Education Beat

While other UC’s turn away tens of thousands of qualified students annually, UC Merced faces the opposite challenge. The campus struggles to find students willing to accept its location, surrounded by farmland and pastures where cows often graze. But some students are attracted to the small student population, the accessible rent prices and the research opportunities. Guests: Brian Arroyo, fourth-year mechanical engineering major, UC Merced Michael Burke, reporter, EdSource Read more from EdSource: How UC Merced is trying to attract students after years of slow growth As enrollment flattens at most University of California campuses, it surges at Riverside Education Beat is a weekly podcast hosted by EdSource’s Zaidee Stavely and produced by Coby McDonald. Subscribe: Apple, Spotify, SoundCloud, YouTube

Julie Edwards' daughter brought home a Chromebook from school in second grade to do work in math and reading apps. But as soon as she cracked it open, she started watching Youtube videos and playing Minecraft. Soon, Julie realized she was spending a lot of time on screens in the classroom, too. Research shows that too much screen time can hurt children’s development and mental health. But since the pandemic, schools have used more and more technology, from learning apps for math and reading to Youtube videos for music and story time. As early as kindergarten, children receive tablets or laptops to take home from school. Parents in districts across the country, including in Los Angeles Unified School District, are organizing to limit screen time in school. Guests: Julie Edwards, parent, Schools Beyond Screens Mallika Seshadri, reporter, EdSource Read more from EdSource: Parents push for reduced screen time a year after Los Angeles Unified bans cellphones Education Beat is a weekly podcast hosted by EdSource’s Zaidee Stavely and produced by Coby McDonald. Subscribe: Apple, Spotify, SoundCloud, YouTube

Fresno Unified School District and the local teachers union are paying for a program that has housed 20 families. The families are also offered classes and resources to help them get better jobs and more stability. The district says the program is boosting students' attendance, grades and overall wellbeing. Guests: Andrés Rodríguez, district liaison for students experiencing foster care and homelessness, Fresno Unified School District Lasherica Thornton, reporter, EdSource Read more from EdSource: Fresno school district, teachers union get families housed Education Beat is a weekly podcast hosted by EdSource’s Zaidee Stavely and produced by Coby McDonald. Subscribe: Apple, Spotify, SoundCloud, YouTube

Students from all over Los Angeles flock to Hollywood High School’s New Media Academy to learn video production and animation. They produce their own films, from horror-comedy about ghost hunting to documentaries about historical figures. At the same time, they get the opportunity to build connections with entertainment industry professionals. The successful magnet arts program also boasts a 100% graduation rate. Guests: Mawuena Akorli, student, New Media Academy, Hollywood High Vani Sanganeria, reporter, EdSource Read more from EdSource: Hollywood High helps student filmmakers break into film and TV Education Beat is a weekly podcast hosted by EdSource’s Zaidee Stavely and produced by Coby McDonald. Subscribe: Apple, Spotify, SoundCloud, YouTube

When the Covid-19 pandemic hit, Judith Larson’s daughter was in sixth grade in Los Angeles Unified School District. The family waited months for a school computer and internet access, so that she could join classes online. As her daughter fell further and further behind, Judith decided to take action. She is one of the plaintiffs in a class-action lawsuit filed against LAUSD alleging that students were denied “basic educational equality" during the pandemic. A settlement was recently reached in the case, requiring the district to offer intensive "high-dose" tutoring to 100,000 students for three years. Guests: Judith Larson, mother, Los Angeles Unified School District Mallika Seshadri, reporter, EdSource Read more from EdSource: LAUSD is now accountable for high-dosage tutoring as settlement is approved Parents, LAUSD settle suit; 100,000 students get 45 tutoring hours for three years Districts still have learning recovery money: Why not spend it on tutoring? Podcast: Why aren't more districts investing in tutoring? Education Beat is a weekly podcast hosted by EdSource’s Zaidee Stavely and produced by Coby McDonald. Subscribe: Apple, Spotify, SoundCloud, YouTube

Teachers across California are going on strike or threatening to do so this school year, calling for better pay, benefits, smaller class sizes and better working conditions for special education. At the same time, school districts say their budgets are extremely tight this year and they’re contemplating school closures and mass layoffs. This episode dives into these two seemingly conflicting priorities, with voices from a roundtable discussion on the issue. Voices: Michael Fine, chief executive officer, Fiscal Crisis & Management Assistance Team (FCMAT) David Goldberg, president, California Teachers' Association Brittoni Ward, president, Twin Rivers United Educators Diana Lambert, senior reporter, EdSource Watch the roundtable and read more from EdSource: What can schools afford? Experts discuss teachers strikes and funding priorities Education Beat is a weekly podcast hosted by EdSource’s Zaidee Stavely and produced by Coby McDonald. Subscribe: Apple, Spotify, SoundCloud, YouTube

At Antioch High School in Contra Costa County, 80 students serve as peer advocates, mentoring freshmen during their transition to high school, meeting with students who have been found with alcohol or drugs, and facilitating mediation between students who are having conflicts. There's been a surge in school programs like this one, where students counsel or mentor other students. And they seem to be paying off, both for students who receive the mentoring and for the advocates themselves. Guests: Cristian Topete, Peer advocate and student, Antioch High School Vani Sanganeria, reporter, EdSource Read more from EdSource: Students become lifeline for peers facing suspensions, mental health struggles Estudiantes se convierten en apoyo vital para sus compañeros que enfrentan suspensiones y problemas de salud mental. Education Beat is a weekly podcast hosted by EdSource’s Zaidee Stavely and produced by Coby McDonald. Subscribe: Apple, Spotify, SoundCloud, YouTube

Arizona State University has been expanding its footprint in California for years and some students here say it offered programs they could not have found at California colleges. But the California Student Aid Commission has denied Arizona State's requests for Cal Grants, saying state law does not open the program to out-of-state public universities. Guests: Jessica Lopez, California-based graduate, Arizona State University Amy DiPierro, reporter, EdSource Read more from EdSource: Arizona State navigates financial aid pitfalls of California expansion Education Beat is a weekly podcast hosted by EdSource’s Zaidee Stavely and produced by Coby McDonald. Subscribe: Apple, Spotify, SoundCloud, YouTube

California's Assembly Bill 218 made it possible for childhood abuse victims to sue public agencies up to their 40th birthday or five years after discovering the abuse. Advocates say the law has allowed victims to find justice and peace after life-damaging assaults. The law sparked a flurry of lawsuits, and school districts have had to pay billions of dollars in settlements, with no end in sight. Even districts that have not faced any abuse allegations involving employees are also paying for settlements, because they pool the costs with other districts. It's created a difficult dilemma. Guests: Tara Campanella, chief business officer, Bass Lake School District Thomas Peele, investigative reporter, EdSource Read more from EdSource: California school districts pay for abuse settlements despite no claims California lawmakers weigh reforms to child abuse law amid costly litigation Education Beat is a weekly podcast hosted by EdSource’s Zaidee Stavely and produced by Coby McDonald. Subscribe: Apple, Spotify, SoundCloud, YouTube

Fresno Unified invested $30 million in services for children and families that go beyond traditional academics, from housing assistance and food pantries to digital music production and lunchtime sports programs. Teachers say the programs are getting students excited about being at school, and addressing some of the barriers that made it hard for them to get to school or to learn once there. Guests: Eugene Reinor, Principal, Fort Miller Middle School, Fresno Unified School District Hector Giovanni Romero, Music teacher, Lincoln Elementary School, Fresno Unified School District Lasherica Thornton, Reporter, EdSource Read more from EdSource: Fresno Unified's $30 million investment to support students is paying off Education Beat is a weekly podcast hosted by EdSource’s Zaidee Stavely and produced by Coby McDonald. Subscribe: Apple, Spotify, SoundCloud, YouTube

As a saxophonist in Boston’s Klezmer Conservatory Band in 1985, Merryl Goldberg traveled to the Soviet Union to meet up with another group of musicians, The Phantom Orchestra. The Phantom Orchestra would be sharing more than good tunes with Merryl.  They’d also pass along information, including the names of people who wanted to escape the Soviet Union, which Merryl and her friends would then smuggle back to the United States. To do this, Merryl made up a secret code, hidden in sheet music. Now Merryl’s spy days are long behind her. But she is still passionate about how music and other arts can enrich other fields, including cybersecurity. Guests: Merryl Goldberg, Professor, California State University San Marcos Karen D’Souza, Reporter, EdSource Read more from EdSource: Merryl Goldberg, a music professor on a mission to spread arts education Education Beat is a weekly podcast hosted by EdSource’s Zaidee Stavely and produced by Coby McDonald.

Fausto Lopez was arrested at 16 years old and ordered to spend seven years in a juvenile facility. But before he had even finished half of that time, he finished high school, got an associate degree and applied to attend a four-year college. How did this young man find the drive and support to propel him to such academic success? Do other incarcerated young people have the same opportunities? Guests: Fausto Lopez, Student, Cal State San Bernardino Betty Márquez Rosales, Reporter, EdSource Read more from EdSource: How a young man serving a sentence in juvenile facilities made it out one class at a time Education Beat is a weekly podcast hosted by EdSource’s Zaidee Stavely and produced by Coby McDonald. Subscribe: Apple, Spotify, SoundCloud, YouTube

Heather Povinelli, a second grade teacher in Monrovia Unified, was named one of five California Teachers of the Year for 2026. But in college, she almost gave up on her dream of becoming a teacher because she worried that her dwarfism would stop her. We visited Heather in her Monrovia classroom, where we spoke about how she got back into teaching, how she creates an inclusive classroom, and what she learned conducting research about other teachers with dwarfism. Guest: Heather Povinelli, teacher, Bradoaks Elementary Science Academy in Monrovia Read more from EdSource: Her dwarfism once scared her away from teaching — now it’s her strength Education Beat is a weekly podcast. This week's episode was hosted by EdSource’s Emma Gallegos and produced by Coby McDonald. Subscribe: Apple, Spotify, SoundCloud, YouTube

It’s time for a new calendar, new year’s resolutions and new predictions from John Fensterwald. John is a veteran reporter, with decades of experience reporting on education. At the turn of the year, we at EdSource turn to John to give us a sense of what we have to look forward to — or dread — in education. Guest: John Fensterwald, Editor-at-large, EdSource Read more from EdSource: Strikes, cuts, state superintendent race: Our 2026 California education predictions. What are yours? Education Beat is a weekly podcast hosted by EdSource’s Zaidee Stavely and produced by Coby McDonald. Subscribe: Apple, Spotify, SoundCloud, YouTube

This week we are honoring the life of Betty Reid Soskin, who was the nation’s oldest national park ranger and a civil rights icon. She passed away on December 21st at 104 years old. To honor her, we are rebroadcasting an episode from 2021, about how a California school district came to rename a school after her. Guests: Anaya Zenad, Student, West Contra Costa Unified Ali Tadayon, Reporter, EdSource Read more EdSource stories on this topic: East Bay middle school renamed to honor local 100-year-old park ranger and activist How a California middle school’s history project led to name change Education Beat is a weekly podcast hosted by EdSource’s Zaidee Stavely and produced by Coby McDonald. Subscribe: Apple, Spotify, SoundCloud, YouTube

In the bilingual education world, José Medina is a superstar. A former teacher turned principal turned researcher, he spreads his message of respecting students' languages on social media and in schools across the country with a sassy, no-nonsense style, telenovela-level energy and strong research to back it up. Listen to him tell his own story and how his own experiences in childhood fuel his fight for inclusion. Guest: José Medina, Biliteracy and dual-language researcher Read more: Meet the researcher using sass and social media to transform bilingual education Education Beat is a weekly podcast hosted by EdSource’s Zaidee Stavely and produced by Coby McDonald. Subscribe: Apple, Spotify, SoundCloud, YouTube

In California’s Central Valley, a small K–8 school district is getting big results. Livingston Union School District in Merced County was recently recognized by the UCLA Center for the Transformation of Schools for outperforming the state in key areas — reducing chronic absenteeism and suspensions while improving student well-being. How did the district do this? By investing deeply in school counselors and pushing a comprehensive program that goes above and beyond what most schools offer in both academic and mental health support. Guests: Alma Lopez, school counseling coordinator, Livingston Union School District Vani Sanganeria, reporter, EdSource Read more from EdSource: How school counselors reduced chronic absenteeism and suspensions at a California school district Central Valley school counselor wins national award for ‘relentless’ work with students Podcast: What it takes to be an award-winning counselor Education Beat is a weekly podcast hosted by EdSource’s Zaidee Stavely and produced by Coby McDonald. Subscribe: Apple, Spotify, SoundCloud, YouTube

