Education

Poll: Californians think higher ed is too expensive, love the quality

Californians are concerned over the cost of the state’s public colleges and universities, just as two of the state’s three higher-education systems are considering tuition increases. In fact, only 13 percent of Californians say it’s not a problem, while 57

Janet Napolitano rebukes policing speech on college campuses

James Poulos October 3, 2016

With a single op-ed, UC chief Janet Napolitano has become an unlikely ally of conservative and traditionalist critics of the speech-policing movement among campus crusaders nationwide. In a Boston Globe op-ed entitled “It’s time to free speech on campus again,” Napolitano

Southern California school district paid absentee trustees against state, district policy through loophole

Matt Fleming September 28, 2016

Trustees of the El Monte Union High School District have been drawing monthly stipends even when they haven’t attended board meetings, possibly violating state and internal policies. CalWatchdog found at least nine instances since 2015 where stipends were paid despite absences, although a loose interpretation

State defies U.S. edict on single score for schools

Chris Reed September 28, 2016

The state of California appears to be on a collision course with the federal government over how it responds to a school accountability provision in the Every Student Succeeds Act, the measure approved last year to replace the controversial and

CA Supreme Court shuts down lawsuit against teachers union job protections

James Poulos August 29, 2016

Declining to hear an appeal, the California Supreme Court brought an apparent end to the saga of California’s historic lawsuit against teachers union job protections, alleged to violate students’ constitutional rights. A majority of justices “declined to hear the case, Vergara v. California, and

Charter school critiques: reasonable or political?

Chris Reed August 11, 2016

The California charter school phenomenon of rapid growth continues. More than 570,000 California students attended charters last school year — about 9 percent of total state enrollment — and the number would be considerably higher if charters could accommodate all

University of California ups in-state admissions

James Poulos July 17, 2016

After weathering unprecedented criticism for its revenue-driven admissions policies, the University of California system has appeared to shift officials’ opinion back in its favor, unveiling a modest but symbolic uptick in admissions for in-state students — with an emphasis on certain

UC mounted PR blitz to counter harsh state audit

Chris Reed June 30, 2016

UC Davis Chancellor Linda P.B. Katehi was suspended by UC President Janet Napolitano in April soon after the Sacramento Bee discovered that UC Davis had paid at least $175,000 to consultants to try to remove online references to a 2011 incident in

UC system eyes big out-of-state tuition hike

James Poulos June 7, 2016

A protracted dispute in California about education funding for the UC system has sharpened over a new bill in Sacramento that would require big new hikes in tuition for out-of-state students. Assembly Bill 1711, introduced by Assemblyman Jose Medina, D-Riverside, sailed through

Uncertain CA community colleges eye tuition cuts

James Poulos May 23, 2016

Little was heard about president Barack Obama’s call, in his last State of the Union address, to make community college free around the country. But now, facing gnawing affordability problems and the prospect of weakened enrollment, many of California’s community colleges — and