Education

A person in a black hoodie and wearing a baseball cap walking by a dark college building hallway with a door open in the walkway. In the dimly lit hallway, lockers line up along the walls.

Education

Inside a $17 billion maintenance backlog plaguing California’s universities

Infrastructure issues at California’s public universities are hindering students and faculty’s ability to learn and work on campus. Lawmakers and system leaders are hoping more state support can help them bring down the $17 billion price tag to fix their academic buildings.

By

Victoria Mejicanos

,

Matthew Reagan

and

Mercy Sosa

• April 1, 2025

A student walks across campus at Chico State University on February 12, 2020. Photo by Anne Wernikoff for CalMatters

Higher Education

No need to apply: Cal State is automatically admitting high school students with good grades

Riverside County high school students who meet requirements are guaranteed admission to one of 10 Cal State campuses.

By

Mikhail Zinshteyn

• March 28, 2025

A group of students gathers outdoors in a show of LGBTQ+ pride and solidarity. Several wear rainbow and transgender pride flags as capes, while others wave small rainbow flags. One student raises a fist in the air in a gesture of protest or empowerment. The group stands near a white fence and tree, with sunlight filtering through the leaves, adding to the spirited and peaceful atmosphere of the demonstration.

K-12 Education

California not backing down on trans student privacy — despite Trump’s threat to yank funding

Last year California passed a law that prohibits schools from requiring staff to notify parents if a student identifies as transgender. The U.S. Department of Education alleges the law violates parents’ rights.

By

Carolyn Jones

• March 27, 2025

Students on the University of California San Diego (UCSD) campus in San Diego on July 26, 2022. Photo by Ariana Drehsler for CalMatters

Education

Sue or hold back? The University of California does both as it faces Trump’s wrath

The University of California has been selective about which Trump policies it challenges in court. Some students want the UC to be more vocal about defending student diversity and protest rights.

By

Mikhail Zinshteyn

• March 26, 2025

Three people sit on a gray couch in a room with lime green walls, various cultural decorations and gray desks. The person on the far left sits at the edge of the couch while holding an ipad with both their hands. The person in the middle looks to the person on their left and the person on the far right looks down as she hold an ipad in their hands.

College Beat

Applying for CalFresh food aid is complicated. California colleges are trying to make it easier

Across California, only one in five eligible college students receive CalFresh due to complicated requirements and an arduous application process. With two-thirds of students experiencing food insecurity, many campuses have started helping them apply for CalFresh.

By

Amy Elisabeth Moore

• March 26, 2025

Students walk across a sunny campus courtyard in front of a modern white building with large glass windows and curved architectural elements. Trees and orange banners displaying “Summer” and “Online” line the walkway, and a few students are gathered near a ladder at the building’s entrance.

Education

The US Education Department investigates Cal State San Bernardino as Trump dismantles the agency

Cal State San Bernardino is among several dozen universities under federal scrutiny for programs that have targeted disadvantaged groups of students.

By

Deborah Brennan

• March 26, 2025

K-12 Education

Rural California schools and roads lose millions in federal funding after latest cuts

For the last century, the money has gone to counties with large amounts of federal land that can’t be taxed. Congress failed to include it in the upcoming budget.

By

Carolyn Jones

• March 25, 2025

A teacher points at a book while a child sitting at their desk looks at it. Other students are visible in the frame. The setting is a classroom.

Education

Parents can’t figure out how California schools are doing. Newsom’s plan to fix that stalls

In 2019, his first year in office, Gov. Gavin Newsom launched the Cradle-to-Career Data System, a new state entity that aims to track students’ progress from preschool through employment. The data system was supposed to release its first public dashboard last spring.

By

Adam Echelman

• March 21, 2025

Higher Education

Students and faculty sue administrators over last spring’s UCLA pro-Palestinian protests

The suit alleges that UC officials discriminated against pro-Palestinian supporters and failed to protect them when counter-protestors attacked their encampment.

By

Mikhail Zinshteyn

• March 20, 2025

A person stands and writes on a whiteboard in front of a group of children sitting at desks inside a classroom with brightly colored decorations. The person uses a marker to write math equations as the students watch and learn. One child can be seen with their arm raised to ask a question.

K-12 Education

Schools in this California town won acclaim for their pandemic comeback. How they did it

In the early days of the pandemic, Delano school officials quickly provided the tools needed for remote learning and made sure students stayed engaged.

By

Carolyn Jones

• March 20, 2025