John Fensterwald
John Fensterwald, staff writer, joined EdSource in 2012. Before that, he was editor and co-writer for The Educated Guess website, a leading source of California education policy reporting and opinion, which he founded in 2009. For 11 years before then, John wrote editorials for the Mercury News in San Jose, with a focus on education. He worked as a reporter, news editor and opinion editor for three newspapers in New Hampshire before receiving a Knight Fellowship at Stanford University in 1997. His wife is a retired elementary school teacher, and their daughter is a neurologist who received her training at UC Davis Medical School and her residency at Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center.
All articles by John Fensterwald
Judge weighs arguments on whether new antisemitism law will tread on teachersâ rights
The law, Assembly Bill 715, aims to reinforce existing anti-discrimination laws and create an Office of Civil Rights and an Antisemitism Prevention Coordinator.
John Fensterwald
December 17, 2025
Ideas for improving Californiaâs school funding formula come with billion-dollar costs; here's why
A new report by the Public Policy Institute of California estimates the cost of various reforms to California's education funding formula.
John Fensterwald
December 17, 2025
Judge could halt California antisemitism school law ahead of Jan. 1 rollout
A federal judge will hear arguments Wednesday on a motion to block a California law aimed at preventing antisemitism in schools, which the plaintiffs argue violates their First Amendment rights and is overly broad.
John Fensterwald
December 16, 2025
Report calls for overhauling how California runs its schools
Chief among many recommendations, the research center PACE urges putting the governor, not the state schools superintendent, in charge of the California Department of Education.
John Fensterwald
December 1, 2025
Californiaâs largest teachers union spurs drive to make income tax surcharge permanent
First adopted in 2012, this version of the income tax would hit the top 2% of earners. It would produce as much as $15 billion annually, although less than half would go to schools and community colleges.
John Fensterwald
November 21, 2025
First look at 2026-27 state budget: Schools and community colleges are fine â for the moment
The Legislative Analyst's Office forecasts healthy one-time revenues in 2026-27, but a cooling of AI stocks and a structural state budget deficit signal worry.
John Fensterwald
November 20, 2025
Understanding the California School Dashboard: What parents need to know
Read on to find the answers: Whatâs the dashboardâs purpose? Why are there colors? Why canât I compare schools? How might the dashboard be improved?
John Fensterwald
November 13, 2025
State finds Oakland Unified created âdiscriminatory environmentâ for Jewish students
After investigating multiple complaints of antisemitism in Oakland Unified, the California Department of Education ruled they were valid. The district has belatedly pledged to take allegations of hate seriously and train staff.
John Fensterwald
November 6, 2025
A field of their own: Small district hits pay dirt with outdoor field it couldn't afford
Anderson Valley Unified School District couldn't raise a bond big enough to replace its dirt track and gopher-holed soccer field. Then a lucky grant, not state building aid, emerged.
John Fensterwald
November 3, 2025
California sued over bond program that sends more money to fix facilities in wealthy school districts
Property-poor school districts charge that the stateâs building aid formula favors wealthy districts while failing to help them upgrade rundown school facilities.