News
AI sexualized a California 4th grader's book report. Can the state safeguard students?
1+ hour, 43+ min ago (756+ words) Adobe's artificial intelligence generated sexualized images in response to prompts for a 4th grade book project. The incident coincided with the release of new state guidelines to prevent harmful AI in schools. In December, fourth graders in a class at Delevan…...
Opinion | California's reading reforms drive push for better math skills in early grades
1+ day, 2+ hour ago (632+ words) Last year, after decades of often bitter debate, California took an important step toward raising the abysmal levels of reading ability among many of its public school students. The Legislature passed and Gov. Gavin Newsom " who struggles with dyslexia " signed…...
Opinion | Californians finally get a guide to deciphering state's school data dashboard
1+ day, 21+ hour ago (556+ words) After becoming governor the second time in 2011, Jerry Brown proposed a major overhaul of how California finances public education. The 1978 passage of Proposition 13, an iconic tax limitation measure, had largely shifted school finance from local property taxes to the state....
1 in 10 Cal State students face homelessness. This emergency housing program helps
2+ day, 1+ hour ago (1694+ words) California spent $31 million last year helping students facing homelessness with emergency housing and other services through Rapid Rehousing. The program operates at most public universities and about a quarter of community colleges, helping thousands of students who are either homeless…...
Modern parenting means apps for sports, school and more. Where is the data going?
6+ day, 1+ hour ago (984+ words) California is a national leader in data privacy. Yet state law has gaps that allow companies to collect and sell students" data. For every aspect of a student"s life, there"s a tech company trying to digitize it. Inside…...
Opinion | California school systems face red ink despite boosts in education spending
1+ week, 1+ day ago (493+ words) Educating California's nearly 6 million public school students is the state budget's second largest expenditure, and one that has increased sharply during Gavin Newsom's governorship. The 2026-27 budget that Newsom proposed last month would spend $88.7 billion on students, ranging from transitional kindergartners…...
Newsom achieved universal preschool. But at what cost to child care providers?
1+ week, 1+ day ago (1737+ words) The governor tripled early childhood funding and expanded TK to all 4-year-olds. But preschools are closing, making infant care harder to find. There were once so many children at Frisha Moore's Elk Grove preschool that families filled up the waitlist....
CA private daycare centers struggle under free early-ed expansion
1+ week, 2+ day ago (664+ words) I'm CalMatters reporter Nigel Duara and I'm subbing in for Lynn today. Newsom's $3 billion-per-year universal transitional kindergarten proposal differs from that of other states, where families can choose between a free program at school or at a private center, which…...
Opinion | Community schools are key ingredient of California’s tumbling crime rates
1+ week, 2+ day ago (666+ words) Castle Redmond is senior advisor at the California Youth Wellbeing Fund John H. Jackson is president of the Schott Foundation for Public Education In a recent State of the State address, Gov. Gavin Newsom highlighted data showing gun violence in California…...
California schools face a new budget hit: Soaring insurance costs after sex abuse lawsuits
1+ week, 2+ day ago (1463+ words) A recent state law lifted the statute of limitations on sex abuse lawsuits, driving a huge increase in payouts by school districts and government agencies. It has also increased insurance premiums for all agencies. Since California made it easier for…...