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Articles by John Fensterwald
A parents’ guide to understanding the 2026 California School Dashboard
Source: California Dashboard See the results for your child’s school By John Fensterwald for EdSource.org. Republished with permission The California Department of Education this week released the annual California School Dashboard, the state’s multidimensional, multicolored look at student, school and district achievement. The dashboard was designed to offer parents a quick look at student results, as well as to provide data for guiding school improvement and for holding districts accountable.
A parents’ guide to understanding the 2026 California School Dashboard
This story was originally published by EdSource. Sign up for their daily newsletter. The California Department of Education this week released the annual California School Dashboard, the state’s multidimensional, multicolored look at student, school and district achievement. The dashboard was designed to offer parents a quick look at student results, as well as to provide data for guiding school improvement and for holding districts accountable.
A parents’ guide to understanding the 2026 California School Dashboard
8 hours ago Several California universities were named as being among the best in the world in a new global rankings list from THE - Times Higher Education. The London-based publication ranked 2,297 institutions from 118 countries and territories, according to its website, with nine California schools securing …
A parents’ guide to understanding the 2026 California School Dashboard
The California Department of Education this week released the annual California School Dashboard, the state’s multidimensional, multicolored look at student, school and district achievement. The dashboard was designed to offer parents a quick look at student results, as well as to provide data for guiding school improvement and for holding districts accountable.
First Priority for CA Next State Superintendent: Negotiate a Job Description Original
Get stories like this delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for The 74 Newsletter It’s clear what the next state superintendent will no longer do upon assuming office in January: run the California Department of Education. A new education commissioner appointed by the next governor will take on that responsibility under legislation Gov. Gavin Newsom signed in June. What’s unclear is what the next state superintendent will actually do.
First Priority for Next State Superintendent: Negotiate a Job Description
Your donation will help us produce journalism like this. Please give today. Sonja Shaw, left, president of the Chino Valley Unified school board, and Richard Barrera, right, president of the San Diego Unified school board, are candidates for California superintendent of public instruction. (Facebook) It’s clear what the next state superintendent will no longer do upon assuming office in January: run the California Department of Education.
First priority for California’s next state superintendent: Negotiate a job description
The next state superintendent of public instruction will be setting the template for a dramatically changed role. Candidate Richard Barrera, president of the San Diego Unified school board, says he plans to meet with educators and parents to create a draft education budget ahead of the governor. Candidate Sonja Shaw, president of the Chino Valley Unified school board, has framed the changes to the role as retaliatory to her campaign.
First priority for California’s next state superintendent: Negotiate a job description
Top Takeaways The next state superintendent of public instruction will be setting the template for a dramatically changed role. Candidate Richard Barrera, president of the San Diego Unified school board, says he plans to meet with educators and parents to create a draft education budget ahead of the governor. Candidate Sonja Shaw, president of the Chino Valley Unified school board, has framed the changes to the role as retaliatory to her campaign.
Teacher unions campaign for Prop. 3 to make California tax on high earners permanent
VICKY CHON STARTED CANVASSING on a recent Saturday morning in the Glenmoor neighborhood of Fremont, where the 1950s to ‘70s ranch homes line streets evoking names from that era: Mildred, Gertrude, Bonnie, Helen. “I’m a teacher in Fremont Unified, and I’m here to talk about Prop 3, which is gonna help protect funding for our students in Fremont,” she said. More often than not, she gave her pitch to a Ring video doorbell. This is NOT a paywall. We just want to make sure you’re a human.
Newsom signs bill creating Seal of Climate Literacy to recognize student work
News Brief Wednesday, September 30, 2026 — 10:36 am September 30, 2026 Sign up for EdSource’s free daily newsletter to stay ahead of what’s changing in California education. Gov. Gavin Newsom on Wednesday signed legislation that sets in motion the creation of the Seal of Climate Literacy, which will encourage and reward students for studying climate science and engaging in research and hands-on projects that respond to and spread awareness of climate change.
