Legislature closes out the first year of the 2025–26 legislative session

Originally scheduled to end at midnight on Friday, Sept. 12, the Legislature waived the rules to allow it to continue deliberations into Sept. 13, not adjourning until mid-afternoon. This year featured a number of contentious education-related measures ranging from nonclassroom-based charter school reform to efforts […]

Legal update: Head Start among programs open to all regardless of immigration status after recent court ruling

On Sept. 10, a judge for the U.S. District Court of Rhode Island issued a preliminary injunction pausing the federal government’s attempt to restrict access to certain public programs based on immigration status. The injunction arises out of a legal challenge by 20 states, including […]

Study shows persistent absenteeism remains a challenge for schools

A RAND analysis of 2024–25 school year data from the American School District Panel and the American Youth Panel show rates of chronic absenteeism remain above pre-pandemic levels and are negatively impacting efforts to close achievement gaps exacerbated by COVID-19. “Persistent high levels of absenteeism […]

State Board continues work on California assessment system

Assessment was top of mind during the California State Board of Education’s (SBE) Sept. 10–11 meeting, which included actions taken related to measuring student knowledge and outcomes in science and languages, as well as updates to Student Score Reports (SSRs) and the state’s assessment system […]

Improving outcomes for students with disabilities begins with assessment

Despite decades of advocacy, students with disabilities often face significant gaps in educational outcomes. If local educational agencies aim to turn things around for this student group, WestEd experts suggest starting with supportive, coherent and effective assessment systems. An Aug. 14 webinar featured panelists discussing […]