Education Beat

August 15, 2024 When a parent meets Alisha Schoen in court, it is always a last resort. Schoen is a Santa Clara County prosecutor tasked with bringing the parents of habitually truant students to court. At this point, both the school and district have tried and failed to improve a students’ attendance.  Parents of habitually truant students risk criminal charges under a 2010 law championed by Kamala Harris, then the San Francisco District Attorney. But most prosecutors, like Schoen, are not interested in getting a conviction and punishing parents. Instead, Schoen said, they want to find out why a student is missing school and what kind of support or government services might actually help improve their attendance. Guests: Alisha Schoen, Community Prosecutor for Santa Clara’s District Attorney’s Office Betty Márquez Rosales, Reporter, EdSource Education Beat is a weekly podcast. This episode is hosted by EdSource’s Emma Gallegos and produced by Coby McDonald.

After participating in Fresno Unified’s Teacher Academy program in high school, recent graduate Aly Ortiz knows she wants to be a teacher and is passionate about teaching in a dual language immersion school. A growing number of districts are hoping to address the teacher shortage by introducing students to the teaching field when they're still in high school. What do students learn from these programs? How can districts make the most of them? Guests: Aly Ortiz, High school graduate, Fresno Unified School District Lasherica Thornton, Reporter, EdSource Read more from EdSource: Can high school teacher academies address the shortage? Programs point to yes Education Beat is a weekly podcast hosted by EdSource’s Zaidee Stavely and produced by Coby McDonald.

The West Contra Costa Unified School District promised back in 2019 that Stege Elementary School would get a complete redesign to attract more students and more experienced teachers and turn around low test scores, high suspension rates and chronic absenteeism. The school building itself was supposed to be remodeled by the 2020-21 school year. But now, a group of teachers, staff and parents are suing the district, alleging that it failed to address severely poor building conditions and teacher vacancies, violating the rights of students, the majority of whom are Black, Latino, low-income and English learners. What happened? And what is the significance of this lawsuit statewide? Guests: Sam Cleare, Teacher, Stege Elementary School Karissa Provenza, Attorney, Public Advocates Monica Velez, Reporter, EdSource Read more from EdSource: West Contra Costa sued over poor building conditions, teacher vacancies Saving Stege: What will it take to redesign this struggling California school? Education Beat is a weekly podcast hosted by EdSource’s Zaidee Stavely and produced by Coby McDonald.

Districts across California are struggling  to hire teachers, but California doesn’t offer teacher preparation programs at community colleges, which is a barrier for those who live far away from four-year colleges. In contrast, Washington State is preparing hundreds of teachers with bachelor’s degrees at community colleges. What's the difference between these states and what can California learn from Washington? Guests: Saray Preciado and Jannet Zavala, Graduates, Yakima Valley College Michael Burke, Reporter, EdSource Read more from EdSource: How Washington state stands apart as a model for community college bachelor’s degrees Education Beat is a weekly podcast hosted by EdSource’s Zaidee Stavely and produced by Coby McDonald.

Misty Her first entered Fresno Unified as a first grader, learning English as a second language. Her family was among hundreds of thousands of Hmong refugees who came to the U.S. after the Vietnam War. She’s dedicated her career to giving back to the district where she grew up, starting as a bilingual instructional aide, then a teacher, principal, and deputy superintendent. In May, the school board appointed her as the new interim superintendent of Fresno Unified. She is the first woman to lead the district since its inception in 1873, and the first Hmong person, in a district where 10% of English learners speak Hmong at home. What challenges does Her face in leading the third-largest school district in California? Why does her appointment as interim superintendent matter? Guests: Bob Nelson, Outgoing superintendent, Fresno Unified School District Misty Her, Interim superintendent, Fresno Unified School District Lasherica Thornton, Reporter, EdSource Read more from EdSource: Fresno’s first female leader vows to address the needs of each student From Fresno Unified to Fresno State: Bob Nelson finds another way to serve Politics, threats, agendas have permeated search for Fresno Unified superintendent, many say Community outrage leads to changes in Fresno Unified superintendent search Education Beat is a weekly podcast hosted by EdSource’s Zaidee Stavely and produced by Coby McDonald.

When teachers noticed that children in Oakland preschool and kindergarten classrooms were not engaging in imaginative play or interacting with each other as much after the pandemic, staff at Children's Fairyland, a local theme park, turned to an old favorite — puppets. Children and adults have been enthralled by Fairyland's handmade puppets and original puppet shows for decades. Now, they can try their own hand at puppetry and bring their own stories to life. How does puppetry and other imaginative play help children learn and grow? And how can schools use this type of arts education in the classroom? Guests: Jacqui June Whitlock, Puppet education specialist, Children's Fairyland Karen D'Souza, Reporter, EdSource Read more from EdSource: Puppetry is far more than child's play for young learners in Oakland Education Beat is a weekly podcast hosted by EdSource’s Zaidee Stavely and produced by Coby McDonald.

