Education Beat

When staff at New Haven Unified School District began investigating why so many students had stopped coming to class, they realized that rent hikes had forced many families to live in their cars. So officials in the district, which is some 20 miles south of Oakland, helped set up a program to offer homeless families with children a place to park. The program gives families safety and stability so that students can do homework and get to school on time. One mom who lived in her van for almost a year shares how this program helped her get back on her feet, and how she now helps feed her neighbors still living in their cars. Guests: Tami Rossell, Mother, entrepreneur and volunteer Betty Márquez Rosales, Reporter, EdSource Read more about Tami’s story: After living in her van in a city lot, she now feeds others who park there Education Beat is a weekly podcast hosted by EdSource’s Zaidee Stavely and produced by Coby McDonald.

As an immigrant and the head of Miami-Dade public schools for nearly 14 years, Los Angeles Unified’s new superintendent, Alberto Carvalho, intimately understands the challenges and promises of families who speak languages other than English at home. As a product of Miami-Dade public schools, EdSource Executive Director Anne Vasquez shares a common understanding with the superintendent. This episode includes excerpts from a recent conversation they had about their time in Miami, the advantages of bilingual education, and some of the key similarities and differences between the districts. Guests: Alberto Carvalho, Superintendent, Los Angeles Unified School District Anne Vasquez, Executive Director, EdSource Read the EdSource story: Why years in Miami will serve new LAUSD Superintendent Alberto Carvalho Education Beat is a weekly podcast hosted by EdSource’s Zaidee Stavely and produced by Coby McDonald.

The pandemic has worsened working conditions for child care workers, who have long been among the lowest-paid workers in the country. Some child care workers are leaving the profession. A recent report found that those who have stayed are feeling crushed and frustrated by their circumstances, dealing with food insecurity and lack of health insurance and retirement funds. Guests: Donise Keller, Child care provider, Antioch Karen D’Souza, Reporter, EdSource Read the EdSource story: California child care workers struggle to survive Education Beat is a weekly podcast hosted by EdSource’s Zaidee Stavely and produced by Coby McDonald.

Among the most difficult pandemic-related staff shortages is a lack of school bus drivers. It’s an important job, ensuring kids who might otherwise lack a ride get to school on time. But in many places there just aren’t enough drivers willing to work for what districts will pay them. How can California school districts attract and retain enough bus drivers? Guests: Olivia Minor, School bus scheduler, Sacramento City Unified School District Diana Lambert, Senior Reporter, EdSource Read the EdSource story: Severe driver shortage leaves some California kids waiting at the school bus stop Education Beat is a weekly podcast hosted by EdSource’s Zaidee Stavely and produced by Coby McDonald.

More than 2 million students attend California’s community colleges, which are billed as a good place for students to start a path to a bachelor’s degree. But when it comes time to transfer to a four-year college, too few are successfully making the jump. What’s keeping California’s community college students from transferring? Guests: Marjorie Blen, Former community college student and current sociology student, San Francisco State University Audrey Dow, Senior Vice President, Campaign for College Opportunity Ashley A. Smith, Reporter, EdSource Watch EdSource’s roundtable discussion about this topic: The transfer maze: How to streamline transferring into CSU and UC Education Beat is a weekly podcast hosted by EdSource’s Zaidee Stavely and produced by Coby McDonald.

For students who are leery of adults, peer counseling can provide a safe place to work through difficult family problems, stress, and depression. California has urged schools to invest in mental health programs, like peer counseling. What are the benefits and pitfalls of programs where students counsel students? Guests: Christopher Gonzalez, Former peer counselor, Fontana Unified School District Baylee McPherson, Peer counselor, Clovis West High School Carolyn Jones, Senior reporter, EdSource Read more about this topic at EdSource: Peer counseling gains popularity as California schools beef up student mental health services

California’s community colleges increasingly rely on adjunct professors as low-paid replacements for full-time faculty. Rather than a side gig, many adjuncts cobble together part-time work at multiple colleges or in multiple districts. Many don’t have health insurance. Often they are hanging on, hoping for a full time job, that never materializes. It can be a precarious living, one that shortchanges the adjuncts and their students. Guests: Steve Hall, Adjunct professor, Butte-Glenn Community College District Cherise Mantia, Adjunct professor, Gavilan College Curley Wikkeling-Miller, Adjunct professor, Peralta and Solano Community College Districts Thomas Peele, Investigative reporter, EdSource Read EdSource’s three-part series about adjunct working conditions: Gig by Gig At California Community Colleges