Teachers unions make pitch to renew California tax worth billions for education
Fremont teachers union President Victoria Chon and Jervon Graves, a California Teachers Association staff member, go over the route for canvassing in Fremont Unified. Photo by John Fensterwald / EdSource Sign up for EdSource’s free daily newsletter to stay ahead of what’s changing in California education. Top Takeaways A proposition on the November ballot would preserve a state income tax on high-income earners.
School boards group files 2nd lawsuit over California’s withholding of school funds
News Brief Friday, September 25, 2026 — 11:09 am September 25, 2026 Sign up for EdSource’s free daily newsletter to stay ahead of what’s changing in California education. The California School Boards Association filed a second lawsuit this week against the state, claiming that Gov. Gavin Newsom and the Legislature illegally withheld $3.9 billion from school districts and community colleges.
Gubernatorial candidate Steve Hilton has harsh criticisms, sweeping fixes for California schools
This story was originally published by EdSource. Sign up for its daily newsletter. Republican gubernatorial candidate Steve Hilton views California’s low third grade reading and math scores as a crisis and an indictment of the state’s “catastrophically failing system.” Already a member? Sign In Register for a free account to get access to all Lookout’s reporting on local races and measures ahead of the November election.
Steve Hilton Has Harsh Criticisms, Sweeping Fixes for California Schools
Republican gubernatorial candidate Steve Hilton views California’s low third grade reading and math scores as a crisis and an indictment of the state’s “catastrophically failing system.” He places much of the blame for low scores on children’s excessive access to smartphones (a “scourge that’s destroying childhood,” he said), on teachers’ unions (“easily the most destructive institution in California”) and on legislators’ and governors’ inaction.
Steve Hilton’s campaign for governor revives divisive education issues among Democrats
Top Takeaways California is one of the few states that grants tenure — permanent status — to teachers after two years. Steve Hilton says would abolish tenure altogether if elected California governor. He’d also resurrect the “parent trigger” law, a 2010 California law that quietly died in 2016. It let a majority of dissatisfied parents in the lowest-performing schools demand restructuring or even closing their schools. Steve Hilton’s education reforms are a trip back to the future.
Gubernatorial candidate Steve Hilton has harsh criticisms, sweeping fixes for California schools
Top Takeaways The Republican candidate for governor points to low test scores in third grade reading and remedial math on UC campuses as evidence of troubled schools. Teachers unions and the corrosive impact of smartphones are responsible for declining learning, Hilton says. Among his solutions: banning cellphones for children, eliminating tenure for teachers and giving parents school choice.
California OKs Long List of Options for Training Teachers in Early Literacy Original
Get stories like this delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for The 74 Newsletter As a key element in the state’s package of early literacy reforms, Gov. Gavin Newsom included $200 million in last year’s state budget to pay for instructing elementary school teachers in the new reading strategies. On Wednesday, the State Board of Education approved 31 training programs that school districts can now use.
Compton superintendent Brawley receives national recognition
Compton Unified Superintendent Darin Brawley has won a national education prize recognizing his leadership in improving student achievement in the district. Brawley will receive the 2026 Harold W. McGraw Jr. Prize in Education, which includes a $50,000 award, at a ceremony in New York City in November.
Compton superintendent Brawley receives national recognition
One year ago, Congress defunded public media. Now that we're 100% community funded, please become a sustaining member or increase your existing membership today . Compton Unified Superintendent Darin Brawley has won a national education prize recognizing his leadership in improving student achievement in the district. Brawley will receive the 2026 Harold W. McGraw Jr. Prize in Education, which includes a $50,000 award, at a ceremony in New York City in November.
Superintendent honored
A group of frogs piles on top of one another in a tank at the Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach, where they are being raised before being released into the local mountains, Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2026. Why that matters: That’s more than five times as many mountain yellow-legged frogs — named for the lemon-hued streak along their hind legs — believed to be in the wild when last recorded in 2019, reduced to small pockets of wild streams in the San Gabriel, San Bernardino and San Jacinto Mountains.
Compton superintendent Brawley receives national recognition
News Brief Friday, September 18, 2026 — 10:33 am September 18, 2026 Sign up for EdSource’s free daily newsletter to stay ahead of what’s changing in California education, why it matters and what it means for you. Compton Unified Superintendent Darin Brawley has won a national education prize recognizing his leadership in improving student achievement in the district. Brawley will receive the 2026 Harold W.
Federal Court Revives Antisemitism Lawsuit Involving LAUSD Ethnic Studies
Your donation will help us produce journalism like this. Please give today. A group of Jewish parents and teachers are celebrating a recent court ruling that will allow them to refile a lawsuit against the United Teachers Los Angeles union and creators of the controversial “liberated” ethnic studies curriculum that some Los Angeles Unified teachers use.
Los Angeles Unified
The backstory: In their lawsuit , filed in 2022, the Jewish Los Angeles Unified teachers and parents group alleged that the Liberated Ethnic Studies Model Curriculum Consortium’s “overtly racist and antisemitic teaching material . . .
California OKs long list of early literacy options
As a key element in the state’s package of early literacy reforms, Gov. Gavin Newsom included $200 million in last year’s state budget to pay for instructing elementary school teachers in the new reading strategies. On Wednesday, Sept. 9, the State Board of Education approved 31 training programs that school districts can now use. That list of providers is about twice as long as some advocates of reading reforms recommended.
California Teachers Association sues state over $3.9B owed to schools
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready... The California Teachers Association is suing the state, charging Gov. Gavin Newsom and the Legislature with illegally withholding $3.9 billion in funding for 2026-27 for TK-12 schools and community colleges. The state’s “shell game” violated Proposition 98, the voter-approved formula that determines the portion of state revenue that goes to education, CTA President David Goldberg said at a Tuesday press conference.
Inland Empire school district under federal probe for alleged antisemitism
News Brief Wednesday, September 16, 2026 — 8:00 am September 16, 2026 Sign up for EdSource’s free daily newsletter to stay ahead of what’s changing in California education, why it matters and what it means for you.
Federal court revives antisemitism lawsuit involving Los Angeles Unified ethnic studies
Antonio P Sanchez 4 days ago4 days ago Commentary – EdSource Article on Ethnic Studies Lawsuit --- Ethnic Studies Is Not the Enemy — Antisemitism Is. But So Is Censorship. The Ninth Circuit's decision to revive the lawsuit against the Liberated Ethnic Studies Model Curriculum Consortium is not just a legal development.
California Teachers Association Sues State Over $3.9B Owed to Schools
The California Teachers Association is suing the state, charging Gov. Gavin Newsom and the Legislature with illegally withholding $3.9 billion in funding for 2026-27 for TK-12 schools and community colleges. By EdSource The state’s “shell game” violated Proposition 98, the voter-approved formula that determines the portion of state revenue that goes to education, CTA President David Goldberg said at a Tuesday press conference.
California approves long list of options for training teachers in early literacy
Top Takeaways The State Board of Education approved 31 early literacy training programs that align with the state’s shift to the science of reading, with its focus on phonics. School districts will be eligible for money from $200 million the state has allocated for training teachers on effective ways to teach reading. Advocates for early literacy reforms lobbied for a shorter list of high-quality providers. As a key element in the state’s package of early literacy reforms, Gov.
California OKs long list of options for training teachers in early literacy
Jill Kerper Mora 1 day ago1 day ago California's approved list gives districts an opportunity to identify their educators' professional learning needs and select among qualified providers whose particular strengths best address those needs. CABE's exceptionally strong rating demonstrates that comprehensive literacy professional learning and specialized expertise in educating English learners and bilingual students are not competing priorities.
Long talks but no deal to modify California law combating antisemitism in schools
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready... Months of intensive negotiations that continued up to last week’s filing deadline failed to produce an agreement on a bill that would clarify the language in a highly contested law that expanded anti-discrimination protections in California classrooms. Gov.