Santa Rita Union School District, in Monterey County, is constantly patching up rotting floors and leaking roofs. Wealthier districts in the same county have state-of-the-art theaters, gymnasiums and science classrooms. That’s partly due to a decades-old method for funding school construction in California that many say has exacerbated inequalities. How did California's funding formula for school facilities become so unequal? And what are advocates proposing to do about it? Guests: Melissa Alderman, Superintendent, Santa Rita Union School District John Fensterwald, Editor-at-large, EdSource Read more from EdSource: Behind the scenes, a battle looms over fair funding for school construction Property-poor districts demand fairer funding for school facilities Achieving fair funding for school modernization in California: a case study [VIDEO] Education Beat is a weekly podcast hosted by EdSource’s Zaidee Stavely and produced by Coby McDonald.

University campuses have been roiled by turmoil over the latest war between Israel and Hamas. Pro-Palestinian protesters made little progress in finding common ground with administrators on many University of California campuses. Encampments came down not through mutual agreements but when administrators called in police. But what happened at UC Riverside, a campus with a reputation for being welcoming to Middle Eastern students, was different. Protesters were able to forge a deal with administrators without the arrests or violent clashes with police. What can other universities learn from the deal reached on the Riverside campus? Guests: Samia Alkam, UC Riverside doctoral student and lead negotiator for pro-Palestinian students Michael Burke, higher education reporter, EdSource Read more from EdSource: How pro-Palestinian protesters at one UC campus got a deal UC has $32 billion in assets targeted by pro-Palestinian protesters, but no plans to divest UCLA chancellor faces Congress, says he regrets not removing encampment sooner College commencements face disruption from pro-Palestinian protests Police tear apart encampment, disperse protesters on UCLA campus Education Beat is a weekly podcast. This episode is hosted by EdSource’s Emma Gallegos and produced by Coby McDonald.

On any given day, thousands of calls go out from California schools to the police. But there isn't a lot of public data about why police are called to schools, or what they do when they get there. As part of a sweeping statewide investigation into school policing, EdSource obtained nearly 46,000 incident logs documenting calls to police from and about 852 schools in almost every California county. The data offers a first, raw look at why school staff summon police. Why does this data matter and what can it tell school administrators, police, parents and students? Guests: Rose Ciotta, Investigations and Projects Editor, EdSource Thomas Peele, Investigative Reporter, EdSource Daniel J. Willis, Data Reporter, EdSource Read more from EdSource: Calling the Cops Database When California schools summon police Call records show vast police presence in California schools Going police-free is tough and ongoing, Oakland schools find San Bernardino County: Growing hot spot for school-run police Safety concerns on the rise in LAUSD; Carvalho looks to police Education Beat is a weekly podcast hosted by EdSource’s Zaidee Stavely and produced by Coby McDonald.

In San Jose’s Alum Rock Union School District, students from third to eighth grade gather after school to learn how to play guitar, trumpet, violin, guitarrón, and vihuela, and to sing mariachi music. What is the impact of a bilingual music program like this one? With new funding available from California's Prop 28, can districts expand programs like this one or will they have to do something new? Guests: Zaida Ramos, Program Director, Alum Rock Union School District Mariachi Program Karen D'Souza, Reporter, EdSource Read more from EdSource: Mariachi program teaches history and culture as well as music Arts education: Will misuse of funds undermine the Proposition 28 rollout? Education Beat is a weekly podcast hosted by EdSource’s Zaidee Stavely and produced by Coby McDonald.

California lawmakers set the average class size for transitional kindergarten, a new grade for four-year-olds, at 24 kids, with 1 adult for every 12 students. It’s generally agreed upon in early education field that smaller class sizes and more adults make for higher quality preschool, with more one-on-one attention and better supervision. In many preschools licensed by the state, one adult is required for every 8 children. But some districts are not staffing their TK classrooms to meet the 1:12 ratio, or they’re going over the class size. Some teachers say it's a safety issue. Guests: David Hunter, Transitional kindergarten teacher, Fresno Unified Lasherica Thornton, Reporter, EdSource Read more from EdSource: These districts and charters were fined for violating TK requirements TK staffing ratios are often unmet, teachers say; why some districts escape fines Education Beat is a weekly podcast hosted by EdSource’s Zaidee Stavely and produced by Coby McDonald.