In the midst of a pandemic that has been hard for teachers, parents and students, principals are burdened with keeping the whole thing together, maintaining functioning schools amid chaos and constant change. In this episode, we hear from principals across the state who participated in a recent roundtable with EdSource. They share how they’re coping and what they think would help them and their teachers stay in the profession. Guests: Kilian Betlach, principal, Elmhurst United Middle School, Oakland Vito Chiala, principal, Overfelt High School, San Jose Leyda Garcia, principal, UCLA Community School, Los Angeles Julie Giannini-Previde, principal, Dow’s Prairie Elementary School, McKinleyville Greg Moffitt, principal, Fairmont Charter Elementary School, Vacaville John Fensterwald, Editor-At-Large, EdSource Watch the EdSource roundtable: Frustrating, exhausting but worth it: School principals tell what their jobs are like now

Gov. Gavin Newsom and state legislators are pushing to develop a tool that could be used to screen every young student in California schools for dyslexia. A mother shares how her son went years without help for his dyslexia – still reading at a kindergarten level in sixth grade. What can be done to keep children with dyslexia from slipping through the cracks? Guests: Renee Webster-Hawkins, Mother of two, Sacramento City Unified School District Carolyn Jones, Reporter, EdSource Read more about this topic at EdSource: After setbacks, dyslexia screening for young students moves forward in California schools

A growing body of research shows that Black students who have at least one Black teacher growing up are more likely to graduate high school and enroll in college than those who don’t. In this episode, we discuss how California school districts are working to prepare and retain more Black teachers. And a Black teacher shares his experience in a teacher preparation program and relating to Black students. Guests: Michael Obah, Biology teacher, Oakland Unified School District Ali Tadayon, Reporter, EdSource Read more about this topic on EdSource: How California districts seek to recruit, retain Black teachers amid shortage

California students returned to classrooms this month amid a spike in Covid cases and changing protocols from the state. Some districts are running out of substitutes to step in for sick and quarantined staff. Teachers and students in some schools are demanding more Covid testing and calling for the distribution of better masks for teachers and students. Teachers share what it’s like to be teaching during a Covid surge. Guests: Zinia Gangopadhyay, Fifth-grade teacher, Oakland Unified School District Allison Paredes, Kindergarten teacher, San Diego Unified School District Diana Lambert, Reporter, EdSource Read more about this topic from EdSource: California schools get off to a shaky start after holiday break High Covid rates, staff shortages and confusing legislation challenge schools’ reopenings

In 2017, two blind students in the Los Angeles Community College District filed a lawsuit claiming that they and other blind students weren’t given accessible materials in math classes. The students say that without materials in braille or audio, or tutors to read the material out loud, the classes are almost impossible to pass, effectively barring students from transferring to a four-year college. California’s largest community college district is planning to appeal the case to the U.S. Supreme Court, arguing that federal disability rights laws don’t cover “unintentional discrimination.” What impact could this court case have on the rights of students with disabilities? Guests: Roy Payan, Plaintiff and Student Carolyn Jones, Reporter, EdSource Read more about this topic on EdSource: ‘Unintentional discrimination’ at the heart of disability lawsuit against California community college district

In this episode we visit 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

California schools have a lot more money to spend this year, with federal COVID relief funds. We’re looking closely at how one school district, Lodi Unified, is using theirs. One big priority is enrichment programs, to help engage students in school after a year and a half of distance learning. In this episode, we’ll hear from a theater teacher who helped students build their own Hogwarts interactive scene, and a custodian who started an after-school chess club. Guests: Valorie Fitzgerald, Theatre Department Program Director, McNair High School, Lodi Unified School District Shaun Montemayor, Custodian and Chess Club Teacher, Elkhorn Elementary School, Lodi Unified School District Carolyn Jones, Reporter, EdSource Read the EdSource article about Lodi: How one California school district is using its Covid relief money to help students

