California

News, analysis, and opinion about K-12 education in California
Teacher’s aide Amelia Mester, wrapped in a Pride flag, urges Escondido Union High School District not to have employees notify parents if they believe a student may be transgender in November 2025. A policy on the issue in the city’s elementary school district is the subject of a federal class-action lawsuit in which a judge just sided against the district.
Teacher’s aide Amelia Mester, wrapped in a Pride flag, urges Escondido Union High School District not to have employees notify parents if they believe a student may be transgender. A policy on the issue in the city’s elementary school district is the subject of a federal class-action lawsuit in which a judge just ruled against the district.
Charlie Neuman for The San Diego Union-Tribune/TNS
Law & Courts Schools Can’t Bar Teachers From Telling Parents If Kids Are Transgender, Judge Rules
The injunction bans any public school employee from misleading parents about their child’s gender presentation at school.
Kristen Taketa, The San Diego Union-Tribune, December 24, 2025
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5 min read
122225 education deepfakes AP BS
A school bus carries children at the end of a school day at Sixth Ward Middle School in Thibodaux, La., on Dec, 11, 2025. When a middle school student in Louisiana got into a fight with classmates who were sharing Al-generated nude images of her, she ended up getting expelled.
AP
Artificial Intelligence The Rise of Deepfake Cyberbullying Poses a Growing Problem for Schools
The fallout from the spread of the manipulated photos and videos can create a nightmare for the victims.
The Associated Press, December 22, 2025
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4 min read
The Tahoe Truckee Unified School district holds a meeting on Dec. 17, 2025, in Truckee, Calif.
The Tahoe Truckee Unified School district holds a meeting on Dec. 17, 2025, in Truckee, Calif.
Brooke Hess-Homeier/AP
States A School District Is 'Stuck' Between 2 States' Competing Trans Athlete Rules
The district is located in one state, but competes with teams in another that has adopted different rules.
The Associated Press, December 19, 2025
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4 min read
Signs along the hallway at Lake View Elementary say "Together, we are Lake View" in different languages.
Signs along the hallway at Lake View Elementary say "Together, we are Lake View" in different languages. The benefits of dual-language programs include desegregation and increased enrollment for schools, a study finds.
Narayan Mahon for Education Week
English Learners Q&A How One District's Dual-Language Program Helped to Desegregate Schools
A study about dual-language programs shows how they can increase equity and accessibility for all students.
Jennifer Vilcarino, December 15, 2025
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7 min read
A team of people collaborate with AI to create policy.
iStock/Getty + Education Week
Artificial Intelligence Q&A How This District Got Students, Teachers, Parents, and Leaders to Agree on AI
One Southern California school system went slower in developing guidelines in order to build buy-in.
Alyson Klein, December 2, 2025
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3 min read
Students in the dual language immersion program at Pueblo Elementary School in Scottsdale, Ariz., on Sept. 16, 2025.
Students in the dual language immersion program at Pueblo Elementary School in Scottsdale, Ariz., on Sept. 16, 2025. A new California poll found high demand for such programs, especially from Latino families.
Courtney Pedroza for Education Week
English Learners Latino Families Show High Demand for Bilingual Education, Poll Finds
Families in California were polled as to their interest in bilingual education programs.
Ileana Najarro, November 17, 2025
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4 min read
AI Reading BS
Ashley Gutierrez for Education Week
Artificial Intelligence Video These Students Are Using AI to Visualize Their Reading Comprehension
Students learn how to write AI prompts while demonstrating reading comprehension in this middle school classroom.
Jaclyn Borowski & Kaylee Domzalski, November 13, 2025
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2:40
Pennsylvania Sen. Lindsey Williams, D-Allegheny, is pictured during a confirmation hearing for acting
Pennsylvania state Sen. Lindsey Williams, a Democrat, is pictured during an education committee hearing on Aug. 12, 2025. Williams is preparing legislation that would create a state-level office of civil rights to investigate potential civil rights violations in schools. Williams is introducing the measure in response to the U.S. Department of Education's slashing of its own office for civil rights.
Courtesy of Pennsylvania Senate Democratic Caucus
Federal Trump’s Ed. Dept. Slashed Civil Rights Enforcement. How States Are Responding
Could a shift in civil rights enforcement be the next example of "returning education to the states?"
Brooke Schultz, November 7, 2025
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6 min read
Teacher Clay Dagler, left, fist bumps a student in his machine learning class at Franklin High School in Elk Grove, Calif., on March 7, 2025.
Teacher Clay Dagler, left, fist bumps a student in his machine learning class at Franklin High School in Elk Grove, Calif., on March 7, 2025.
Max Whittaker for Education Week
Artificial Intelligence Video These Students are Learning the Math That Makes AI Tick
Rather than study how to use AI, students in this machine learning class work with the math that makes the AI work.
Alyson Klein & Kaylee Domzalski, October 30, 2025
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1 min read
Second grade students raise their hands in Dalia Gerardo's classroom at West Elementary, in Russellville, Ala., on Dec. 9, 2022.
Second grade students raise their hands in Dalia Gerardo's classroom at West Elementary, in Russellville, Ala., on Dec. 9, 2022. Gerardo is a bilingual educator. Experts say Hispanic educators with bilingual certification can boost English learners' academic performance.
Tamika Moore for Education Week
English Learners Why Bilingual Hispanic Teachers Make a Big Difference for English Learners
A new study found benefits from hiring teachers of color with language certifications.
Ileana Najarro, October 14, 2025
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3 min read
Worshippers pray at the Karya Siddhi Hanuman Temple in Frisco, Texas, on Oct. 22, 2022. Worshippers celebrated Dhanteras, which is the first night of the Hindu holiday Diwali.
Worshippers pray at the Karya Siddhi Hanuman Temple in Frisco, Texas, on Oct. 22, 2022, the first night of the Hindu holiday Diwali. More districts are putting Diwali and other non-Christian holidays on school calendars as populations of Asian students increase.
Andy Jacobsohn/AP
Families & the Community As Schools Grow More Culturally Diverse, Calendar Planning Gets More Complicated
Districts have added holidays like Diwali to their calendars to reflect demographic shifts in enrollment.
Evie Blad, October 14, 2025
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6 min read
Kanette Yatsattie, 8, left, and classmate Jeremy Candelaria, 10, hang out by a board depicting the race to for best attendance at the school, Oct. 1, 2024, at Algodones Elementary School in Algodones, N.M.
Kanette Yatsattie, 8, left, and classmate Jeremy Candelaria, 10, hang out by a board depicting the race to for best attendance at the school on Oct. 1, 2024, at Algodones Elementary School in Algodones, N.M. New Mexico passed a law in 2019 that shifts schools from punishing truancy to preventing chronic absenteeism, only referring truancy cases to the courts in extreme cases. California is the latest state to change its truancy law, undoing potential criminal penalties like fines or jail time for parents.
Roberto E. Rosales/AP
Families & the Community Should Parents Face Criminal Penalties for Their Children's Poor Attendance?
Schools shift from a punitive approach with penalties for truancy to a greater emphasis on prevention.
Evie Blad, October 7, 2025
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7 min read
Conceptual illustration of classroom conversations and fragmented education elements coming together to form a cohesive picture of a book of classroom knowledge.
Sonia Pulido for Education Week
Teaching Opinion Teachers on When Their Administrators Get It Wrong
At times, administrators make decisions without considering the consequences.
Larry Ferlazzo, October 3, 2025
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6 min read
Thu., October 02, 2025, 1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. ET
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