Long talks but no deal to modify California law combating antisemitism in schools
This story was originally published by EdSource. Sign up for their daily newsletter. California lawmakers ended the legislative session without a deal to clarify language in Assembly Bill 715, the law Gov. Gavin Newsom signed last year. Opponents of the law, which expanded anti-discrimination protections in California classrooms, said it would chill open discussion of highly charged issues. Lawmakers worked on a proposal this year, but could not reach a compromise by last week’s filing deadline.
Long talks but no deal to modify California law combating antisemitism in schools
Credit: Flickr Top Takeaways California lawmakers ended the legislative session without a deal to clarify language in Assembly Bill 715, the law Gov. Gavin Newsom signed last year. Opponents of the law, which expanded anti-discrimination protections in California classrooms, said it would chill open discussion of highly charged issues. Lawmakers worked on a proposal this year, but could not reach a compromise by last week’s filing deadline.
Legislative leaders decline to intervene in Sacramento City Unified oversight dispute
News Brief Sunday, August 30, 2026 — 9:27 am August 30, 2026 The California County Superintendents organization failed to persuade legislative leaders to intervene in its dispute with State Superintendent Tony Thurmond. The county superintendents had sought to introduce emergency legislation to thwart Thurmond from carrying out a threat to take over oversight of financially stressed Sacramento City Unified from the Sacramento County Office of Education.
California Bill To Catch Math Struggles in Youngest Kids Heads to Governor’s Desk Original
Get stories like this delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for The 74 Newsletter In a step toward giving math the attention early literacy has gotten, the Legislature on Monday approved a bill that would require schools to assess the math capabilities of all students in kindergarten through second grade each year, beginning in 2028-29.
County superintendents race to enlist lawmakers’ help in battle with Tony Thurmond
By John Fensterwald This story was originally published by EdSource. Sign up for their daily newsletter. Top Takeaways County superintendents are asking the Legislature to intervene in a dispute with State Superintendent Tony Thurmond over financially stressed Sacramento City Unified. Thurmond is siding with the district and threatening to supersede the county office’s authority. Legislators would have to act quickly; the final day of the legislative session is Aug. 31.
County superintendents race to enlist lawmakers’ help in battle with Tony Thurmond
Top Takeaways County superintendents are asking the Legislature to intervene in a dispute with State Superintendent Tony Thurmond over financially stressed Sacramento City Unified. Thurmond is siding with the district and threatening to supersede the county office’s authority. Legislators would have to act quickly; the final day of the legislative session is Aug. 31.
Bills aimed at holding California accountable for student achievement gap die in silence
SINCE LAST OCTOBER, the California School Boards Association has pressed the Legislature to take greater responsibility for narrowing California’s immense student achievement gap. That gap is the disparity — by 30 percentage points or more — in test scores and other measures between low- and high-income students and between Black and Latino students and their Asian and white peers. This is NOT a paywall. We just want to make sure you’re a human.
How three bills to close California’s student achievement gap ran aground
Top Takeaways The California School Boards Association sought to raise the visibility of closing the achievement gap through the Legislature. Its four bills, three of which died in committee, included holding the governor and Legislature accountable for progress. Gov. Gavin Newsom may have viewed CSBA’s bills as interfering with his own reforms led by a new education commissioner.
Newsom appoints director of new state Office of Civil Rights
This story was originally published by EdSource. Sign up for their daily newsletter. Gov. Gavin Newsom has appointed the chief administrator of the California State University’s Civil Rights Office to direct a new Office of Civil Rights under the governor’s purview. Lele Yutzy has been the CSU’s systemwide senior director of the Office of Civil Rights since 2024.
Newsom appoints director of new state Office of Civil Rights
News Brief Friday, August 7, 2026 — 10:36 am August 7, 2026 Note: This article was updated on Aug. 7 to include a comment from Catherine Lhamon. Gov. Gavin Newsom has appointed the chief administrator of the California State University’s Civil Rights Office to direct a new Office of Civil Rights under the governor’s purview. Lele Yutzy has been the CSU’s systemwide senior director of the Office of Civil Rights since 2024.