As a wave of protests on university campuses call for a ceasefire in Gaza and for universities to divest from companies with military ties to Israel, student journalists have emerged as crucial sources of information.  At some schools, student journalists are the only regular source of news on campus grounds, especially when campuses have shut down to non-students. In some cases, they’ve scooped mainstream media, with the most accurate, up-to-date coverage.  Increasingly, student journalists are doing this work under threats of arrest and violence. Guests: Chris Woodard, Managing editor, The State Hornet Betty Márquez Rosales, Reporter, EdSource Mallika Seshadri, Reporter, EdSource Read more from EdSource: As protests surge across college campuses, student journalists report from the front lines Education Beat is a weekly podcast hosted by EdSource’s Zaidee Stavely and produced by Coby McDonald.

California has one of the lowest rates of English literacy in the U.S. Almost one third of adults in the state can do little more than fill out a basic form or read a very simple piece of writing in English. Many of them are immigrants. Experts say programs aimed at addressing poor literacy reach only a fraction of adults who need help. One way to reach them is to bring classes directly to the workplace. Guests: Marcelina Chamu, Janitor Emma Gallegos, Reporter, EdSource Read more from EdSource: When you can't read a medicine bottle: California immigrants struggle with low English literacy Education Beat is a weekly podcast hosted by EdSource’s Zaidee Stavely and produced by Coby McDonald.

Almost 2,000 teachers across California received notices they might be laid off this year, a huge increase compared to last year. School districts are facing budget cuts, with federal Covid relief funding expiring, enrollment declining and state funding leveling off. Although some who got these "pink slips" will ultimately be asked to stay on, teachers say the threat of being laid off is demoralizing and layoffs affect the ability of districts to recruit new teachers. With California experiencing an ongoing teacher shortage, what is the impact of this flood of pink slips on schools and teachers? Guests: Jacob Willis, Second grade teacher, San Diego Unified School District Diana Lambert, Reporter, EdSource Read more from EdSource: Anxious California teachers with pink slips await word on jobs next school year Education Beat is a weekly podcast hosted by EdSource’s Zaidee Stavely and produced by Coby McDonald.

Sam Prater knows what it feels like to be homeless. After he dropped out of high school, he was evicted twice in his hometown of Detroit. So when he saw homeless students being offered just 14 days in college dorms in California, he knew he had to try something different. Prater's organization now has four homes in L.A. that offer wraparound services to young people experiencing homelessness, to help them jump-start their lives and their college education. A visit offers a peek at what these homes offer. Guests: Sam Prater, Founder, Los Angeles Room & Board Betty Márquez Rosales, Reporter, EdSource Read more from EdSource: 'No place like this.' L.A. home helps young adults live beyond survival mode Education Beat is a weekly podcast hosted by EdSource’s Zaidee Stavely and produced by Coby McDonald.

Financial aid and admissions officers across California's colleges and universities are navigating longer hours and more stress, as they deal with unprecedented havoc in this year's rollout of the new Free Application for Federal Student Aid form. Hear from financial aid workers as they help students and their families navigate the application morass. Why has California seen heavier impacts from the FAFSA delays? And what is the state doing to mitigate the fallout? Guests: Kamila Juarez, graduating senior, Grace Davis High School Sonia Jethani, director of financial aid and scholarships at CSU East Bay Jeanette Phillips, director of financial aid and scholarships at Cal Poly Pomona Jessica Wagoner, senior associate vice president for enrollment management and services at Cal Poly Pomona Read more from EdSource: California’s universities navigate unprecedented FAFSA mistakes and delays  FAFSA delays make it difficult for students to finalize college decisions Education Beat is a weekly podcast. This episode is hosted by EdSource’s Ashley A. Smith and produced by Coby McDonald.

Ever since the Covid-19 pandemic, many California students have struggled to attend class regularly. Recent data shows that even last school year, when kids were back in person and there were fewer Covid regulations, nearly a quarter of students statewide missed more than 10% of the school year. But some school districts, like Fresno Unified, have managed to bring many of their missing students back to class. What's their secret? Guests: Abigail Arii, Director of Student Support Services, Fresno Unified School District Noreida Pérez, Attendance Manager, Fresno Unified School District Betty Márquez Rosales, Reporter, EdSource Lasherica Thornton, Reporter, EdSource Read more from EdSource: Calls, home visits, counseling help get California students back to school Interactive Map: Chronic absenteeism up in nearly a third of 930 California districts California’s dramatic jump in chronically absent students part of a nationwide surge Education Beat is a weekly podcast hosted by EdSource’s Zaidee Stavely and produced by Coby McDonald.

