Education

Key Takeaways from pPIC Education survey Five years ago, Californians thought schools were headed in the right direction; they no longer do.  Most adults say teaching basics should be the No. 1 goal of school; parents of students disagree. Nearly all in the survey agree that teachers’ pay is too low. Californians’ confidence in their […]

TOP TAKEAWAYS Sixteen California counties have fallen below the herd immunity marker against measles, one of the world’s most contagious diseases, amid a sprawling outbreak. A rise in vaccine skepticism stemming from pandemic discord, experts warn, may be driving the decline. School nurses and doctors are often on the front lines of battle to explain

This interactive map shows kindergartners’ vaccination rates at more than 6,000 public and private schools across California. According to the state health department, at least 95% of students need the MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) vaccine to maintain herd immunity and prevent outbreaks. Yet in many parts of the state — including areas around Sacramento, Oakland,

Local and state officials in mid-March piled 50,000 sandbags along the low-lying banks of the San Joaquin River when rising levels threatened to overtake Firebaugh. Emma Gallegos/EdSource Earlier this year, students across the country watched as wildfires devastated large parts of southern California. Yet even as they watched — and, in some cases, lived through

A Fresno Unified student reads a book during class. Credit: Fresno Unified / Flickr TOP Takeaways The sponsors and opponents of a comprehensive, statewide approach to teaching early literacy are no closer to a deal than a year ago. The latest bill would require the State Board of Education to designate courses in research-based methods

Verde Elementary School in West Contra Costa Unified School District Top Takeaways Raising attendance would improve student outcomes and help the district achieve a balanced budget. The district will focus on boosting attendance of all students, not just those who are “chronically absent,” using a range of attendance-improvement strategies. Improving attendance will require an investment

Third graders read along as teacher Patty Lopez reads a text about plastic straws aloud. Credit: Zaidee Stavely / EdSource A few years ago, I met a first-grade English learner in a bilingual program who was learning to read in Spanish. The student, who I’ll call Elena, and her mother were from Guatemala. Elena’s mother

A dining commons at University of California Davis Credit: Gregory Urquiaga / UC Davis From curriculum to location, there’s so much to weigh when choosing a college or university.  And for high school seniors or prospective transfers who have dietary restrictions — particularly for medical reasons, including food allergies and chronic conditions such as celiac disease

Credit: Carlos Kosienski/Sipa via AP Images Top Takeaways $600 million in federal grants for teacher preparation is in limbo while the court decides whether the Trump administration can cancel the funding. Some California university and school district leaders are unsure whether programs can continue without help from the federal government. The loss of the programs,

Credit: Lea Suzuki/San Francisco Chronicle via AP Let’s be honest: many of us don’t use our Yondr pouches.  In the age of social media and being chronically online, smartphones have become extensions of our bodies and Los Angeles Unified’s attempt to minimize classroom distractions through the Yondr phone ban has sparked considerable debate. While the