Analysis: Schools with high proportions of students of color face teacher quality inequities

A new analysis finds that, both across the nation and in California, teachers in schools with high proportions of students of color are much more likely to be uncertified or inexperienced than teachers in schools with a low number of students of color. The Learning […]

What the California Science Test Scores say about access and opportunity

The first statewide results of the California Science Test (CAST) were released by the California Department of Education in early February. The new assessment is tied to the California Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS), which districts have been in the process of implementing since their […]

President’s message: Promoting student success through teacher recruitment, training and retention

By Xilonin Cruz-Gonzalez, CSBA President Providing all students with a high-quality education is our greatest responsibility as school board members. In order to succeed in this work, we must prioritize teacher quality and invest both intellectually and finan­cially in the recruitment, retention and development of […]

California Supreme Court finds some district employees eligible for unemployment benefits during summer term

On Jan. 16, 2020, the California Supreme Court reversed a court of appeal decision and held that section 1253.3 of the Unemployment Insurance Code (section 1253.3) does not bar public school employees from collecting unemployment benefits if the summer session constitutes an “academic term.” The […]

Governance brief focuses on the need for boards to support equity-based decisions

The new year presents a good opportunity for governing boards to reflect on recent achievements as well as unfinished work that districts and county offices of education have ahead of them to ensure that all students have access to an education that prepares them for […]

New study finds GPAs are better predictors for college graduation than ACT scores

Students’ high school grades are five times better at predicting college graduation rates than their ACT scores — regardless of where they attend school, according to a new study published in Educational Researcher, a peer-reviewed journal of the American Educational Research Association. This conclusion upends […]