A growing body of research shows that having a Black teacher increases students' scores on math and reading tests and increases the chance that they will graduate from college. California has been trying to recruit and retain Black teachers for years, but the percentage of Black teachers still lags behind the percentage of Black students. What’s keeping Black teachers from getting to and staying in the classroom? And how can we do more to support them? Guests: Alicia Simba, Teacher, Oakland Unified School District Diana Lambert, Reporter, EdSource Read more from EdSource: Disrespect, low pay, lack of support keep Black teachers out of the profession Bias, extra work and feelings of isolation: 5 Black teachers tell their stories California, districts try to recruit and retain Black teachers; advocates say more should be done Education Beat is a weekly podcast hosted by EdSource’s Zaidee Stavely and produced by Coby McDonald.

If you or your child were enrolled in a California public school in first grade through high school in 2021-22, you might have money for college waiting for you. More than a year and a half ago, California launched a big initiative to help children from low income families save money for college. It’s called the California Kids Investment and Development Savings program, or just CalKIDS. The program has the potential to serve 3.6 million kids, but only a tiny fraction of those have signed up to activate their accounts. Who’s eligible for CalKIDS? And what needs to happen to get the word out to more families? Guests: Elizabeth Jonasson Rosas, Board trustee, Fresno Unified School District Lasherica Thornton, Reporter, EdSource Read more from EdSource: What to know about free money waiting in state-funded savings accounts | Quick Guide Few low-income Californians claiming kids' free money in college savings accounts Find out if you or your child is eligible here Education Beat is a weekly podcast hosted by EdSource’s Zaidee Stavely and produced by Coby McDonald.

A catastrophic forest fire roared through Northern California’s Butte County in 2018, taking 86 lives and destroying countless homes in the town of Paradise. To help kids cope with their fear, grief and loss, the county office of education sent a team of artists into the schools. One of those teaching artists shares how he's seen theater help children heal from trauma. Guests: Chris Murphy, Trauma-informed teaching artist, Butte County Office of Education Karen D'Souza, Reporter, EdSource EdSource Roundtable: Raising the curtain on Prop 28: Can arts education help transform California schools? Read more from EdSource: Can arts education help children heal from trauma? Education Beat is a weekly podcast hosted by EdSource’s Zaidee Stavely and produced by Coby McDonald.

The pandemic forced colleges and universities to move most courses online. But even today, many colleges and universities continue to offer online classes, and more than half of students nationwide are taking them. These courses offer more flexibility and the possibility of enrolling more students. But what do students think of them? EdSource’s California Student Journalism Corps asked students on seven campuses across the state. Guests: Ally Valiente, Student at Sonoma State University and Member of California Student Journalism Corps Kelcie Lee, Student at UC Berkeley and Member of California Student Journalism Corps Also featuring the voices of students Eli Baker, Stephen Chase, and Isabella Uhlik. Read more from EdSource: What California college students think about online classes Education Beat is a weekly podcast hosted by EdSource’s Zaidee Stavely and produced by Coby McDonald.

For young people who have been incarcerated, it can be hard to find a job or get the training they might need to start a career or go to college. California is trying to change that, with a program called #CaliforniansForAll Youth Jobs Corps, which places people ages 16 to 30 in jobs for a few months or up to a year and helps them prepare for careers that they might not otherwise be able to access. Guests: Kaelyn Carter, Member, #CaliforniansForAll Youth Jobs Corps Ebony Richardson, Re-entry Coach, Rubicon Landscape Group Betty Márquez Rosales, Reporter, EdSource Read more from EdSource: California's Youth Job Corps offers a second chance at career, higher education Education Beat is a weekly podcast hosted by EdSource’s Zaidee Stavely and produced by Coby McDonald.

As a child, Blanca Rubio was given coloring books rather than reading lessons, because she didn't speak English fluently. Now, she is spearheading an effort to require California school districts to teach all the basic skills needed for children to learn to read, based on research. How will reading instruction change if a new bill authored by Rubio becomes law? What obstacles might it face? Guests: Assemblywoman Blanca Rubio (D-Baldwin Park), California State Assembly John Fensterwald, Editor-at-large, EdSource Read more from EdSource: Setting aside local control, legislation would mandate how to teach reading in California Advocates for English learners and the 'science of reading' sign on to joint statement California's plan to change literacy instruction advances California does little to ensure all kids read by third grade A movement rises to change the teaching of reading Education Beat is a weekly podcast hosted by EdSource’s Zaidee Stavely and produced by Coby McDonald.