Two school counselors in California recently won state and national awards for their work. Both are first-generation college graduates and alumni of Fresno State, both grew up in the San Joaquin Valley, where they still work today, and both are from immigrant families. How did these experiences make them better counselors? We hear from them and from the reporters who interviewed them for EdSource. Guests: Alma Lopez, School counselor, Livingston Middle School, Livingston Union School District Yia Le, School counselor, McLane High School, Fresno Unified School District Carolyn Jones, Reporter, EdSource Larry Gordon, Reporter, EdSource Read EdSource stories about the counselors: Central Valley school counselor wins national award for ‘relentless’ work with students California award-winning school counselor urges college applicants to get past fears

Students at Chino Valley Unified School District in San Bernardino County recently stood in overwhelming opposition to a proposal that would have excluded transgender students from using restrooms and locker rooms or playing on sports teams corresponding to their gender identity. State officials also warned the school board that the proposal violated a state law in place since 2014. In this week’s episode, we hear sound from some of the high school students speaking eloquently for greater inclusion and understanding, and we speak with a teacher who was inspired by the students’ response. Guests: Amanda Swager, Teacher, Chino Valley Unified School District Ali Tadayon, Reporter, EdSource Read more EdSource stories on this topic: Proposed transgender restrictions at Chino Valley Unified fail after student outcry and state warning In California, lessons on transgender student access to facilities What schools and parents need to know to support transgender students

California is still lagging in helping students become proficient in English by their sixth year in school. Students who take longer than six years to learn English can miss out on academic content in other classes and even electives. This week, we look at how one district uses robotics to help speed up and deepen learning for long-term English learners. And we discuss a recent report on how California can do better to serve these students. Guests: Caroline Martin, English Language Instructional Coach, Elk Grove Unified School District Manuel Buenrostro, Policy Associate, Californians Together; Co-author, Renewing Our Promise: Research and Recommendations to Support California’s Long-Term English Learners. Read the EdSource story on this topic: California still lags in helping long-term English learners

California public schools have an unprecedented influx of money thanks to more than 13 billion dollars in federal Covid relief from the American Rescue Plan. It is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to meet the needs of students most impacted by the pandemic. Host Zaidee Stavely and editor-at-large John Fensterwald discuss the promises and challenges posed by this huge one-time funding. Also, a student shares why he believes mental health is the most pressing need on which districts should focus, and a superintendent discusses why his district is providing internet access to close the digital divide. Guests: Isaiah Vega, Senior, Edison High School, Fresno Unified School District Bob Nelson, Superintendent, Fresno Unified School District John Fensterwald, Editor-at-large, EdSource Read more EdSource stories on this topic: Find out how much California school districts and charter schools will get in Covid relief | Database California state auditor urges tighter oversight of how districts spend federal Covid aid California schools to get $15.3 billion in federal aid under American Rescue Plan

At a community meeting in 2008, Carl Pinkston watched parent after parent stand up to say that whenever they brought their concerns to the school board, they were not being heard. So he and others got together to start a Black Parallel School Board — a place where parents could express themselves and organize together to improve education for Black students. The organization has made small, but significant changes in schools, like getting posters of Black role models on the walls. It’s also involved in bigger changes, pushing to remove police officers from schools and to stop discipline practices that disproportionately target Black students. Recently, the organization sued the state over this. This week we look at how this organization began, and why Black parents felt it was needed. Guests: Carl Pinkston, Founding member, Black Parallel School Board Diana Lambert, Senior reporter, EdSource Read more EdSource stories about this topic: Fighting for the education of Black students in California

Some students can’t attend in-person school because they are at high risk for Covid-19. Nine-year-old Liam in Long Beach, for example, has chronic lung disease. But Liam’s school district told his family he couldn’t enroll in independent study either, because he has special needs that couldn’t be accommodated. So Liam — and thousands of other special education students – are in limbo. His mother and other parents have joined a civil rights complaint to try to push the state and school districts to help their students. Guests: Kirsten Nielsen, Mother, Long Beach Carolyn Jones, Senior Reporter, EdSource Read more EdSource stories on this topic: California independent study sparks equity concerns for students with disabilities