The vast majority of students who graduated high school while detained in California's juvenile facilities in a five-year span between 2018 and 2023 did not pass a 12th grade reading assessment. In fact, over a fifth of them were reading at lower elementary-school grade levels. Now California's finally doing something about it. A new literacy intervention program is now being rolled out in San Diego, Alameda, San Mateo and Riverside counties, to help teenagers in juvenile detention grasp the basics of reading. Guests: Rosie Leyva, Literacy specialist, Alameda County Court Schools Betty Márquez Rosales, Reporter, EdSource Read more from EdSource: New multi-county initiative to tackle literacy gaps among detained high school students In California's youth justice system, many high schoolers graduate with grade-school reading skills An island of reading for youth in the California juvenile justice system Related episodes: How a library inside juvenile hall aims to break the prison pipeline Could juvenile detention centers look like college campuses? How schools can help formerly incarcerated students succeed Education Beat is a weekly podcast hosted by EdSource’s Zaidee Stavely and produced by Coby McDonald. Subscribe: Apple, Spotify, SoundCloud, YouTube

This week many listeners may be in their kitchens preparing a big meal for Thanksgiving, so we're rebroadcasting an episode from 2022, where we visit a kitchen in Davenport, California, a little seaside town, south of San Francisco, not far from Santa Cruz. The town is home to a tiny district with just one school, nestled between ocean, farmland, and mountains. John Fensterwald is taking us there for lunch, cooked from scratch by the fifth and sixth graders. Pacific Elementary’s unique Food Lab program is a boon for the district, boosting its enrollment by attracting students from nearby wealthier districts. Guests: Emelia Miguel, Food Service Director, Pacific Elementary School Quinn Schromm, Moses O’Riordan, Shyon Johnson, Logan Franks, and other Student Chefs, Pacific Elementary School Eric Gross, Principal, Pacific Elementary School Doña Bumgarner, Parent and Librarian, Pacific Elementary School John Fensterwald, Editor-at-large, EdSource Read the EdSource article and watch the video: Kid cooks and tasty lunches: One elementary school’s recipe for survival Education Beat is a weekly podcast hosted by EdSource’s Zaidee Stavely and produced by Coby McDonald. Subscribe: Apple, Spotify, SoundCloud, YouTube

Over the last ten years, San Luis Coastal Unified School District has changed up its menu, replacing packaged pizza and chicken nuggets with freshly baked chicken drumsticks, sweet potato, black bean chimichurri bowls and plates of coconut rice with a red lentil dal. The district has done that in part through a federal grant program that helps school districts buy ingredients from local farms to make more nutritious school lunches from scratch. Now, that federal program has been gutted, leaving many districts, especially smaller ones or those just starting out on the journey of making over their menus, without a crucial funding stream. Guests: Erin Primer, director of food and nutrition services, San Luis Coastal Unified School District Mallika Seshadri, reporter, EdSource Read more from EdSource: Schools, farms grapple with lost funds after federal program is gutted  Education Beat is a weekly podcast hosted by EdSource’s Zaidee Stavely and produced by Coby McDonald. Subscribe: Apple, Spotify, SoundCloud, YouTube

Improve Your Tomorrow provides mentorship services to about 1,000 students at Stockton Unified School District, transforming struggling students into leaders prepared for college. But funding is uncertain under the second Trump administration. Improve Your Tomorrow, like many mentoring and tutoring programs in K-12 schools, relies partially on federal grants through AmeriCorps — funding that President Donald Trump has proposed entirely eliminating. Guests: Nicole Davidson, program manager, Improve Your Tomorrow at Stockton Unified School District Lasherica Thornton, reporter, EdSource Read more from EdSource: 'Fewer children are able to thrive’: California AmeriCorps programs adapt to funding uncertainty Subscribe: Apple, Spotify, SoundCloud, YouTube Education Beat is a weekly podcast. This week's episode was hosted by EdSource’s Emma Gallegos and produced by Coby McDonald.