The vast majority of students in California graduate from high school, but most don't complete the classes needed for admission into the state’s public universities. Black and Latino students are the least likely to finish these courses, known as A through G requirements. Victor Valley Union High School District is determined to change that. Guests: Aleka Jackson-Jarrell, Coordinator of the Heritage Program, Victor Valley Union High School District Emma Gallegos, Reporter, EdSource Read more from EdSource: Most California high school seniors shut out of even applying to the state’s universities Find out how many seniors finished A-G courses at your high school on this interactive map Education Beat is a weekly podcast hosted by EdSource’s Zaidee Stavely. This episode was produced by Jennifer Molina.

When the Covid-19 pandemic hit, Maria O's daughters were in kindergarten and third grade in Los Angeles Unified. They didn't get a working computer from the district and had to connect to Zoom classes on their parents' phones. But Maria was even more concerned about the other children in their classes, who she noticed were not showing up at all or were not interacting with their teachers. So Maria decided to fight for them. Her children are two of 15 students in Oakland and Los Angeles who sued the state of California over unequal educational opportunities provided during the pandemic. Now, the state has settled, bringing billions to schools to focus on students who were most affected. Guests: Maria O., Plaintiff, Cayla J. vs. California John Fensterwald, Editor-at-large, EdSource Read more from EdSource: California agrees to target the most struggling students to settle learning-loss lawsuit Education Beat is a weekly podcast hosted by EdSource’s Zaidee Stavely. This episode was produced by Jennifer Molina.

As California schools ramp up arts education, they may need 15,000 new teachers who are passionate about both the arts and teaching the next generation.  One person with both those passions is Guillermo Tejeda. He's a jazz musician and former classroom teacher who's currently developing music production curriculum for kindergarten through eighth grade. Guests: Guillermo Tejeda, Musician and teacher, The Neighborhood Orchestra Collective Karen D'Souza, Reporter, EdSource Read more from EdSource: Teacher uses jazz to explore California history, race and culture Gov. Newsom’s budget proposal calls for expanding arts ed pathway Education Beat is a weekly podcast hosted by EdSource’s Zaidee Stavely. This episode was produced by Jennifer Molina.

California State University faculty announced a historic week-long strike, after months of negotiations. So students braced for a week of missed classes. Then, something surprising happened. After one day, a deal was reached.  The strike did what months of back-and-forth discussions couldn’t — improve faculty wages and working conditions. How significant was this strike? What did faculty win? Guest: Aimee Escalante, Lecturer, Cal State Monterey Bay Other voices: Leora Freedman, Chancellor for human resources, California State University Kate Ozment, Professor, Cal Poly Pomona Education Beat is a weekly podcast. This episode is hosted by EdSource’s Ashley A. Smith and produced by Jennifer Molina.

When Giselle Meza found out she was pregnant, she was worried her classmates would judge her, and she had no idea when or if she would finish high school. But now, after joining a teen parent program, she's committed to graduating and going on to community college to become an ultrasound technician. How do teen parent programs help students finish high school and go on to college or careers? And how do they help the babies they are raising? Guests: Giselle Meza, Student, Helping Our Parenting Students Excel (HOPE), Kings Valley Academy Lasherica Thornton, Reporter, EdSource Read more from EdSource: Hanford program supports teen parents while they finish high school Education Beat is a weekly podcast hosted by EdSource’s Zaidee Stavely. This episode is produced by Jennifer Molina.

Every January, we turn to our resident fortuneteller, John Fensterwald, for his predictions of what will transpire in California education in the coming year. This year, he predicts a state budget deficit will create financial stress for schools and contentious statewide ballot issues will create stress for voters. Guest: John Fensterwald, Editor-at-large, EdSource Read more from EdSource: California education issues to watch in 2024 — and predictions Education Beat is a weekly podcast hosted by EdSource’s Zaidee Stavely. This episode is produced by Jennifer Molina.

Estela López grew up in South Central Los Angeles, and she still lives and works just minutes from her childhood home. She has served in neighborhood schools for 30 years, first as a teacher and now as the principal of Dolores Huerta Elementary School. She has made it her mission to make sure her school is a refuge for children in the neighborhood, and her reach extends far beyond the walls of her school to help families secure housing, healthcare, and food. When she was grieving the loss of her oldest son, the children at her school helped her heal. Guests: Estela López, Principal, Dolores Huerta Elementary School, Los Angeles Unified School District Mallika Seshadri, Reporter, EdSource Read more from EdSource: ‘My mission’: Dolores Huerta Elementary Principal Estela Lopez extends support to community Education Beat is a weekly podcast hosted by EdSource’s Zaidee Stavely and produced by Coby McDonald.

