Education

Common Core test finally pushes out API

Goodbye API, hello Smarter Balanced test. That’s what California public school students face as the school year comes to an end. The Academic Performance Index, used to measure and monitor students’ progress statewide, was implemented by the Public Schools Accountability Act

Black Caucus brings its clout to CA school funding fight

Chris Reed March 18, 2015

The Local Control Funding Formula, enacted in 2013, is supposed to make sure more education dollars are used in ways that specifically help struggling students. Gov. Jerry Brown pushed for the education funding change because he said it was crucial

Audio: How school choice can woo crossover and swing voters

CalWatchdog Staff March 18, 2015

CalWatchdog.com Editor-in-Chief Brian Calle also is Senior Fellow at the Friedman Foundation for Educational Choice, named after Nobel Economics Laureate Milton Friedman, who originated the idea of school vouchers. In this audio interview with Bill Frezza of the Competitive Enterprise

CA college costs pinch budgets

James Poulos March 16, 2015

With the University of California system in the midst of a tense tuition standoff, budgets have come under renewed pressure in recent weeks. Not only schools, but students and parents, have felt the pain. As CalWatchdog.com has been reporting, the UC system

Lawsuit over Harvard admissions has CA overtones

Chris Reed March 14, 2015

Harvard University is facing a well-financed lawsuit over its admissions practices, with plaintiffs arguing that the nation’s oldest, richest and most admired college enforces an anti-Asian bias every bit as real as the anti-Jewish bias seen in Cambridge and at

UC tuition battle sparks student protests

James Poulos March 11, 2015

The battle over University of California tuition hikes has been raised to a new level — with shades of 1960s student protests. Gov. Jerry Brown and state legislators have rejected the tuition hikes advanced by UC President Janet Napolitano. In response she

Seeking tuition hikes, UC blows millions on computer glitches

John Seiler March 8, 2015

Spurred by University of California President Janet Napolitano, the school’s Board of Regents last November voted for 28 percent tuition hikes over five years. But today, the Sacramento Bee reported on the school’s new Working Smarter computer system, which was supposed

Teachers want LAUSD to ignore state law, 2012 ruling

Chris Reed February 28, 2015

The United Teachers Los Angeles held a large rally Thursday showing strong rank-and-file support for the union’s demands that the giant Los Angeles Unified School District provide an 8.5 percent raise and cut down classroom sizes. LAUSD officials have offered

Assembly subcommittee flunks UC budget

Dave Roberts February 26, 2015

Tuition hikes marched to the head of the class at a recent hearing of California Assembly Budget Subcommittee No. 2 on Education Finance. Assembly members balked at a 28 percent tuition hike advanced by UC President Janet Napolitano and approved by the University of

LAO report could spur school facilities reform

John Seiler February 20, 2015

A new report by California Legislative Analyst Mac Taylor puts school facilities funding at the head of the class. Among other points, “The 2015-16 Budget: Rethinking How the State Funds School Facilities” pushes the idea that facilities funding should more closely follow