As a kindergarten teacher, a big part of Violet Nye’s job is teaching kids how to read. But the way she teaches her students is very different from how she learned as a kid. She remembers being taught to memorize whole words. Now, she's steeped in the practice of teaching kids how to sound out words, while also building up their vocabulary and helping them lift words off the page to imagine whole new worlds from stories. A new law aims to get more California teachers to teach reading the way Violet does. It comes after years of advocacy and debate and required a significant amount of compromise. Guests: Violet Nye, Kindergarten teacher, San Juan Unified School District Diana Lambert, Reporter, EdSource Read more from EdSource: New law changes how California kids learn to read Education Beat is a weekly podcast hosted by EdSource’s Zaidee Stavely and produced by Coby McDonald. Subscribe: Apple, Spotify, SoundCloud, YouTube

Miliani Rodriguez is a senior at Coachella Valley High School. The school buildings are old, she says, and they show it. The air conditioning often breaks in over 100-degree heat. When it rains, the ceilings leak. The sinks in her ceramics classroom broke and flooded the classroom. Miliani thought these kinds of things were  normal, after attending school in the Coachella Valley Unified School District since kindergarten. But last year she visited her cousin’s high school, just a couple of miles away from her, and found modern buildings, spacious athletic fields, and working air conditioning. Now, she is the lead plaintiff in a lawsuit, Miliani R. v. State of California, which claims the way the state subsidizes school renovations perpetuates vast inequalities for students, sending more money to districts that already have more property wealth, and locking out poor districts from accessing funding. Guests: Miliani Rodriguez, Lead plaintiff, Miliani R. v. State of California John Fensterwald, Editor-at-large, EdSource Read more from EdSource: California sued over bond program that sends more money to fix facilities in wealthy school districts Education Beat is a weekly podcast hosted by EdSource’s Zaidee Stavely and produced by Coby McDonald. Subscribe: Apple, Spotify, SoundCloud, YouTube

When Sarahi Sanchez Soto joined a dual-enrollment program at her high school in Dinuba, it allowed her to enroll in college-level computer science classes and jump-started her college career. But that program is now in peril, after the Trump administration announced it’s eliminating grant programs for Hispanic-Serving Institutions, colleges where at least 25% of students are Latino, because they claim they are discriminatory. These cuts hit California's community colleges hard, where the grants provided services meant to help all students get past early hurdles in their college journeys. Guests: Sarahi Sanchez Soto, Student, Reedley College, Michael Burke, Reporter, EdSource Read more from EdSource: Student support programs in peril after federal cuts at Hispanic-serving community colleges Trump administration to end grant funding for Hispanic-Serving Institutions, affecting many California colleges California colleges worry about lawsuit challenging funding for campuses with many Hispanic students Education Beat is a weekly podcast hosted by EdSource’s Zaidee Stavely and produced by Coby McDonald. Subscribe: Apple, Spotify, SoundCloud, YouTube

For Chelsea Duran, returning to Maywood Academy High School this fall for her senior year means feeling like she has to be on high alert, watching over her shoulder for immigration enforcement agents. Summer break started with the news that Chelsea's friend Johanna had been detained by immigration authorities. News of her arrest sent shock waves through the school. In the days that followed, the neighborhood around the school was thrust into the center of intense immigration enforcement activity, leaving students and teachers on edge. Guests: Chelsea Duran, Student, Maywood Academy High School Betty Márquez Rosales, Reporter, EdSource Read more from EdSource: A student deported and a summer of raids leave a school reeling Education Beat is a weekly podcast hosted by EdSource’s Zaidee Stavely and produced by Coby McDonald. Subscribe: Apple, Spotify, SoundCloud, YouTube

Saran Tugsjargal grew up with multiple disabilities. At school she received speech therapy, occupational therapy, physical therapy, and help with learning to understand social cues. But the support often felt isolating. Making things even more difficult was the designation Saran received because of some of her behavioral challenges: emotional disturbance. She says it felt stigmatizing. Saran found herself wondering who would stand up for students like her. Little did she know that she would become that person. Guests: Saran Tugsjargal, student commissioner, California's Advisory Commission on Special Education Emma Gallegos, reporter, EdSource Read more from EdSource: How this teen pushed California to change special education policy Education Beat is a weekly podcast hosted by EdSource’s Zaidee Stavely and produced by Coby McDonald. Subscribe: Apple, Spotify, SoundCloud, YouTube

Schools across California could lose hundreds of social workers, school counselors, mental health clinicians, wellness coaches and graduate student interns, after the Trump administration cut federal grants for mental health support. In rural areas like Humboldt County, school districts have relied almost entirely on these federal grants to provide mental health workers for students, who are struggling with high rates of poverty, drug addiction, and suicide, and difficulty accessing care. Guests: Jane Huang, Wellness coach, Eureka High School Cassandra Garcia-Gonzalez, Peer counselor, Eureka High School Vani Sanganeria, Reporter, EdSource Read more from EdSource: After federal cuts, California schools could lose hundreds of mental health clinicians Education Beat is a weekly podcast hosted by EdSource’s Zaidee Stavely and produced by Coby McDonald. Subscribe: Apple, Spotify, SoundCloud, YouTube

