Shows
Education BeatTrump administration slashing programs for students with disabilities, struggling readersIn the first few months of the Trump administration, several education programs have been slashed. A program to help students with disabilities navigate the transition into adulthood was eliminated, and cuts to AmeriCorps eliminated some volunteers who tutor elementary students in reading and math.
A mother shares the story of how these cuts affected her son, and reporters share what they learned when visiting classrooms and talking with educators.
Guests:
Angela, Mother of a student with disabilities, San Diego County
Emma Gallegos, Reporter, EdSource
Lasherica Thornton, Reporter, EdSource
Read more from EdSource:
...
2025-05-0800 min
Education BeatCalifornia schools spend millions on police officers, with little public discussionCalifornia school districts pay cities and counties millions of dollars a year to put law enforcement officers on campuses, according to a recent EdSource investigation. And in many districts, these contracts are passed with no public discussion and little oversight of officers' duties on campuses.
Guests:
Thomas Peele, Investigative reporter, EdSource
Daniel J. Willis, Data reporter, EdSource
This episode also includes public comment and discussion from a Folsom-Cordova Unified School District board meeting in May 2024.
Read more from EdSource:
California school districts spend millions on policing, with little scrutiny
Numerous districts don’t...
2025-05-0100 min
Education BeatAre California schools becoming more vulnerable to measles?There have now been more than 700 cases of measles reported in the U.S. in 2025, and two children have died. The vast majority of these cases are in Texas. Only nine cases have been reported in California. But measles vaccination rates are going down in California schools. In some schools, particularly charter schools, the rates are lower than 95%, which is considered "herd immunity." Why does this matter? What can be done?
Guests:
Dr. Monica Gandhi, Professor of medicine and infectious disease doctor, UC San Francisco
Karen D'Souza, Reporter, EdSource
Daniel J. Willis, Data reporter, EdSource
...
2025-04-1700 min
Education BeatWhat to watch for in California education in 2025The new year is a time of rituals and traditions. Some people swear by eating black-eyed peas or lentils every January 1st to bring good luck. Others eat 12 grapes at the stroke of midnight. At EdSource, we turn to John Fensterwald and his annual predictions column.
Every year, John tells us what he thinks might or might not happen in California education this year. Sometimes he's wrong. But he often gets more than a few things right. Listen in to find out what he foresees for 2025.
Guest:
John Fensterwald, Reporter, EdSource
Read more...
2025-01-0900 min
Education BeatWhy California is changing the way community college students approach calculusStudents who graduate with a college degree in a STEM field are well-positioned for careers where they will make high wages.
But community college students can’t get a STEM degree or even transfer to a university without first passing calculus. That’s been a huge hurdle for many students, especially Black, Latino and Pell Grant students.
Some studies have shown that students who start college with calculus, rather than preparatory courses, are more likely to pass the course. The California Community College system, spurred by AB 1705, a new law that takes effect in 2025, is push...
2024-11-2100 min
Education BeatWhat the new Trump presidency could mean for California students and schoolsMany California children and their families, including immigrants, transgender students and others, are feeling fear and uncertainty after the election. During and after his campaign, Trump has promised numerous actions that, if followed through on, could impact California’s schools, students, and educators.
For example he’s threatened to eliminate the department of education, to deport undocumented immigrants en masse, and to cut school funding to states that protect transgender students and promote diversity, equity and inclusion in their schools.
How could these threats impact California? How does California plan to respond?
Guests:
...
2024-11-1400 min
Education BeatWhen nobody runs for school boardMillions of California voters found a blank spot on their ballot where they might normally see candidates for school board.
EdSource analyzed data from 1,510 school board races in 49 California counties and found that 56% did not appear on ballots because either no one ran for the seat or a single candidate ran unopposed, making that person an instant winner.
What's keeping people from running for school board? What's lost when school board members are appointed rather than elected? Are there any upsides?
Guests:
Allan Carver, Superintendent of schools, Siskiyou County Office of Education
...
2024-11-0700 min
Education BeatMental health is key to getting students back in classIf Jennifer Hwang’s son made it to his first grade classroom, it was rarely without a fight. He was having violent outbursts and refusing to go to school many mornings.
University of Southern California researchers recently found that students who are chronically absent from school are much more likely to struggle with mental health challenges.
What can schools do to get these students back in class?
Guests:
Jennifer Hwang, parent, Los Angeles Unified School District
Amie Rapaport, research scientist, University of Southern California
Jessica Hull, executive director of communication and community en...
2024-09-1900 min
Education BeatWhy California schools call the policeOn 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?
...
2024-06-1300 min
Education BeatStudent journalists on the frontlines of protest coverageAs 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 Horn...
2024-05-1600 min
Education BeatHow Fresno Unified is getting missing students back in classEver 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, Re...
2024-04-1100 min
Education BeatHow improv theater class can help kids heal from traumaA 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 mor...
2024-03-2100 min
Education BeatParents sued California. Now money for learning loss will go to students who need it mostWhen 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...
2024-02-0800 min
Education BeatJazzing up the classroom with musicAs 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
Edu...
2024-02-0100 min
Education BeatHelping teen parents finish high schoolWhen 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...
2024-01-1800 min
Education BeatWhat’s in store for California education in 2024?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.
2024-01-1100 min
Education BeatA principal at the heart of her school and her communityEstela 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 h...
2023-12-2100 min
Education BeatParents fight for special education documents in their own languagesIt 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: I...
2023-12-1400 min
Education BeatCovid stress and violent threats driving school superintendents to leaveMore 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...
2023-12-0700 min
Education BeatCultivating a sense of belonging to spark students’ enthusiasm for learningTwo 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...
2023-11-3000 min
Education BeatHow a California professor once coded secrets in musicAs 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...
2023-11-1600 min
Education BeatHow classes in Spanish are attracting nannies to community collegeBonnie 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...
2023-11-0900 min
Education BeatHow can California help teachers educate recent immigrants?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 ge...
2023-11-0200 min
Education BeatCould the Cal State tuition hike affect student enrollment, graduation rates?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. Smit...
2023-10-2600 min
Education BeatWhat a Fresno teachers’ strike 45 years ago can teach us todayFresno 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 fr...
2023-10-1900 min
Education BeatA teacher removed, a play censored, and the chilling effect that followedA 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 fro...
2023-10-1200 min
Education BeatIncarcerated for decades, this UC Irvine student transformed his life with educationPatrick 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.
2023-10-0500 min
Education BeatWhy are so many kids missing school?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 exec...
2023-09-2100 min
Education BeatPainting, music, dance, theater — coming to a school near youArts 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...
2023-09-1400 min
Education BeatKorean American studies class aims to build empathy in wake of anti-Asian hateWhen 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...
2023-09-0700 min
Education BeatThis program turns parents into preschool teachersA 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...
2023-08-1700 min
Education BeatHomegrown teachers make big differences in rural school districtsWhen 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...
2023-08-1000 min
Education BeatClass of 2022 overcomes obstacles to get the most out of collegeThe 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
Re...
2023-08-0300 min
Education BeatCal State faces scrutiny for handling of sexual harassment complaintsThe 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 educa...
2023-07-2700 min
Education BeatA new way to teach math in CaliforniaCalifornia 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 an...
2023-07-2000 min
Education BeatHow recent Supreme Court rulings affect California studentsThe U.S. Supreme Court struck down a plan to eliminate a large part of student debt and banned colleges and universities from considering race in admissions. Both decisions will have a disproportionate effect on Black and Latino students.
An advocate for youth and a reporter discuss the rulings and what they mean for Californians.
Guests:
Kristin McGuire, Executive director, Young Invincibles
Michael Burke, Reporter, EdSource
Read more from EdSource:
U.S. Supreme Court rejects student loan forgiveness
Supreme Court rules against affirmative action in college admissions
University of California looks to ‘sh...
2023-07-1300 min
Education BeatLong after wildfires, rural schools face frustration, homelessness, and mental traumaNearly three years ago, the Creek fire devastated the community of Big Creek and the town’s only elementary school.
Since then, rebuilding has been a long, arduous and frustrating process as some families remain homeless, cope with their mental health and face barriers to seeing their community rebuilt.
Guests:
Jimmie Eggers, superintendent-principal of Big Creek Elementary
Carolyn Jones, EdSource reporter
Read more from EdSource: Frustration after a fire: Recovery for rural schools can be long and complex
Education Beat is a weekly podcast. This episode is hosted by EdSource’s Ashle...
2023-06-2200 min
Education BeatSchools are counting – and helping – more homeless studentsWhen Ana Franquis’ family was evicted, they had nowhere to turn. Their local school district helped them out, with food, diapers, even hotel vouchers.
How are school districts using pandemic funds to find and support homeless students? And what will happen when the funds run out?
Guests:
Ana Franquis, Mother, Monterey Peninsula Unified District
Betty Márquez Rosales, Reporter, EdSource
Read more from EdSource: Amid pockets of rising student homelessness, California districts tap Covid funding to help families
Education Beat is a weekly podcast hosted by EdSource’s Zaidee Stavely and produ...
2023-06-1500 min
Education BeatHow dogs help bring kids to therapy at this Central Valley school districtIn Selma Unified School District in the Central Valley, two therapy dogs are helping destigmatize mental health services. Jeter and Scout help identify students who need help, and they give students a soft, cuddly entry to therapy.
Guests:
Kristy Rangel, Lead mental health clinician, Selma Unified School District
Ronnie, Student, Selma Unified School District
Lasherica Thornton, Journalism resident, EdSource
Read more from EdSource: Therapy dogs changed the culture of mental health in this Central Valley district
Education Beat is a weekly podcast hosted by EdSource’s Zaidee Stavely and produced by Coby McDonald.
2023-06-0800 min
Education BeatHow a school lunch lady sparked better trauma response for schoolsA school lunch lady’s response after the Oklahoma City bombing sparked a new understanding of how teachers and school staff can help students recover from traumatic events, from wildfires and floods to school shootings.
As wildfire and flood season approaches in California, leading experts in childhood trauma and school crisis and disaster recovery discuss how schools can best prepare for natural disasters and other traumatic events, and what happens if they don’t.
Guests:
Marleen Wong, Co-founder, Center for Safe and Resilient Schools and Workplaces
Pamela Vona, Co-founder, Center for Safe and Resilient Scho...
2023-06-0100 min
Education BeatWant to know what high schoolers really think? Tune in to this radio stationAt El Cerrito High School, in West Contra Costa Unified, students produce and host their own radio shows. Some DJ their own music shows, while others host talk radio programs, with topics ranging from political affairs to chess to dating advice. There’s even an old-time radio drama, based on original scripts from the 1950s.
What does it take to produce high school radio? And what are students getting out of it?
Voices:
Ace Lackey, Senior, El Cerrito High School
Xavier Ramos, Senior, El Cerrito High School
Jeanne Marie Acceturo, Radio teacher, El Cerrito Hi...
2023-05-2500 min
Education BeatShould UC hire undocumented students for campus jobs?The University of California is considering a proposal this week to allow hiring undocumented students for jobs at any of its 10 campuses. The proposal is based on a legal theory that a federal ban on hiring undocumented immigrants does not apply to states.
Proponents say it would allow undocumented students to have the same access as other students to research and other campus jobs. Critics say it would encourage unauthorized immigration.
What’s motivating this UC proposal?
Guests:
Jeffry Umaña Muñoz, Student, UCLA
Michael Burke, Reporter, EdSource
Read more from...
2023-05-1800 min
Education BeatSchools face disastrous risk of floodingCalifornia schools in communities from Pajaro in Monterey County to Planada in Merced County were flooded earlier this year by torrential rains, causing major damage.
The flooding isn’t over yet. A record snowpack is poised to melt and send rivers surging over their banks. And according to an EdSource analysis of federal data, more than a fifth of the state’s K-12 schools are at a high or moderate risk of flooding.
What can school districts and state government do to prepare, and to help reduce the risk of flooding?
Guests:
José...
2023-05-1100 min
Education BeatHow reading aloud can help older kids, tooParents and teachers often stop reading aloud to children as they get older and can read on their own. But reading aloud actually helps students with fluency and vocabulary and boosts their own reading skills. Hear from a teacher who reads aloud to her fifth graders and from our reporter who wrote about the power of reading aloud.
Guests:
Michelle Talbot, Fifth grade teacher, Marguerite Hahn Elementary School, Rohnert Park
Karen D’Souza, Reporter, EdSource
Read more from EdSource: The magic of story time: Why is reading aloud to kids so important?
Education Bea...
2023-05-0400 minEducation BeatWhy are students starting their own businesses right out of high school?As EdSource reporter Diana Lambert followed the Class of 2022, she found many of them had started their own businesses, selling everything from beauty products to photography sessions. It turns out it’s a trend among recent high school and college graduates. What’s fueling this new surge in student entrepreneurship?
Guests:
Tamiya Williams, student, American River College, and Entrepreneur, Sydnis Serenity
Diana Lambert, reporter, EdSource
Read more from EdSource: Covid inspired students to grow their own businesses
Education Beat is a weekly podcast hosted by EdSource’s Zaidee Stavely and produced by Coby McDona...
2023-04-2700 min
Education BeatHow to teach English learners to read? Here’s how one school does itEdSource reporter and Education Beat host Zaidee Stavely visits a school that’s had an uncommonly high degree of success with teaching English learners to read: Frank Sparkes Elementary, in Winton, about 10 miles from Merced, in California’s Central Valley.
Voices:
Ka Vang, Principal, Frank Sparkes Elementary, Winton School District
Jennifer Pursley, Kindergarten teacher, Frank Sparkes Elementary, Winton School District
Sandra Morales, First grade teacher, Frank Sparkes Elementary, Winton School District
Patty Lopez, Third grade teacher, Frank Sparkes Elementary, Winton School District
Acela Middleton, Third grade teacher, Frank Sparkes Elementary, Winton School District
Patricia Espinola, Third grad...
2023-04-2000 min
Education BeatWhat Albania taught our reporter about media literacyWhat’s the best way to teach media literacy? How does a society build and maintain a free press that can earn and keep the people’s trust?
EdSource reporter, Carolyn Jones, recently visited Albania on a mission to help develop the country’s K-12 media literacy guidelines. Her experience there highlighted challenges both in that country and back here at home.
Guests:
Carolyn Jones, Reporter, EdSource
Read more: We’re not doing enough to teach media literacy
This episode of Education Beat is hosted by EdSource’s Ashley A, