Covering education in California and beyond

Credit: Los Angeles Unified / X

Credit: Los Angeles Unified / X

Lawsuit alleging discrimination against white LAUSD students has potential to move forward

Mallika Seshadri And Betty Márquez Rosales

However, critics say that the lawsuit lacks merit as the PHBAO policy focuses on students’ attendance at designated schools, rather than on each individual student’s race.

January 23, 2026
Race and Equity
Credit: Michelle Quinn / EdSource

Credit: Michelle Quinn / EdSource

West Contra Costa Unified school board OKs labor deals amid funding worries

Louis Freedberg

The West Contra Costa Unified school board narrowly approved tentative labor agreements with its teachers and other employees, granting them an 8% pay increase and more generous health benefits, but without a clear plan for how to pay for them.

January 22, 2026
East Bay Schools
Credit: Lasherica Thornton/ EdSource

Credit: Lasherica Thornton/ EdSource

Trump administration abandons anti-DEI court battle, but ‘damage has already been done’

Emma Gallegos

Over the last year, the Trump administration’s campaign against diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives has had a major effect on the landscape of both TK-12 schools and higher education, even in California.

January 21, 2026
Federal Education Policy

UPCOMING ROUNDTABLE

Cutting through the noise: California education’s big year ahead — elections, Trump, money, labor and learning

January 29, 2026 1:00 pm PT

Latest News Briefs

Friday, January 23, 2026 — 10:47 am

Yuba City Unified settles with state over ‘severe’ anti-Black discrimination
Friday, January 23, 2026 — 10:36 am

CSU agrees to notify faculty before disclosing personal information
Thursday, January 22, 2026 — 10:56 am

Some parents push back on Modesto schools preliminary mental health policy
Thursday, January 22, 2026 — 10:46 am

As Trump cuts student loans for grad school, some states move to fill the gap

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Podcast: Education Beat

A weekly podcast that gets to the heart of education issues in California and beyond.

January 22, 2026

From a juvenile facility to a college dorm room

Fausto Lopez finished high school, got an associate degree and applied to attend a four-year college – all while inside juvenile detention.

EdSource · From a juvenile facility to a college dorm room

Recent Episodes

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Commentaries

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Federal oversight shift further disadvantages California students
By John Pascarella

Rethinking screen time in California classrooms
By Bryan Easter

Dual enrollment needs a community-informed college-access strategy
By Rogelio Salazar

Latest News

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Credit: Alison Yin / EdSource

Credit: Alison Yin / EdSource

Why California universities are still ‘on edge’ after Newsom proposed large budget increases

Michael Burke

After getting less funding than expected in recent years, the University of California and California State University say they need more from the state this year to support enrollment growth.

January 21, 2026
College & Careers
Credit: Lasherica Thornton/ EdSource

Credit: Lasherica Thornton/ EdSource

Fresno Unified’s $30 million investment to support students is paying off

Lasherica Thornton

Fresno Unified, in negotiations with its teachers in 2023, agreed to fund student support initiatives with $30 million, intended to serve their needs beyond the classroom.

January 20, 2026
High-needs students
Louis Freedberg / EdSource

Louis Freedberg / EdSource

West Contra Costa Unified faces deep cuts to staff and programs to remain solvent

Louis Freedberg

The district is considering laying off some non-teaching staff, increasing class sizes, and eliminating programs that do not improve student learning.

January 17, 2026
East Bay Schools
Credit: Jessica Christian / San Francisco Chronicle via AP

Credit: Jessica Christian / San Francisco Chronicle via AP

Looking out for ICE, California parents, teachers help students get to school

Zaidee Stavely

Parents, teachers and neighbors in some school districts are watching for ICE agents and helping walk students to school in an effort to improve attendance amid fears.

January 16, 2026
Immigration

Featured special project

L.A. Fires: Schools mourn losses, celebrate progress on anniversary

FEATURED TOPIC

Featured Data

L.A. Fires: Tracking the fires’ impact on eight schools after one year

Artículos más recientes en español

Credit: Jessica Christian / San Francisco Chronicle via AP

Credit: Jessica Christian / San Francisco Chronicle via AP

Vigilando a ICE: Padres y maestros de California ayudan a los estudiantes a llegar a la escuela

Zaidee Stavely

Personal escolar dice que los patrullajes afuera de las escuelas han mejorado la asistencia y la salud mental.

January 20, 2026
Inmigración
Credit: Philip Cheung

Credit: Philip Cheung

Cómo un joven que cumplía condena en centros de detención juvenil logró salir adelante, clase tras clase

Betty Márquez Rosales

January 15, 2026
Universidad y Carrera

Stay up to date with California education

Get a daily digest on all you need to know about California schools and districts.

Topic Focus

EdSource’s quick guides make complex education issues easier to understand. These brief explanatory articles provide an introduction to key trends, systems, institutions and debates in California education and the context you need to go deeper. Have a suggestion for a topic that would benefit from a similar explainer? Let us know!

Credit: Liv Ames / EdSource

Credit: Liv Ames / EdSource

Celebrating a religious or cultural holiday that falls on a school day? Here’s what to know

Mallika Seshadri

California’s Education Code allows students to take off from school for religious and cultural reasons, with limits.

November 26, 2025
Quick Guides
Credit: Pexels

Credit: Pexels

Understanding the California School Dashboard: What parents need to know

John Fensterwald

Read on to find the answers: What’s the dashboard’s purpose? Why are there colors? Why can’t I compare schools? How might the dashboard be improved?

November 13, 2025
Quick Guides
Courtesy of UCSF Dyslexia Center

Courtesy of UCSF Dyslexia Center

What you need to know about the new reading screenings | Quick Guide

Zaidee Stavely

A 2023 California law requires all students in kindergarten, first and second grade to be screened for risk of reading difficulties, including dyslexia.

October 10, 2025
Quick Guides

Featured Topics

Featured Special Project

L.A. Fires: One year later

One year after the L.A. fires, schools are on varied paths to recovery. This project looks into the major milestones and obstacles faced by Pasadena Unified and Los Angeles Unified and what lies ahead.

Credit: Ted Soqui/SIPA USA/Sipa via AP Images

Credit: Ted Soqui/SIPA USA/Sipa via AP Images

L.A. Fires: Schools mourn losses, celebrate progress on anniversary

Mallika Seshadri And Betty Márquez Rosales

A year after the Los Angeles fires, communities remain strong, losses remain significant, and efforts to rebuild are underway.

January 5, 2026
L.A. Fires: One year later
Credit: Courtesy of Joe Ford

Credit: Courtesy of Joe Ford

L.A. Fires: A year later, four who served students

Mallika Seshadri And Betty Márquez Rosales

Here’s how four unsung heroes, among hundreds, stepped up to support students in the aftermath of the Los Angeles fires.

January 5, 2026
L.A. Fires: One year later

Video

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Is college worth the cost? Experts discuss higher education benefits and challenges

Despite concerns about college debt and the rise of AI, experts at an EdSource roundtable emphasized the long-term benefits of higher education and suggested colleges do more to help students transition to college and provide skills for a changing economy.
Proactive campus policies, communication with students critical under ‘antagonistic’ federal actions, panel says

Panelists discussed threats to cut federal funding, impact on international students, and ways in which California is protected.
Head Start allies wait, worry about possible funding cuts

Donald Trump’s federal budget proposal did not include cuts to Head Start, but supporters of the early education program are concerned its funding could be cut during budget negotiations.

Most Popular Stories

Credit: Rich Pedroncelli / AP Photo / File

Credit: Rich Pedroncelli / AP Photo / File

Newsom proposes governor controls the California Department of Education

John Fensterwald

Under the shift, the state superintendent of public instruction would have a different role. However, State Superintendent Tony Thurmond disagrees with the proposal.

January 8, 2026
California Department of Education
Credit: Mallika Seshadri / EdSource

Credit: Mallika Seshadri / EdSource

Federal appeals court pauses ruling on student gender identity disclosure in California

Emma Gallegos

An appeals court panel wrote that it is “skeptical” of the lower court’s decision, which would challenge policies adopted by 598 of the state’s nearly 1,000 local school districts.

January 7, 2026
State Education Policy
Credit: Alison Yin / EdSource

Credit: Alison Yin / EdSource

California scores poorly in children’s health and education, report card finds

Vani Sanganeria

The state fares worse in education investment and student achievement than other large states, experts say.

January 7, 2026
Student Well-Being
Credit: AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli, File

Credit: AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli, File

Charter authorizers urge Gov. Newsom to lead on anti-fraud bill

Kathryn Baron

The group outlined several priorities that must be addressed for any overhaul to succeed, including clearer statewide standards for authorizer responsibilities, funding for new oversight mandates and the creation of a state-level entity to investigate potential fraud.

January 6, 2026
Charter Schools

UPCOMING ROUNDTABLE

Cutting through the noise: California education’s big year ahead — elections, Trump, money, labor and learning

January 29, 2026 1:00 pm PT

Latest News Briefs

Yuba City Unified settles with state over ‘severe’ anti-Black discrimination

CSU agrees to notify faculty before disclosing personal information

Some parents push back on Modesto schools preliminary mental health policy

As Trump cuts student loans for grad school, some states move to fill the gap

Podcast: Education Beat

Recent Episodes

This California Teacher of the Year embraces her dwarfism as a strength

The John Fensterwald forecast: What’s coming for California schools in 2026

Commentaries

Federal oversight shift further disadvantages California students By John Pascarella

Rethinking screen time in California classrooms By Bryan Easter

Dual enrollment needs a community-informed college-access strategy By Rogelio Salazar

Latest News

Featured special project

L.A. Fires: Schools mourn losses, celebrate progress on anniversary

FEATURED TOPIC

2026-27 State Budget

Featured Data

L.A. Fires: Tracking the fires’ impact on eight schools after one year

Artículos más recientes en español

Stay up to date with California education

Featured Topics

Video

Most Popular Stories

Federal oversight shift further disadvantages California students
By John Pascarella

Rethinking screen time in California classrooms
By Bryan Easter

Dual enrollment needs a community-informed college-access strategy
By Rogelio Salazar