It can be overwhelming for any parent to advocate for support in school for a child with a disability. But parents who don't speak much English face another major hurdle: getting accurate and timely translations of the documents and meetings so they can understand them. Some parents report waiting months or even a year for translations of their children's special education documents. A bill in the California legislature could help, but its future is uncertain. Guests: Carmen Rodríguez, Parent, San Francisco Unified School District Zaidee Stavely, Reporter, EdSource Read more from EdSource: Immigrant parents report faulty, slow translation of special education documents Education Beat is a weekly podcast. This episode is hosted by EdSource's Emma Gallegos and produced by Coby McDonald.

More California superintendents are leaving to go to other jobs, or retiring, than ever before. The stress of the pandemic, politics and even violent threats all play into superintendent turnover. Why are superintendents leaving? And what are districts doing to try to retain and attract them? Guests: Chris Evans, former superintendent, Natomas Unified School District Diana Lambert, reporter, EdSource Read more from EdSource: Threats, stress and politics pushing school superintendents out the door Why five superintendents decided to walk away from their jobs Superintendents: Well-paid and walking away Education Beat is a weekly podcast hosted by EdSource’s Zaidee Stavely and produced by Coby McDonald.

Two years after schools returned to in-person learning, students are struggling to meet math and English standards on statewide tests. Their mental health is also suffering and they're missing lots of days of school. EdSource brought together a panel of experts to discuss what schools and districts can do to re-engage students, and how teachers can energize and learn from each other. There was one very strong theme — the need for students to feel like they belong at school. Guests: Adalberto Hernández, Principal, George Washington Elementary School, Madera Unified School District Chris Collins, Data and assessment coordinator, Cajon Valley Union School District Yolie Flores, President and CEO, Families in Schools Heather Hough, executive director, Policy Analysis for California Education John Malloy, Superintendent, San Ramon Valley Unified School District John Fensterwald, Editor-at-large, EdSource Read more from EdSource and watch the roundtable: Boosting student success after Covid is a team effort, panel says Flat test scores leave California far behind pre-Covid levels of achievement Education Beat is a weekly podcast hosted by EdSource’s Zaidee Stavely and produced by Coby McDonald.

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.

Bonnie Pérez took child development classes at night while working as a nanny during the day. But she didn’t see a lot of other nannies in her classes, largely because the classes were all in English.  Bonnie saw an untapped group of people with lots of hands-on experience working with kids and who could help fill a shortage of preschool teachers in the state. A new California law removes barriers to allow more students to enroll in courses taught in Mandarin, Spanish, Russian, Korean and other languages. Guests: Bonnie Pérez, Professor of child development, West Los Angeles College Michael Burke, Reporter, EdSource Read more from EdSource: Community college students can take classes in their native language under a new law Education Beat is a weekly podcast hosted by EdSource’s Zaidee Stavely and produced by Coby McDonald.

Students new to the country often find themselves in the classrooms of teachers with very little training or support in how to meet their unique needs. Listen to veteran teacher Jenna Hewitt King describe how her first day teaching newcomers made her feel like a new teacher all over again — and how a new law, Assembly Bill 714, could begin to provide guidance and data for teachers like her. Guests: Jenna Hewitt King, Teacher, San Leandro High School Zaidee Stavely, Reporter, EdSource Read more from EdSource: Teachers of recently arrived immigrant students to get help under new law Commentary: Our newcomer students deserve better Education Beat is a weekly podcast. This episode is hosted by EdSource’s Emma Gallegos and produced by Coby McDonald.

The California State University board of trustees voted last month to increase tuition 6 percent every year for five years, beginning in the fall of 2024. The rate increase will affect both undergraduate and graduate students, and there’s been vocal opposition from students, faculty and staff. EdSource’s California Journalism Corps fanned out to ask students how they think the tuition hike could affect decisions to enroll at Cal State. Guests: Olivia Keeler, Journalism student and member, California Student Journalism Corps Arabel Meyer, Journalism student and member, California Student Journalism Corps Ashley A. Smith, Reporter, EdSource Read more from EdSource: Cal State students will see 6% tuition hike CSU students sound off on impact of upcoming tuition increase Cal State graduation rates remain flat for second consecutive year Education Beat is a weekly podcast hosted by EdSource’s Zaidee Stavely and produced by Coby McDonald.

Fresno teachers are voting this Wednesday on whether or not to strike, if the union and the district can’t come to an agreement on class size, teacher pay and benefits. The first and only time Fresno teachers have been on strike before was 45 years ago, in 1978. What can we learn from those who were involved in both sides of that strike? Guests: Barbara Mendes, retired teacher, Fresno Unified School District Nancy Richardson, former school board president, Fresno Unified School District Lasherica Thornton, reporter, EdSource Read more from EdSource: Lessons from the 1978 teachers strike in Fresno Fresno Unified teachers very likely to strike. Here are the issues Fresno teachers union rejects district’s offer of pay increases, expanded medical benefits Education Beat is a weekly podcast hosted by EdSource’s Zaidee Stavely and produced by Coby McDonald.

