Polarized discussions on what math students should be taught and how, often referred to as the “math wars,” has been ongoing in the nation for decades. An April report by the Center on Reinventing Public Education (CRPE), Navigating the math wars: A practical guide to the divides and debates influencing math instruction, provides background on the issue and presents strategies that could help end the longstanding dispute.
Reclassification of students designated as English learners (ELs) is a critical process governed by state policies that mandate using multiple criteria to ensure fairness and accuracy. However, while these policies aim to create equitable pathways for reclassification, discrepancies in local implementation can present barriers for students, according to a report released in March by Policy Analysis for California Education (PACE).
About half of adults think their local public schools are doing an excellent or good job in preparing students for jobs and the workforce, according to a recent survey of Californian’s views on education conducted between March 26 and April 3 by the Public Policy Institute of California.
At a recent convening of CSBA’s Small School Districts Advisory Workgroup, members brainstormed approaches for building community partnerships. The group, comprising local educational agencies with an average daily attendance of under 2,500 students, meets monthly to discuss timely topics.
At the June 18 California Collaborative for Educational Excellence (CCEE) board meeting, the organization’s three centers all shared their accomplishments for 2025–26 and intentions for 2026–27. This included receiving feedback from the board, which largely reinforced ongoing efforts.
A recent webinar hosted by Education Week and SchoolStatus highlighted attendance strategies that helped Arvin Union School District improve its attendance with a 43 percent reduction in chronic absenteeism. In the 2024–25 school year, Arvin Union SD had a chronic absenteeism rate of 15 percent. […]
On June 11, the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) released the 2025 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) reading and mathematics scores for the country’s 9- and 13-year-olds. These scores come from NAEP’s Long-Term Trend (LTT) Assessment, which began in reading in 1971 and in math in 1973.
A new white paper from Learning.com and Whiteboard Advisors found that at least 39 states have passed legislation restricting student cellphone use since 2023, but interviews with superintendents, state education technology directors, researchers and practitioners suggest banning or limiting the use of these devices on school grounds should be a first step.
About two-thirds of LGBTQ+ students reported feeling unsafe because of their identity in the 2024–25 school year, according to results from an annual survey by Glisten (formerly GLSEN).
In the final days of budget negotiations, a new and alarming threat to Proposition 98 has emerged: a proposal to fold the private provider portion of the state’s preschool program into the same Prop 98 allocations that have traditionally supported TK–14 public schools.