When Anaya Zenad researched her school’s namesake, she uncovered a history that upset her. The school was named after Juan Crespi, a Spanish missionary who helped pave the way for the brutally oppressive California mission system in the 1700s, where Native American children were forced to work. Anaya and her peers decided they wanted their school to recognize someone who stood up for civil rights, rather than someone who played a part in taking rights away. So they renamed it after Betty Reid Soskin, a local civil rights icon and the oldest National Park ranger. This week we explore the story of how Anaya and other students made this change happen. 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

California’s juvenile justice system is at a crossroads, with state-run youth prisons shutting down in less than two years. Many of the 3,600 youth held in county-run juvenile halls, camps and ranches are former public school students like Kent Mendoza, who was incarcerated when he was 15. He’s now part of a growing movement to reimagine juvenile detention facilities and the education provided in them. Guests: Kent Mendoza, Advocacy and community organizing manager, Anti-Recidivism Coalition Betty Márquez Rosales, reporter, EdSource Read more EdSource articles on this topic: Changes to California’s youth prison system prove difficult to implement Quick Guide: New state law puts California’s Juvenile Justice System at a crossroads

California is making big strides towards offering a free year of public pre-kindergarten to all four-year-olds by 2025. A teacher shares why she loves transitional kindergarten – the joy of learning and the chance for play so often lost in kindergarten nowadays. Host Zaidee Stavely and EdSource reporter Karen D’Souza discuss the hopes and challenges posed by this enormous expansion. Guests: Paula Merrigan, Transitional Kindergarten Teacher, Castro Valley Unified School District Karen D’Souza, Early Education Reporter, EdSource Read more articles on this topic from EdSource: Hope, caution among experts as California rolls out transitional kindergarten for all 4-year-olds How California’s new universal transitional kindergarten program will be rolled out Why some early childhood advocates want more transitional kindergarten choices  

As California school districts face a substitute shortage so severe that some officials fear temporary school closures, some district staff are playing musical chairs to fill positions. We speak with a superintendent who now also fills in as classroom teacher, health aide, or administrative assistant, depending on the day. Guests: Terri Rufert, Superintendent, Sundale Union Elementary School District Diana Lambert, Senior Reporter, EdSource Read an article about this topic on EdSource: Substitute shortages so severe, some districts may have to temporarily close classrooms

About 1 in 8 of California’s school children have an undocumented parent. This week, we take a look at three siblings, all U.S. citizens, who had to put their college plans on hold, when their stepfather took steps to obtain a green card – only to be separated from his loved ones for more than two years. Also, a school board member and advocate for students from immigrant families shares how schools can support these students. Guests: Armanda Ruiz, José Luis Ruiz Arévalos, and their kids Elena, Nathan, Ignacio and Priscila Xilonin Cruz-Gonzalez, Deputy Director, Californians Together; School Board Member, Azusa Unified School District Read the EdSource article and watch the video: How immigration policy forced a California family apart and disrupted their education This episode was produced in collaboration with The California Report Magazine and KQED. Jennifer Molina contributed to the reporting.

Studies have shown that the mere presence of books at home can help foster learning. But after 18 months of the pandemic, California’s youngest learners may be at most risk of falling behind. This week, the story of a Berkeley school bus driver who started giving away books on her bus and realized that the book gap was much larger than she thought. She shares how she joined up with Dolly Parton to bring even more books to kids, and how parents and teachers can help kids get excited about reading. Guests: Karen D’Souza, Senior Reporter, EdSource Seena Hawley, Executive Director, The Berkeley Baby Book Project, an affiliate of Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library You can sign up to receive books from Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library here. You can hear Dolly Parton reading children’s books here. You can find a list of books for young children here. Read more stories about this topic on EdSource: What impact will the pandemic have on early literacy? Upcoming EdSource Roundtable | Universal Transitional Kindergarten: What parents need to know Join EdSource’s Karen D’Souza and Anne Vasquez for a roundtable discussion with providers, advocates and policymakers to explore the importance and impact of early education and how transitional kindergarten fits into the journey between preschool and kindergarten. Learn more and register.

