Monica Velez
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Freelance reporter📍Bay Area, CA | Alum @edsource @seattletimes @fresnobee @kvpr | Always tip your bartender & local journalist | Hablo español | she/her/ella
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Articles by Monica Velez
Search for armed Fresno man forces evacuation of Chowchilla school, police say
Chowchilla High School was evacuated for a short time Tuesday afternoon after police received reports that a wanted Fresno man was in the area, armed with a gun nearby, according to the Chowchilla Police Department. Police were looking for Brandon Coleman, who was believed to be in an area about a block away from Chowchilla High School, Lt. Jeff Palmer said. Coleman was wanted for assault with a deadly weapon in connection with a shooting that happened over the weekend in Fresno, Palmer said.
WCCUSD board compromises on staff cuts, potentially leaving less for student services
IN A MOVE consistent with dozens of California school districts, West Contra Costa Unified board members have had to choose between eliminating staff and services for students or exploding its budget deficit. At the start of the debate at Wednesday night’s school board meeting, the district had proposed cutting about 177 staffing positions and, after nearly three hours of debate, the board voted 3-1 to cut all but eight.
UPDATE: CDE says district sex ed discriminated against LGBTQ students
News Brief Monday, March 3, 2025 — 10:14 am The California Department of Education is taking the Cajon Valley Union School District to court over a sexual education curriculum the agency says discriminates against LGBTQ students. CDE filed a petition in San Diego Superior Court on Wednesday asking a judge to compel the district to implement corrective measures, according to The San Diego Union-Tribune.
UPDATE: More than 40% of California’s class of 2024 took an Advanced Placement exam
News Brief Monday, March 3, 2025 — 10:52 am During high school, 40.4% of the class of 2024 in California took an Advanced Placement exam, according to new data released by the College Board. That’s higher than the national average of 35.7%, and it puts California at #10 for the states with the highest rate of AP test-takers. California’s numbers are 2.8 points higher than its numbers in 2014.
UPDATE: McMahon confirmed as U.S. secretary of education
News Brief Monday, March 3, 2025 — 4:47 pm Linda McMahon was confirmed as the U.S. secretary of education by a 51-45 party line vote in the Senate this afternoon during a hearing punctuated by protests, according to NPR. McMahon formerly led the Small Business Administration and was CEO of World Wrestling Entertainment. She has been criticized for her lack of education experience, which consists of a year on the Connecticut State Board of Education, according to NPR.
West Contra Costa Compromises on Eliminating Staff, but Student Services Could Face Cuts
Feb 28 Failed to save article Please try again United Teachers of Richmond gather at West Contra Costa school board meeting Wednesday to protest staff cuts approved a week earlier. (Monica Velez/EdSource) In a move consistent with dozens of California school districts, West Contra Costa Unified board members have had to choose between eliminating staff and services for students or exploding its budget deficit.
WCCUSD saves 8 jobs from cuts but money may come out of student services
The West Contra Costa Unified School District board on Wednesday, in an effort to reduce its budget deficit, saved about eight staff positions while cutting about 169 others, a move that the district says could jeopardize services for vulnerable students. At the start of Wednesday night’s school board meeting, the district had proposed cutting about 177 positions. After nearly three hours of debate, the board voted 3-1 to cut all but eight.
West Contra Costa compromises on staff cuts, but may have to cut student services instead
United Teachers of Richmond gather at West Contra Costa school board meeting Wednesday to protest staff cuts approved a week earlier. Credit: Monica Velez / EdSource In a move consistent with dozens of California school districts, West Contra Costa Unified board members have had to choose between eliminating staff and services for students or exploding its budget deficit.
UPDATE: Trump to sign executive order making English the country’s official language
News Brief Friday February 28, 2025 10:35 am In a marked break with tradition, President Trump is planning to sign an executive order that would make English the official language of the United States for the first time, according to White House officials, the Wall Street Journal reported. In its nearly 250-year history, the country has never had a official language stipulated at the federal level.
UPDATE: UCLA says more than $1 billion at risk if feds withhold funding
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News Brief Friday February 28, 2025 8:00 am UCLA could be at risk of losing more than $1 billion if the Trump administration follows through on threats to withhold funding from colleges that continue any race-based programs, the university’s chief financial officer said Thursday. The campus receives about $900 million in direct federal funding for “a range of contracts and grants” and another $200 million for overhead, said Stephen Agostini, UCLA’s CFO, during a virtual town hall Thursday.
By Monica Velez Verified, Karsten Barnes, Betty Marquez Rosales Verified, MIchael Burke, Michael Burke Verified
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EdSource
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UPDATE: Department of Education offers buyouts that some call ‘misleading’
News Brief Friday, February 28, 2025 — 2:43 pm The US Department of Education (DOE) sent an email to employees Friday offering up to $25,000 to resign or retire, or take severance, whichever is less, the Guardian reported. Obtained by the Guardian, the email states “this is a one-time offer in advance of a very significant Reduction In Force for the US Department of Education” and gives employees until close of business Monday to accept.
UPDATE: National survey of freshmen class of 2024 finds disparities across race, sexual orientation
News Brief Friday February 28, 2025 10:45 am A recent national survey finds that how the freshmen class of 2024 navigated their first year of college – from the number of college applications they filed to their financial worries and mental health – differed across factors like race and sexual orientation. The American Council on Education, a Washington, D.C. nonprofit whose members include more than 1,600 colleges and universities, released a report on Feb.
UPDATE: Bill seeks to boost college access for students who experienced homelessness
News Brief Thursday February 27, 2025 10:22 am Students who experienced homelessness in high school would get additional financial assistance to attend three California State University campuses under a pilot program proposed in the California legislature this week. SB 685 would cover the remaining cost of attendance after financial aid at San José State and two other Cal State campuses, including tuition and fees, books and supplies and other living and transportation expenses.
UPDATE: Sacramento State eyes downtown expansion
News Brief Thursday February 27, 2025 9:53 am California State University, Sacramento is exploring a proposal to expand into a set of properties near the state Capitol. Sacramento State President Luke Wood said this week that the California Department of General Services has given the university the exclusive right to perform due diligence on property along the Capitol Mall in downtown Sacramento.
Community wants WCCUSD leader who collaborates, understands cultures
Many in the West Contra Costa Unified School District community say they want their next superintendent to be a leader who is accountable, transparent, accessible, innovative, and understands diverse communities. “The No. 1 priority we should be looking for in the next superintendent should be someone rooted in the community … and (who) can take our weaknesses and turn them into strengths,” said WCCUSD parent Nivette Moore.
West Contra Costa seeks new superintendent with roots in the community
A speech language pathologist who is a member of United Teachers of Richmond addresses the West Contra Costa school board during the Feb. 12, 2025 meeting to protest the staffing cuts the board approved one week prior, which includes speech specialists. Credit: Monica Velez / EdSource Many in the West Contra Costa Unified School District community say they want their next superintendent to be a leader who is accountable, transparent, accessible, innovative, and understands diverse communities.
UPDATE: Oakland teachers union, parents demand district reconsider proposed budget cuts
News Brief Wednesday February 26, 2025 5:48 pm The Oakland Education Association and parents are demanding the district find alternatives to the budget cuts officials proposed, including educator layoffs and cuts to programs, during a press conference on Tuesday. Proposed budget cuts in the Oakland Unified School District are up for discussion during Wednesday night’s board meeting.
UPDATE: Chief of NAEP put on leave by Trump administration
News Brief Wednesday February 26, 2025 12:30 pm Peggy Carr, the federal official who supervises the National Assessment of Educational Progress, (NAEP) often called the nation’s report card, was placed on administrative leave by the Trump administration Monday. This move comes on the heels of the elimination of millions of dollars of projects at the U.S. Department of Education’s research arm, EdWeek reported.
West Contra Costa community rallies around educators protesting district's staffing cuts
SAN PABLO MOM Gabriella Garcia said her fourth-grade son sometimes comes home in tears after being bullied about his speech impediment. Her son receives help through Zoom calls with a speech specialist. “Unfortunately, I don’t think this virtual format is effective for him,” Garcia said.
West Contra Costa community rallies around educators protesting staffing cuts
United Teachers of Richmond gather at West Contra Costa school board meeting Wednesday to protest staff cuts approved a week earlier. Credit: Monica Velez / EdSource San Pablo mom Gabriella Garcia said her fourth-grade son sometimes comes home in tears after being bullied about his speech impediment. Her son receives help through Zoom calls with a speech specialist. “Unfortunately, I don’t think this virtual format is effective for him,” Garcia said.
UPDATE: State agencies to inform child care providers impacted by LA fires of possible federal aid
News Brief Friday February 14, 2025 9:45 am Child care providers impacted by the recent Los Angeles wildfires are eligible for federal support from the Disaster Unemployment Assistance program, and Gov. Gavin Newsom issued an executive order earlier this week to ensure providers are aware of and have access to that information. Just last week, days ahead of the executive order, family child care providers who lost everything in the Eaton fire asked Newsom to extend emergency relief.
UPDATE: San Diego State joins Harvard, MIT on list of nation’s elite research schools
News Brief Friday February 14, 2025 10:26 am San Diego State University joined the ranks of the nation’s elite research schools, including Harvard, MIT and Caltech, The San Diego Union-Tribune reported.
West Contra Costa Unified embraces STEM education with new science building opening
West Contra Costa Unified School District has unveiled its newest science building for middle and high schoolers. The building is for Hercules middle and high school students and was built to reaffirm West Contra Costa’s commitment to STEM (science, technology, engineering, math) education, district officials said in a statement.
UPDATE: Lawsuits mount against LAUSD amid years of cyberattacks
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News Brief Monday February 10, 2025 9:36 am After the Los Angeles Unified School District suffered three large cyberattacks exposing sensitive information over the past few years, three class-action lawsuits have been filed against the district, The 74 reported. The lawsuits, filed by parents, alleged the district did not take the steps necessary to protect their children’s records and claimed LAUSD was not transparent about information being leaked.
By John Fensterwald Verified, Jennie Herriot-Hatfield, Karen D'Souza Verified, Monica Velez Verified
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EdSource
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UPDATE: Cuts to National Institutes of Health could hamper research at the UC
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News Brief Monday February 10, 2025 10:06 am Cuts to funding to the National Institutes of Health could hamper funding the University of California system receives for research on various diseases, including cancer, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, diabetes and heart disease, the Los Angeles Times reported. Friday, the National Institutes of Health said it would cut “indirect funding” by more than half.
By John Fensterwald Verified, Jennie Herriot-Hatfield, Karen D'Souza Verified, Monica Velez Verified
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EdSource
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‘No one wants to do this’: West Contra Costa school board slashes staffing to avoid deficit
West Contra Costa Unified School District’s school board approved a plan this week that will cut educator and administrative positions, and reduce funds for programs and supplies in order to stay fiscally solvent and avoid a state takeover. District officials have been grappling with how to cut $32.7 million in costs between 2024 and 2027; cuts for the current school year total $19.7 million.
UPDATE: West Contra Costa unveils new science building
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News Brief Saturday February 8, 2025 12:12 pm West Contra Costa Unified School District unveiled its newest science building for middle and high schoolers this week. The building is for Hercules middle and high school students and was built to reaffirm West Contra Costa’s commitment to STEM (science, technology, engineering, math) education, district officials said in a statement.
By Karen D'Souza Verified, Monica Velez Verified, Lasherica Thornton Verified, Diana Lambert Verified
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EdSource
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WCCUSD board OKs cutting jobs to slash $19.7M from this year's budget
The West Contra Costa Unified School District’s school board approved a plan Wednesday night that will cut educator and administrative positions and reduce funds for programs and supplies so it can stay fiscally solvent and avoid a state takeover. District officials have been grappling with how to cut $32.7 million in costs between 2024 and 2027; cuts for the current school year total $19.7 million.
UPDATE: San Diego Unified may have to lay off more staff to address budget deficit
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News Brief Friday February 7, 2025 9:50 am San Diego Unified, the state’s second-largest school district, may have to use layoffs again this year to address its more than $100 million budget deficit, The San Diego Union-Tribune reported. Last year, multimillion dollar staffing cuts laid off dozens of non-teaching staff and eliminated over 550 other positions from central office, classrooms including teachers, special education services and English learner support.
By Karen D'Souza Verified, Monica Velez Verified, Lasherica Thornton Verified, Diana Lambert Verified
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EdSource
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UPDATE: Teacher of the Year recipient pleads guilty to sex crimes with student
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News Brief Friday February 7, 2025 10:26 am A 2022 San Diego County Teacher of the Year recipient, who was arrested seven months after being awarded the honor, pleaded guilty to sex crimes with a sixth grade student at Lincoln Acres Elementary, where she taught, The San Diego Union-Tribune reported. According to the Union-Tribune, Jacqueline Ma is expected to be sentenced to 30 years to life in prison.
By Karen D'Souza Verified, Monica Velez Verified, Lasherica Thornton Verified, Diana Lambert Verified
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EdSource
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UPDATE: Child care providers affected by Eaton fire seek additional emergency relief
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News Brief Friday February 7, 2025 10:44 am Child care providers who lost everything in the Los Angeles Eaton Fire are seeking additional emergency relief from Gov. Gavin Newsom at a Friday news conference in Altadena, according to a media release emailed to EdSource. Emergency aid to pay child care providers 30 days after the start of the Los Angeles wildfires ended Thursday, the media release detailed.
By Karen D'Souza Verified, Monica Velez Verified, Lasherica Thornton Verified, Diana Lambert Verified
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EdSource
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UPDATE: LAUSD superintendent warns of potential ICE impersonators
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News Brief Friday February 7, 2025 10:15 am Los Angeles Unified School District superintendent Alberto Carvalho issued a statement warning of cases where district community members may have been approached by individuals pretending to be agents with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
By Karen D'Souza Verified, Monica Velez Verified, Lasherica Thornton Verified, Diana Lambert Verified
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EdSource
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West Contra Costa school board slashes staffing to avoid deficit
West Contra Costa Unified School District’s school board approved a plan Wednesday night that will cut educator and administrative positions, and reduce funds for programs and supplies in order to stay fiscally solvent and avoid a state takeover. District officials have been grappling with how to cut $32.7 million in costs between 2024 and 2027; cuts for the current school year total $19.7 million.
UPDATE: CalFresh, Medi-Cal could lower college costs by thousands, report finds
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News Brief Thursday February 6, 2025 9:21 am California’s two largest safety net programs – CalFresh and Medi-Cal – can reduce the costs of attending the state’s public colleges and universities by thousands of dollars, but more could be done to help eligible students enroll in the benefits, a recent report by the Public Policy Institute of California finds.
By Lasherica Thornton Verified, Diana Lambert Verified, Monica Velez Verified, Amy DiPierro Verified
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EdSource
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UPDATE: San Jose State targeted in Title IX investigation
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News Brief Thursday February 6, 2025 11:01 am The U.S. Department of Education is investigating San Jose State University for possible violations of Title IX due to the alleged participation of a transgender athlete in its women’s volleyball team, the agency announced Thursday. The investigation comes on the heels of an executive order President Donald Trump signed Feb. 5, a measure widely understood to ban transgender women and girls from participating in women’s sports.
By Lasherica Thornton Verified, Diana Lambert Verified, Monica Velez Verified, Amy DiPierro Verified
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EdSource
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San Diego Chapter of Teachers Union Joins Other Districts Banding Together for Higher Pay, Smaller Classes
A California Teachers Association campaign is uniting teachers in 32 school districts to leverage their administrations for higher pay and benefits, smaller class sizes, and mental health support and other resources for students. The school districts, from San Diego to Sacramento, employ 77,000 teachers and serve 1 million students.
CTA chapters band together to leverage districts for higher pay, smaller classes, more resources
A group of Bay Area teacher unions rally outside Oakland City Hall on Feb. 4, 2025, demanding fully staffed schools, better wages, more resources, smaller class sizes, and safety improvements. Credit: Monica Velez / EdSource A California Teachers Association campaign is uniting teachers in 32 school districts to leverage their administrations for higher pay and benefits, smaller class sizes, and mental health support and other resources for students.
UPDATE: Chastised Palo Alto school board members acknowledges ‘error of judgment’
News Brief Wednesday February 5, 2025 8:04 am Thirteen past Palo Alto Unified school board trustees last week condemned new school board member Rowena Chiu, and the union representing principals and other administrators called for her resignation. They reacted after Chiu reposted on X (formerly Twitter) a comment deriding a Black administrator who had chided Chiu during the board’s heated debate on ethnic studies on Jan. 23.