A high school drama teacher was removed from the classroom in Temecula Valley Unified, after a parent complained students were reading the Pulitzer-prize-winning play, “Angels in America,” about the AIDS epidemic in New York during the 1980s. It’s the latest in a series of efforts by newly elected conservative school board members to change curriculum in the district. What happened in the months after the teacher’s removal? And how is it affecting other teachers and students? Guests: Greg Bailey, Drama teacher, Temecula Valley High School Mallika Seshadri, Journalism resident, EdSource Read more from EdSource: Learning at Temecula Valley Unified suffers as censorship fears rise LGBTQ+ students in conservative crosshairs Temecula Valley Unified CRT ban has created a hostile school environment, lawsuit says Temecula Valley Unified reverses course and adopts state-approved social studies curriculum Temecula board again votes to reject textbooks, despite warnings from Newsom Conservatives are waging a war for control over California school boards Education Beat is a weekly podcast hosted by EdSource’s Zaidee Stavely and produced by Coby McDonald.

Patrick Acuña spent 30 years behind bars advocating for higher education. Despite having several learning disabilities, he found that education was the path forward to repairing his life and helping his community. Guests: Patrick Acuña, senior at UC Irvine Betty Márquez Rosales, Reporter, EdSource Read more from EdSource: After 30 years in California prison, he starts new life at UC Irvine Education Beat is a weekly podcast. This episode is hosted by EdSource’s Ashley A. Smith and produced by Coby McDonald.

When Natale Canepa was stuck at home to take college classes online in 2020, he was miserable. He couldn’t get outside as much to see nature, and he couldn’t whistle, his favorite pastime. So when in-person classes returned to San Diego State, Natale celebrated by whistling at his favorite pocket of nature on campus — the turtle pond. Now known as the Turtle Pond Whistler, Natale spreads joy and has attracted more students to the turtle pond. How can green spaces like the turtle pond raise students’ spirits and improve mental health? Guests: Natale Canepa, Student and turtle pond whistler, San Diego State University Noah Lyons, Journalism student and member, California Student Journalism Corps Read more from EdSource: More college campuses leveraging the outdoors to support student mental health Education Beat is a weekly podcast hosted by EdSource’s Zaidee Stavely and produced by Coby McDonald.

There’s a glaring problem since schools reopened for in-person instruction post-pandemic — lots of kids are missing class. The number of students in California absent for 10% or more of the school year has more than doubled since before the pandemic. Almost 2 million California students were chronically absent in 2021-22, the most recent year for which data is available. What are the root causes of students missing school? And how are school districts addressing this problem? Hear from a parent, school leaders and researchers from around the state. Guests: Hedy Chang, Founder and executive director, Attendance Works Tom O’Malley, Superintendent, Modoc Joint Unified School District Erica Peterson, Director of education and engagement, School Innovations and Achievement Ofelia Sofía Ryan, President of the Association of Pupil Services and Attendance Counselors, Los Angeles Unified School District Renee Slater, Mother and teacher, Rio Bravo-Greeley Union School District Betty Márquez Rosales, Reporter, EdSource Read more from EdSource: California’s dramatic jump in chronically absent students part of a nationwide surge Watch the roundtable: Reaching kindergarten parents is key to addressing dramatic post-pandemic rise in chronic absenteeism, panel says Education Beat is a weekly podcast hosted by EdSource’s Zaidee Stavely and produced by Coby McDonald.

Arts and music have long been slashed from many school budgets, but all California schools are about to see new, ongoing investment in the arts — equal to about $1 billion this year. Listen to the story of one arts teacher and hear from our reporter about how art can help students grow, and what students and parents can expect to see at their schools. Guests: Allison Gamlen, Visual and performing arts coordinator, San Mateo County Office of Education Karen D’Souza, Reporter, EdSource Read more from EdSource: Allison Gamlen’s journey from actor to arts educator Behind the scenes: California’s new arts education plans Proposition 28, a windfall for arts education, but implementation poses challenges Arts education funding in California: How will Proposition 28 roll out? Education Beat is a weekly podcast hosted by EdSource’s Zaidee Stavely and produced by Coby McDonald.

When anti-Asian hate crimes began to spike in 2020, world history teacher Jeff Kim searched for a way to respond “with love and wisdom.” His answer: to help students to know and tell their own stories of resilience through a Korean American studies course. Listen to how this course — the first of its kind — began at Anaheim Union High School District, and what it aims to teach students. Guests: Jeff Kim, World history and Korean American studies teacher, Anaheim Union High School District Emma Gallegos, Reporter, EdSource Read more from EdSource: Orange County district pioneers new Korean American studies course for high school Education Beat is a weekly podcast hosted by EdSource’s Zaidee Stavely and produced by Coby McDonald.