California is set to launch the nation’s largest college savings program, CalKids, later this year, opening college accounts for all newborns in the state and low-income students in first through 12th grade. Long before California’s college savings account program, an Oakland woman “adopted” her own class of first graders and promised to pay for their college educations if they graduated from high school. What did she learn? And what can California learn from her? Guests: Carolyn Jones, 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’ How savings accounts help students get to college

With Covid cases surging again, tens of thousands of students across California have chosen independent study rather than in-person classes. But school districts are struggling to provide independent study for all students who want it, with some students waiting weeks to get assigned to a teacher. Host Zaidee Stavely talks with reporter Betty Márquez Rosales about the frustrations shared by parents and district officials. A parent from Mojave Unified School District in Kern County shares the heartbreak she feels after her sons’ struggles with distance learning seem destined to repeat in independent study. Guests: Betty Márquez Rosales, Reporter, EdSource Tammy Tyler, Parent, Mojave Unified School District Read more EdSource stories about this topic: Quarantines and teacher shortages: a double whammy for California districts What is independent study in California? | Quick Guide Suburban districts call for changes to the independent study law during quarantines

The freshman class of 2025 is like no other before. They missed out on a lot of high school experiences, with their last year and a half all online. As they start college, the pandemic continues to change the way they take classes and socialize. In this episode, host Zaidee Stavely and reporter Ashley A. Smith discuss how this year’s freshman class in the California State University system will also be the cohort of students examined in four years to see if the university accomplished its goals to increase graduation rates. Guests: Ashley A. Smith, Reporter, EdSource James Minor, Assistant Vice Chancellor and Senior Strategist, California State University Adrian Muguiya, Student, Cal State Northridge Isabella Garay, Student, Cal Poly Pomona Read more EdSource stories about this topic: California State University courses with high failure rates prompt calls for reform California universities reopen in person; will delta variant push students back to Zoom?

Among those most affected by distance learning throughout the pandemic were students who are learning English as a second language — about 1.2 million students in California. This week host Zaidee Stavely talks with a teacher in Baldwin Park Unified in Los Angeles about how she’s welcoming back English learners with lots of opportunities to practice speaking and making her classroom a place where students can build a community to ease the anxiety and stress caused by the pandemic. Guest: Charlene Fried, English teacher, Sierra Vista High School, Baldwin Park Unified School District; Lecturer, California State University Los Angeles; Adjunct professor, Loyola Marymount University. Read more EdSource stories about this topic: Teachers struggle to recreate language-rich classes for English learners online

All public school students in California will now be eligible to eat breakfast and lunch for free — regardless of family income. Host Zaidee Stavely and reporter Ali Tadayon discuss what impact the state’s new universal school meals program could have on schools and children. Also, a director of nutrition in a high-poverty district tells us how offering free meals to all students in her district got more students to class on time, improved school culture and helped stem hunger. Guests: Ali Tadayon, Reporter, EdSource Stephanie Bruce, Nutrition Services Director, Palm Springs Unified School District Read more EdSource stories about this topic: Free school meals here to stay in California California moving to pioneer free meals for all students California food banks partner with schools to serve families of students

The pandemic has sparked high levels of anxiety and grief, with countless students losing loved ones to the virus. Host Zaidee Stavely talks with senior reporter Carolyn Jones about how teachers and counselors are preparing to make schools places of healing that focus on mental health and wellbeing. A school counselor from Los Angeles shares how students and parents are feeling more anxious than ever, and what she’s done to try to alleviate some of that stress. Guests: Carolyn Jones, senior reporter, EdSource Amy Dauble-Madigan, elementary school counselor, Culver City Unified School District Read more EdSource stories on this topic: More California schools adding yoga to school day Orange County schools join with Children’s Hospital to address student health needs Mental health equity should be schools focus as students return, report says

Hello to listeners of This Week in California Education. We’re pleased to introduce EdSource’s new podcast, Education Beat: Getting to the heart of California schools. Join us each week as we cover everything from preschool to college, bringing you the personal stories behind the headlines. As California students and teachers head back to in-person school this fall, we’ll be looking at how schools are preparing to help students with grief and loss caused by the pandemic, why it matters that California will be offering free school lunch to everyone and how teachers are preparing for their first day of class. We’ll visit with freshmen starting their first year of college under the yoke of Covid. We’ll hear how one woman in Oakland adopted a whole class of first graders and helped get them to college. And how a college student in the Central Valley cut short her education to help her family, when her dad’s green card application was denied and he was stuck in Mexico. We want you to hear the voices that are too often drowned out in the broader conversation: parents, teachers, and the students themselves. Look for the first episode of Education Beat the first week of August, and please subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.