UPDATE: LAUSD outlines initial plans for recovery of schools damaged in Palisades fire
News Brief Wednesday February 5, 2025 8:04 am The Los Angeles Unified School District announced initial plans to clean up and rebuild campuses destroyed by the Palisades fire at a press conference Tuesday morning. Students, teachers and staff at Marquez Elementary and Palisades Charter Elementary have since been transferred to Brentwood Elementary Science Magnet and Nora Sterry Elementary School. Superintendent Alberto Carlvaho said Tuesday that the transition has remained relatively smooth.
UPDATE: Hundreds of students walk out to protest Trump’s immigration policies
News Brief Wednesday February 5, 2025 9:23 am Hundreds of high school students walked out of class in Los Angeles, Fresno and other cities on Monday and Tuesday to protest President Trump’s immigration policies. Some school districts reported large drops in attendance Monday, when immigration rights advocates announced a “Day Without Immigrants” to protest Trump’s plans for mass deportation. Los Angeles Unified reported 34% of students were absent Monday, compared with the average of 7%.
UPDATE: Cal Poly Pomona president to retire
News Brief Wednesday February 5, 2025 8:03 am Soraya M. Coley, the president of California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, announced on Feb. 4 that she will retire at the end of July.
California superintendent assures Title IX protections based on gender identity will be protected
Lieutenant Governor of California Eleni Kounalakis and State Superintendent Tony Thurmond talk to a handful of CSU students outside the CSU chancellor's office before a 6% tuition increase vote by the board in Long Beach, Wednesday, Sept. 13, 2023. Photo by Thomas R. Cordova. This story originally appeared in EdSource.
State supe backs Title IX protections based on gender identity
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Amid competitive market, West Contra Costa ramps up search for its next superintendent
THE WEST CONTRA COSTA Unified School District is joining about a dozen other California school districts in search of its next leader. The superintendent position is the district’s highest-paid job, and filling it is one of the most crucial decisions a school board can make. School board members approved a $45,000 contract with Leadership Associates during a special board meeting last month to recruit the East Bay district’s new leader.
UPDATE: California superintendent assures Title IX protections based on gender identity will be protected
News Brief Friday January 31, 2025 3:33 pm After the U.S. Department of Education rolled back Title IX protections on Friday for students based on gender identity, California’s state superintendent of public instruction assured state law won’t be impacted. Last year, the Biden Administration extended Title IX protections so students who are discriminated against based on gender identity would be protected.
UPDATE: Many low-income students choosing to attend expensive private colleges
News Brief Friday January 31, 2025 10:46 am The cost of an education at private colleges, such as Chapman University, Loyola Marymount University and Pepperdine University, is around $30,000 a year more than public colleges in California, CalMatters found. Around 160,000 students, including those considered low income, choose to pay thousands of dollars in out-pocket costs in pursuit of smaller class sizes, specific academic programs offered or the prestige of attending the private institutions.
West Contra Costa ramps up search for new superintendent
Eighth-grade students discuss women's history during a social studies class at Mira Vista Elementary in Richmond, one of two K-8 schools in West Contra Costa Unified. Theresa Harrington/EdSource Today The West Contra Costa Unified School District is joining about a dozen other California school districts in search of its next leader. The superintendent position is the district’s highest-paid job, and filling it is one of the most crucial decisions a school board can make.
UPDATE: Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District closes four campuses Monday due to road dangers
News Brief Monday January 27, 2025 9:08 am Four campuses in the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District will be closed Monday as a result of dangerous road conditions and other challenges with access, KTLA reported. The four campuses include: Webster Elementary, Malibu Elementary, Malibu Middle School and Malibu High School.
UPDATE: Sonoma State coaches organize legal challenges to proposed sports cut
News Brief Monday January 27, 2025 4:29 pm Sonoma State University coaches and sports supporters have filed a federal civil rights complaint against the university and are threatening further legal action after the campus announced plans to pull the plug on all intercollegiate athletics programs. The university contends that the sports elimination and several other severe cuts are needed to fill a nearly $24 million budget deficit following a decade-long slide in enrollment.
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