The last couple of years have seen an expansion of bachelor’s degree programs in prison. Inside the first women’s program at the Central California Women’s Facility in Chowchilla, incarcerated women are working to rebuild their lives by pursuing these higher degrees. Guests: Melanie Gandara, formerly incarcerated student Canesha Sherron Sinclair, incarcerated student Kelsey Morasci, incarcerated student Professor Tad Bellew, anthropology professor, Fresno State University Professor Keramet Reiter, criminology and law professor, University of California, Irvine Allen Burnett, formerly incarcerated student Read more from EdSource: Students earn college degrees in expanded California prison program Commentary | The trouble with labels: words become prophesy Education Beat is a weekly podcast. This episode is hosted by EdSource’s Ashley A. Smith and produced by Coby McDonald.

A new program in Los Angeles County helps low-income parents take the early childhood education classes they need to become preschool teachers. The program aims to both help fill a shortage of early educators and help parents build their careers. Listen to how one mom fulfills a childhood dream to become a teacher, even joining classes from a hospital bed. Guests: Georgina Perez, Participant, Universal Pre-Kindergarten Career Development Initiative Mallika Seshadri, Journalism resident, EdSource Read more from EdSource: Nearly 100 parents in LA County are on the verge of becoming teachers through a new collaborative program Education Beat is a weekly podcast hosted by EdSource’s Zaidee Stavely and produced by Coby McDonald.

When teachers and administrators return to their rural hometowns to work in the schools, they can make a huge impact. They understand what it’s like to live in remote areas, everybody in the community knows them and they often stick around. In one superintendent’s case, he’s increased the number of high school graduates and students who attend college. Guests: Tom O’Malley, Superintendent, Modoc Joint Unified School District Cara Nixon, Journalism intern, EdSource Read more from EdSource: When California educators return to their rural hometowns, the result can be ‘brain gain’ How one rural school district is overcoming geographic barriers to higher education Education Beat is a weekly podcast hosted by EdSource’s Zaidee Stavely and produced by Coby McDonald.

The Covid-19 pandemic shaped the graduating class of 2022 in many ways. They’re adaptable, able to learn online or change their college or career paths when needed. EdSource followed 12 graduates from the Class of 2022 through their first year after high school. In this episode, three of them share how the pandemic helped them learn how to make the most out of life, and strive for their goals. Guests: Gannon Peebles, Student, Columbia University Tatiana Torres, Graduate of Los Medanos College; Transfer student, UC Berkeley Jennifer Tran, Student, UC Berkeley Diana Lambert, Reporter, EdSource Read more from EdSource: Class of 2022 back on track and moving beyond the Covid pandemic Read the whole series Education Beat is a weekly podcast hosted by EdSource’s Zaidee Stavely and produced by Coby McDonald.

The California State University system’s handling of sexual and gender misconduct complaints has been under the spotlight for more than a year. In this episode, EdSource reporters Thomas Peele and Ashley A. Smith discuss their reporting examining the outcomes of sexual harassment and misconduct complaints at CSU. They also discuss a new report from an independent law firm and a state audit of CSU’s handling of Title IX complaints. What do those reports reveal and what might come of them? Guests: Thomas Peele, Investigative reporter, EdSource Ashley A. Smith, Higher education reporter, EdSource Read more from EdSource: Cal State needs to fix a broken system of addressing sexual harassment and discrimination complaints, report says California State Auditor also finds Cal State failed to address some sexual harassment on campuses Read all our reporting on CSU’S Title IX Reckoning Education Beat is a weekly podcast hosted by EdSource’s Zaidee Stavely and produced by Coby McDonald.

California has a new math framework that stresses making math relevant to all students’ lives and teaching big ideas and concepts. Critics say it will cause more students to fail, by de-emphasizing math operations, discouraging districts from giving advanced students algebra in eighth grade, and for its approach to data science in high school. Listen to how one teacher thinks the framework will bring math alive for her students, and to our reporter on the controversies surrounding it. Guests: Rebecca Pariso, 7th grade math teacher, Hueneme Elementary School District; Member, Curriculum Framework and Evaluation Criteria Committee John Fensterwald, Editor-at-large, EdSource Read more from EdSource: State Board of Education passes new California math framework UC committee changes admission standard for data science, causing confusion over math framework Next, maybe last, big test for California’s controversial math framework A sample of public comments on math framework Education Beat is a weekly podcast hosted by EdSource’s Zaidee Stavely and produced by Coby McDonald.