CalSTRS reports double-digit investment return for fiscal year 2026
News Brief Wednesday, August 5, 2026 — 1:27 pm August 5, 2026 The California State Teachers’ Retirement System nearly doubled its target rate of return on investments for the year ending June 30, placing itself on target for full financial recovery nearly two decades from now, CalSTRS announced Tuesday. CalSTRS, the world’s largest pension system for educators, handles the retirement investments for the state’s teachers and administrators.
California Will Add Science Scores to Its School Accountability System. Why It Matters Original
Get stories like this delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for The 74 Newsletter Short of dropping a dead weight copy of the state Education Code on your foot, a State Board of Education agenda item on the California School Dashboard normally wouldn’t evoke tears. But Jessica Sawko’s tears earlier this month were spontaneous and heartfelt during her one-minute testimony before the State Board of Education. They expressed joy and relief over a win for science education a long time coming.
California will add science scores to its school accountability system. Why it matters
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready... Short of dropping a dead weight copy of the state Education Code on your foot, a State Board of Education agenda item on the California School Dashboard normally wouldn’t evoke tears. But Jessica Sawko’s tears earlier this month were spontaneous and heartfelt during her one-minute testimony before the State Board of Education. They expressed joy and relief over a win for science education a long time coming.
California will add science scores to its school accountability system. Why it matters
This story was originally published by EdSource. Sign up for their daily newsletter. Top Takeaways COVID broke momentum for the new Next Generation Science Standards, and plummeting math and reading scores dominated attention coming out of the pandemic. Now that the State Board of Education is adding science test scores to the state dashboard, science advocates see an opening to prove that science, taught right, will enrich learning and can raise achievement.
California will add science scores to its school accountability system. Why it matters
Top Takeaways Covid broke momentum for the new Next Generation Science Standards, and plummeting math and reading scores dominated attention coming out of the pandemic. Now that the State Board of Education is adding science test scores to the state dashboard, science advocates see an opening to prove that science, taught right, will enrich learning and can raise achievement. But first, they say, the state and schools must invest in training teachers in what they’ve been missing.
Are California Voters Signaling Tax Fatigue on School Bonds and Parcel Taxes?
The final results of last month’s school parcel taxes and construction bonds may not bode well for districts weighing their own tax proposals on the Nov. 3 ballot. The passage rate for both parcel taxes and school bonds on the June 2 ballot fell below the historic average. So the question facing districts as the Aug. 7 deadline for placing measures on the ballot approaches is: As goes Palo Alto, so goes the rest of California?
Are California voters signaling tax fatigue toward school bonds and parcel taxes?
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready... The final results of last month’s school parcel taxes and construction bonds may not bode well for districts weighing their own tax proposals on the Nov. 3 ballot. The passage rate for both parcel taxes and school bonds on the June 2 ballot fell below the historic average. So the question facing districts as the Aug. 7 deadline for placing measures on the ballot approaches is: As goes Palo Alto, so goes the rest of California?
Are California voters signaling tax fatigue toward school bonds and parcel taxes?
Quick Take Though a limited sample, a smaller-than-average number of California districts passed school construction bonds and parcel taxes in June. This story was originally published by EdSource. Sign up for its daily newsletter. The final results of last month’s school parcel taxes and construction bonds may not bode well for districts weighing their own tax proposals on the Nov. 3 ballot. The passage rate for both parcel taxes and school bonds on the June 2 ballot fell below the historic average.
Are California voters signaling tax fatigue toward school bonds and parcel taxes?
By John Fensterwald This story was originally published by EdSource. Sign up for their daily newsletter. Top Takeaways In Palo Alto Unified, two former school board members cited a huge budget reserve and $35,000 per-student funding in recommending that voters reject a parcel tax. They did. Former school board member Todd Collins suggested tax fatigue also contributed to the defeat of the Palo Alto parcel tax. Will that spread to November?
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