California

News, analysis, and opinion about K-12 education in California
People talk near a Meta sign outside of the company's headquarters in Menlo Park, Calif., March 7, 2023.
People talk near a Meta sign outside of the company's headquarters in Menlo Park, Calif., March 7, 2023. States seeking extensive financial damages from the company as a lawsuit goes to trial this week.
Jeff Chiu/AP Photo
States States Take Meta to Trial in Fight Over Social Media Harms to Kids
The lawsuit accuses the social media giant of contributing to the youth mental health crisis.
The Associated Press, August 17, 2026
•
5 min read
Long Beach, CA - March 20 : Teacher Monica Alvarado, left, leads activities with staff in the infant class at Educare Los Angeles at Long Beach , a very high-quality child care center in Long Beach on Wednesday, March 20, 2024 in Long Beach, CA.
Teacher Monica Alvarado, left, leads activities with staff in the infant class at Educare Los Angeles at Long Beach, a very high-quality child care center in Long Beach on Wednesday, March 20, 2024 in Long Beach, Calif. Head Start programs for early childhood education will no longer promote bilingualism under a proposed rule change.
Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times via TNS
Federal Q&A What Head Start's English-Only Rule Could Mean for English Learners
Research shows it's not necessary to lose a home language to learn English.
Ileana Najarro, August 17, 2026
•
3 min read
English learner students in Jeremy True's class work on a reading assignment on Nov. 10, 2022, in Mason City, Iowa.
English learner students work on a reading assignment on Nov. 10, 2022, in Mason City, Iowa. Reclassification criteria can affect older English learners' access to advanced coursework.
Abby Koch/Globe-Gazette via AP
English Learners How State Reclassification Rules Impact Long-Term English Learners
Research shows how the reclassification of older English learners in Texas carries varied outcomes.
Ileana Najarro, July 29, 2026
•
4 min read
The Los Angeles Unified School District, LAUSD headquarters building is seen in Los Angeles, Sept. 9, 2021. The 1776 Project Foundation targeted in its lawsuit on Tuesday a Los Angeles Unified School District policy that provides smaller class sizes and other benefits to schools with predominantly Hispanic, Black, Asian or other non-white students. It dates back to 1970 and 1976 court orders that required the district to desegregate its schools.
The Los Angeles Unified School District headquarters building is seen in Los Angeles, on Sept. 9, 2021. The Los Angeles County Office of Education is warning that the district could be insolvent next year.
Damian Dovarganes/AP
School & District Management L.A. Unified School District Faces ‘Severe’ Signs of Insolvency
The Los Angeles Unified School District faces “severe” indications that it will be insolvent by November 2027.
Jaweed Kaleem, Howard Blume, and Kori McNair, Los Angeles Times, July 10, 2026
•
5 min read
20260703 AMX US NEWS AFTER NEWSOM COULDNT STOP IT 1 SA
Gov. Gavin Newsom makes a point at the opening of the San Quentin Learning Center in San Quentin, Calif., on Feb. 20, 2026. Newsom has championed a move that will place the California education department under the authority of a governor-appointed education commissioner starting next year.
JOSÉ LUIS VILLEGAS via TNS
States The Elected Superintendent in This State Will Have Little Power Over Schools
The nation's largest state is the latest to give its governor more power over its schools.
Jennifer Vilcarino, July 9, 2026
•
5 min read
California Gov. Gavin Newsom, gives his last May revise in the Swing Space on Thursday, May 14, 2026 , in Sacramento, Calif.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom speaks in Sacramento, Calif., on May 14, 2026. Newsom and legislative leaders pushed for a policy passed as part of the state budget that will scale back the authority of the elected state superintendent.
Hector Amezcua/The Sacramento Bee via TNS
States The Nation's Largest State Strips Most Power From Elected Schools Superintendent
The state superintendent's authority will transfer to an appointee of the governor starting next year.
Howard Blume, Los Angeles Times, July 2, 2026
•
5 min read
Acting Superintendent Andres Chait at a Los Angeles Unified School District Board meeting in Los Angeles on June 23, 2026 .
Acting Superintendent Andres Chait at a Los Angeles Unified School District Board meeting in Los Angeles on June 23, 2026. LAUSD has named Chait its new superintendent on a permanent basis following Alberto Carvalho's resignation earlier this week.
Myung J. Chun/Los Angeles Times via TNS
School & District Management LAUSD Taps Interim Chief as Superintendent 3 Days After Carvalho's Resignation
Andres Chait has served as a teacher, principal, and regional superintendent in Los Angeles.
