What is happening to ethnic studies in California?

October 21, 2025

After years of debate and millions in state funding, a required high school ethnic studies course remains stalled.

Betty Márquez Rosales And Lasherica Thornton

New law changes how California kids learn to read

October 9, 2025

California Gov. Gavin Newsom has approved Assembly Bill 1454, which provides elementary school teachers with training in evidence-based reading instruction and includes $480 million in the 2025-26 budget to support literacy instruction.

Diana Lambert

State suspension rates remain high despite reforms

August 26, 2025

California's most vulnerable students are still suspended at disproportionately high rates, with Black students in some districts losing up to 142 instructional days per 100 enrolled.

Betty Márquez Rosales And Mallika Seshadri

California schools brace for fallout from U.S. Supreme Court decision on religious rights

August 25, 2025

The ruling permitting opt-outs from instruction based on deeply held religious beliefs has caused confusion and trepidation among school administrators, who are hearing threats of litigation from both sides.

Thomas Peele

Fresno Unified error skews state teacher data, analysis shows

August 19, 2025

A mistake made by a staff member deflated claims that the state added 3,000 new teachers to its ranks between 2020 and 2024.

Diana Lambert, Lasherica Thornton, And Daniel J. Willis

Commentary

California's Education Code is smothering innovation

June 24, 2025

Red tape strangles innovation in California classrooms. But there's a way out of the morass without sacrificing accountability.

Rick Miller

State’s school awards dinner at Disneyland comes with hefty price tag

May 30, 2025

California educators have converge on Disneyland today to collect awards honoring their schools. But some superintendents are conflicted about sending their staff, balancing a need to celebrate with paying a $500 per-person registration fee and the cost of lodging and travel.

Diana Lambert

Number of California teaching credentials increases after two-year slump

April 28, 2025

The number of new California teaching credentials increased last year, but new threats to preparation funding and low enrollment could erase the gains.

Diana Lambert

California launches first phase of long-anticipated Cradle-to-Career data system

April 22, 2025

California launched the first phase of its Cradle-to-Career data system on Tuesday. C2C will link education and workforce data to help students prepare for their futures.

Diana Lambert

Democrats reject California bills banning transgender athletes

April 2, 2025

Democrats on the Assembly Arts, Entertainment, Sports and Tourism Committee blocked two bills that would have banned transgender athletes from participating in girls' sports.

Diana Lambert

Renewed push to reshape ethnic studies with oversight and new standards

March 11, 2025

Bill authored by Legislative Jewish Caucus and others would address charges of antisemitic instruction in some districts' ethnic studies courses.

John Fensterwald

California educators nervous about federal plan to investigate schools with diversity initiatives

March 7, 2025

U.S. Department of Education is trying to add teeth to its DEI prohibition, with an online portal to collect complaints. California education leaders say DEI remains legal.

Diana Lambert

Job hunting is awful. California believes its ‘Career Passport’ can change that

March 6, 2025

California is building an ambitious new platform called the Career Passport, a virtual portfolio that aims to showcase the skills every Californian has learned through school, in college, on the job or through the military.

Emma Gallegos

Lawsuit charges misuse of arts education funding at LAUSD schools

February 10, 2025

Student plaintiffs and the author of Proposition 28 join forces, alleging Los Angeles Unified improperly spent new arts money on existing teaching positions, not to add new educators.

Karen D'Souza And Mallika Seshadri

California leaders still uncertain about impact of potential federal funding freeze

January 28, 2025

Following a chaotic 24 hours, federal officials rescinded the order on Wednesday morning.

Diana Lambert