All high schools in California will be required to offer a semester of financial literacy to all students, beginning in the 2027-28 school year. The course will be required for graduation beginning with the class of 2031. Some high schools are already offering the course. Meet Allison Saiki, named teacher of the year from Sweetwater Union High School District, where she teaches students how to manage money, pay rent and open retirement accounts, all with a classroom currency she calls "Saiki Cents." Guests: Allison Saiki, Teacher, Olympian High School, Chula Vista Mallika Seshadri, Reporter, EdSource Read more from EdSource: Districts gear up for personal finance graduation requirement Education Beat is a weekly podcast hosted by EdSource’s Zaidee Stavely and produced by Coby McDonald. Subscribe: Apple, Spotify, SoundCloud, YouTube

Highlands Community Charter and Technical Schools opened in Sacramento in 2014 with high ideals — to help adult students, many formerly incarcerated or new immigrants, to earn a diploma, improve English language skills, or learn a trade. Now, the school is an example lawmakers and advocates point to as a reason for increasing charter school oversight. A state audit found the charter received millions of dollars in funding for which it was not eligible, assigned teachers to classes they were not credentialed to teach, and avoided standardized testing, in addition to spending on non-education-related items such as a trip to Paris and leasing a semi-professional ballpark. Guests: Jacob Walker, Co-founder, Highlands Community Charter and Technical Schools Diana Lambert, Reporter, EdSource Read more from EdSource: How a Sacramento charter school misused $180 million and became a poster child for reform Former Sacramento superintendent takes charge at troubled charter school Education Beat is a weekly podcast hosted by EdSource’s Zaidee Stavely and produced by Coby McDonald. Subscribe: Apple, Spotify, SoundCloud, YouTube

This June, the U.S. Supreme Court granted public school parents the right to withdraw their children from materials and discussions on LGBTQ issues and other subjects that conflict with their "sincerely held religious beliefs." The Mahmoud v. Taylor case involved storybooks with LGBTQ themes, but legal experts say that the case has much broader implications that could affect subjects like literature, history and science. Now school leaders are wrestling with how to comply with this ruling. Guests: Troy Flint, spokesperson, California School Boards Association Brenda Lebsack, school board member, Santa Ana Unified School District Jorge Reyes Salinas, spokesperson, Equality California Thomas Peele, Investigative reporter, EdSource Read more from EdSource: California schools brace for fallout from U.S. Supreme Court decision on religious rights Education Beat is a weekly podcast. This week's episode was hosted by EdSource’s Emma Gallegos and produced by Coby McDonald. Subscribe: Apple, Spotify, SoundCloud, YouTube

With the expansion of transitional kindergarten to all 4-year-olds, California schools need smaller toilets, smaller sinks and a whole new understanding of the importance of play in the classroom. Think Play-Doh, finger painting, make-believe and dress-up. Some 4-year-olds also need help going to the bathroom and wiping afterward. But teachers — and principals — are not always educated about these aspects of early education, making the rollout of TK somewhat bumpy. In this episode, a TK teacher and our reporters discuss some of the challenges to making sure every California school is offering a high-quality early education tailored to 4-year-olds' developmental needs. Guests: Elyse Doerflinger, TK Teacher, Woodlake Unified School District Lasherica Thornton, Reporter, EdSource Read more from EdSource: Play, potties, preschool: TK for all Education Beat is a weekly podcast hosted by EdSource’s Zaidee Stavely and produced by Coby McDonald. Subscribe: Apple, Spotify, SoundCloud, YouTube