Howard Blume, Los Angeles Times, June 25, 2026
•
6 min read
20260622 AMX US NEWS WHAT ALBERTO CARVALHOS RESIGNATION MEANS 1 LD
Alberto Carvalho, then the Los Angeles Unified School District superintendent, listens to parents of students at a Los Angeles high school on March 30, 2022. Carvalho resigned from his position Sunday night under the cloud of a failed AI chatbot initiative and an FBI investigation.
Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG
School & District Management Lessons Learned About Bold Tech Initiatives From the LAUSD Chief's Departure
Bold initiatives can cut both ways, says a leadership expert, sparking achievement gains or falling apart.
Caitlynn Peetz Stephens, Arianna Prothero & Jennifer Vilcarino, June 23, 2026
•
8 min read
Tue., June 23, 2026, 2:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. ET
This content is provided by our sponsor. It is not written by and does not necessarily reflect the views of Education Week's editorial staff.
Sponsor
College & Workforce Readiness Webinar The Road to Opportunity: Making CTE Accessible for All
The most valuable CTE happens off campus. For too many students, transportation is the barrier that keeps opportunity out of reach.
Content provided by HopSkipDrive
Register
Los Angeles Schools Federal Raid 26059057494102
Alberto Carvalho speaks about Los Angeles students' improved scores before Gov. Gavin Newsom signed legislation related to student literacy in Los Angeles on Oct. 9, 2025. The Los Angeles Unified superintendent, facing an FBI investigation, resigned June 21.
Damian Dovarganes/AP Photo
School & District Management Carvalho Resigns as L.A. Unified Superintendent Amid Federal Investigation
Alberto Carvalho has been under FBI investigation for four months after a failed AI chatbot venture.
Howard Blume, Los Angeles Times, June 22, 2026
•
6 min read
As districts nationwide experiment with strategic staffing—an attempt to use teachers’ time in different ways to free up collaboration and reduce class size. Strategic staffing—in which schools give schedule flexibility and sometimes differentiated pay for teams of classroom educators—has gained ground in many states as a way to provide more professional development for young teachers and retain educators longer. PICTURED, Students at Whittier Elementary School work in groups and independently, Tuesday, Oct. 18, 2022 in Mesa, Ariz.
Strategic staffing—in which schools give schedule flexibility and sometimes differentiated pay for teams of classroom educators—has gained ground in many states as a way to provide more professional development for young teachers and retain educators longer. Students and teachers at Whittier Elementary School in Mesa, Ariz., work in groups and independently, Tuesday, Oct. 18, 2022.
Matt York/AP
Teaching Profession How These Schools Use Teams to Cut Teacher Workloads
California teachers in the co-teaching pilot are reporting higher morale.
Sarah D. Sparks, June 17, 2026
•
4 min read
This is an aerial shot of a large public high school complex shot on a Sunday with nobody around. This image features multiple buildings, a running track, football fields, baseball diamonds, tennis courts parking lots and a residential neighborhood surrounding the image. Shot from the open window of a small plane.
Illustration by Education Week + Getty
School & District Management Closing a School? Don't Expect to Save Money, a New Study Warns
The hope is that closing schools can reduce fixed costs. A new study looks into whether that happens.
Caitlynn Peetz Stephens, June 11, 2026
•
5 min read
HERMOSA BEACH, CA-NOVEMBER 10, 2023, 2023: People ride an e-bike on the Strand in Hermosa Beach. In Hermosa Beach, it's against city code to use electric power on the Strand, but many e-bike riders do so anyway.
People ride an e-bike in Hermosa Beach, Calif. School districts are developing new policies as students' use of e-bikes rise, as do related crashes and traffic problems.
Mel Melcon/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images
School & District Management More Kids Are Riding E-Bikes, Causing Headaches for Schools and Hospital Visits
Districts develop new policies as students' e-bike use spikes—alongside crashes and traffic problems.
Caitlynn Peetz Stephens, June 3, 2026
•
5 min read
Branching Minds logo 350230
Logo image provided by Branching Minds
This content is provided by our sponsor. It is not written by and does not necessarily reflect the views of Education Week's editorial staff.
Sponsor
School & District Management Sponsor How 4 Large Districts Eliminated Data Silos
Discover how district leaders are eliminating data silos and driving measurable, district-wide results
Content provided by Branching Minds