambers of the California State Capitol on Dec. 5, 2022. Photo by Martin do Nascimento, CalMatters

WhatMatters

How will Newsom and the Legislature avoid painful cuts in California’s budget?

From CalMatters politics reporter Alexei Koseff: For months, Gov. Gavin Newsom and legislative leaders have been projecting optimism in the face of a grim budget picture. At a press conference in January where he unveiled his plan to deal with a projected $22.5 billion deficit next year, Newsom assured Californians: “We are keeping our promises.” […]

By

Sameea Kamal

• March 2, 2023

Downtown Stockton on Dec. 1, 2017. Photo by Dai Sugano, Bay Area News Group

Commentary

School district audit deals another blow to Stockton’s civic reputation

Stockton's reputation for civic malfeasance took another hit in a searing audit of the city's school system.

By

Dan Walters

• February 21, 2023

Jayden Elizondo, 5, gets his Covid-19 vaccine at one of St. John’s Well Child and Family Center mobile health clinics set up outside Helen Keller Elementary School in Los Angeles on Wednesday afternoon, March 16, 2022. Photo by Alisha Jucevic for CalMatters

WhatMatters

California drops plan for school vaccine requirement

The latest sign that California is easing out of the pandemic and into the endemic phase: The state has dropped its plan to require the COVID-19 vaccination for K-12 students as the state of emergency comes to an end Feb. 28, after nearly three years. That said — “we continue to strongly recommend COVID-19 immunization […]

By

Sameea Kamal

• February 6, 2023

Inside the Newsroom

CalMatters for Learning brings trusted nonpartisan news to libraries, communities across California

CalMatters for Learning is a free learning hub for library staff, educators and community organizers.

By

Sonya Quick

• February 1, 2023

California is bracing for declines as state officials release student test scores for the first time since the pandemic. Photo by David Rodriguez for The Californian/CatchLight Local

Education

Amid ominous signs, California releases first student test scores since the pandemic

State education officials — who initially seemed to be delaying the release of student scores until after the election — instead shared them in a way guaranteed to hinder coverage of what's expected to be a steep pandemic-driven decline.

By

Joe Hong

• October 24, 2022

Public Schools