During his time in Los Angeles County's juvenile justice facilities, Dovontray Farmer said he fell behind academically. He said his time in those facilities “played a major role in not being able to get properly educated — I felt betrayed, honestly.” Dovontray, now 24, mentors students who were recently released from detention, and he's found that academic expectations in juvenile detention are still as low as they were when he was detained. A group called the Education Justice Coalition released a report this month, calling out Los Angeles County for its continuing failure to educate incarcerated youth, despite a civil grand jury report and investigations by the federal and state Department of Justice. Who is responsible for Los Angeles County's continuing failure to educate incarcerated young people? Voices: Dovontray Farmer, youth mentor with Youth Justice Coalition Betty Márquez Rosales, Reporter, EdSource Read more from EdSource: L.A. County’s failure to educate incarcerated youth is ‘systemic,’ report says Education Beat is a weekly podcast. This week's episode was hosted by EdSource’s Emma Gallegos and produced by Coby McDonald. Subscribe: Apple, Spotify, SoundCloud, YouTube

Lack of on-campus housing for students at many California State University campuses can be a major barrier for low-income students to attend college. To try to address this, CSU added more than 17,000 new beds over the last decade, with plans to add more. Yet students still struggle to find housing on or close to campus. What are the barriers to building more on-campus housing? Why does it matter for students? Guests: Sofia Gonzalez, Student, Sacramento State University Amy DiPierro, Reporter, EdSource Read more from EdSource: Cal State wants more housing. Can it add 18,000 beds? Education Beat is a weekly podcast, hosted by EdSource’s Zaidee Stavely and produced by Coby McDonald. Subscribe: Apple, Spotify, SoundCloud, YouTube

Education Beat is turning 4 years old, and to mark the occasion we’re rebroadcasting an episode from our very first days back in 2021. It's the story of an Oakland woman, Oral Lee Brown, who adopted a class of first graders and promised to pay for their college educations if they graduated from high school. Earlier this year, she was honored by the State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond and the California Department of Education for her contributions to education. Guests: Carolyn Jones, Former Senior Reporter, EdSource Oral Lee Brown, Founder and President, Oral Lee Brown Foundation Nekita Noel-Ikulala, Former student sponsored by Ms. Brown Jeffery Toney, Former student sponsored by Ms. Brown Daishar Young, Former student sponsored by Ms. Brown Read more EdSource articles on this topic: How ‘Mama Brown’ changed students’ lives by paying for college and so much more: ‘It’s not about the money’ Education Beat is a weekly podcast, hosted by EdSource’s Zaidee Stavely and produced by Coby McDonald. Subscribe: Apple, Spotify, SoundCloud, YouTube

Kat Stamatakos says she was able to turn her college career around thanks to the TRIO Writing Success Project at City College of San Francisco. It helped her get an "A" in an English class she failed the first time, but, more importantly, she found a community who cheered her on and held her accountable. But the program that was so critical to Kat’s success is now on the chopping block. The Trump Administration has proposed cutting all funding for what are called TRIO programs — like Upward Bound and McNair Scholars — which prepare and guide low-income students through college. In California, the programs served over 100,000 participants in the 2023-24 academic year. Why is the Trump administration targeting TRIO and what's at stake for students? Voices: Kat Stamatakos, TRIO student and incoming UCLA transfer student Amy DiPierro, Reporter, EdSource Read more from EdSource: Trump wants to cut college access programs for low-income students; California educators are pushing back Education Beat is a weekly podcast. This week's episode was hosted by EdSource’s Emma Gallegos and produced by Coby McDonald. Subscribe: Apple, Spotify, SoundCloud, YouTube

Larry Ferlazzo is a well-respected teacher, both in the Sacramento high school where he taught for more than two decades and far beyond. He has spent much of his career teaching immigrant students and English language learners. He’s written 10 books about teaching and edited 3 more. He also maintains a personal blog and a column for teachers, where he shares resources and tips for a following of tens of thousands. Now he’s retiring. In this episode, he shares how he became the teacher he is and some words of wisdom for other teachers who will carry his baton. Guest: Larry Ferlazzo, Teacher and author Read more from EdSource: He taught and blogged for thousands — retiring teacher shares his wisdom Read Larry's blog here. Education Beat is a weekly podcast, hosted by EdSource’s Zaidee Stavely and produced by Coby McDonald. Subscribe: Apple, Spotify, SoundCloud, YouTube

Monterey County offers the children of agricultural workers a fun summer filled with innovative science projects, dance and ceramics, in addition to beefing up their math and English skills. It’s one of dozens of these programs statewide and even more across the nation. But this could be the last summer the program is offered. President Donald Trump froze funds for the program and wants to eliminate it entirely. Voices: Constantino Silva, Senior Director of Migrant Education, Monterey County Karla Caliz, Migrant education coordinator, Monterey County Keyla Robles, Teacher in summer migrant education program, Monterey County Jose Perez, Migrant education resource teacher, King City Union School District Enrique Secada, Visiting teacher from Mexico Omar, Daleysa, Jesus, Oliver and Evelyn, Migrant education students Read more from EdSource: Migrant education helps farmworkers' children catch up; Trump wants to end it Education Beat is a weekly podcast, hosted by EdSource’s Zaidee Stavely and produced by Coby McDonald. Subscribe: Apple, Spotify, SoundCloud, YouTube

Hundreds of thousands of children and families will likely lose federally funded food stamps and health care under the new law. Advocates for low-income families say that means that children will be coming to school hungry and stressed, making it harder for them to learn. Schools will also face cuts to health services they provide on campus. Guests: Clarissa Doutherd, Executive Director, Parent Voices Oakland Avo Makdessian, Executive Director, First 5 Association of California Betty Márquez Rosales, Reporter, EdSource Read more from EdSource: What Trump's budget and tax law means for California students Education Beat is a weekly podcast, hosted by EdSource’s Zaidee Stavely and produced by Coby McDonald. Subscribe: Apple, Spotify, SoundCloud, YouTube

Each year, most of California’s public colleges and universities are eligible for extra federal funding because they enroll high numbers of Latino students and are therefore classified as Hispanic-Serving Institutions, or HSIs. That designation has helped California colleges and universities get more than $600 million in grants since 1995. But now, that funding could be at risk. The state of Tennessee and the anti-affirmative action group Students for Fair Admissions recently filed a lawsuit challenging the legality of HSI grants. What's at stake for California students? Guests: Cristian Reyes, Student, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo Michael Burke, Reporter, EdSource Read more from EdSource: California colleges worry about lawsuit challenging funding for campuses with many Hispanic students   Education Beat is a weekly podcast, hosted by EdSource’s Zaidee Stavely and produced by Coby McDonald. Subscribe: Apple, Spotify, SoundCloud, YouTube

As U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids ramp up across California, so have reports of family members — and sometimes students themselves — being detained or deported. Listen to how immigration enforcement is affecting families, how teachers are stepping up to help, and what school staff need to keep in mind. Guests: Rosa and Miguel Lopez, Parents fighting deportation Laura Brown, Special education teacher, Granada High School, Livermore Betty Márquez Rosales, Reporter, EdSource Read more from EdSource: Trauma, upheaval, fear: Students and families caught in the crosshairs of immigration enforcement LAUSD condemns immigration raids as one unfolds next to a school ‘Happy, but tense’: LAUSD graduations continue safely amid regional ICE activity What rights do immigrant students and families have in California schools and colleges? | Quick Guide Education Beat is a weekly podcast, hosted by EdSource’s Zaidee Stavely and produced by Coby McDonald. Subscribe: Apple, Spotify, SoundCloud, YouTube

This year Berkeley High School launched a new program that pairs professional filmmakers with high school students called Future Filmmakers. Seven students created personal documentaries about their own lives on topics ranging from divorce to masculinity to grief. Students shared what they learned through the program about filmmaking, storytelling and about their own families. Guests: Nico Lee, Berkeley High School student Derrick Coney, Berkeley High School student Madeleine Wilson, Berkeley High School student Madison Chau, Berkeley High School student Karen D'Souza, Reporter, EdSource Read more from EdSource: Film program empowers Berkeley teens to tell their stories Education Beat is a weekly podcast. This week's episode was hosted by EdSource’s Emma Gallegos and produced by Coby McDonald. Subscribe: Apple, Spotify, SoundCloud, YouTube

During the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, public health professor Noé Crespo applied for a research grant from the National Institutes of Health to study ways to boost vaccination rates among Latinos. He and his colleagues designed a community outreach plan, paid a team to implement it, and collected results. All that remained was to analyze the data. But in April, the grant was terminated by the Trump administration, alongside many others nationwide, leaving his research in limbo. Guests: Noé Crespo, Professor of public health, San Diego State University Amy DiPierro, Reporter, EdSource Read more from EdSource: Federal grant cuts hit California universities hard, putting research in limbo Education Beat is a weekly podcast, hosted by EdSource’s Zaidee Stavely and produced by Coby McDonald. Subscribe: Apple, Spotify, SoundCloud, YouTube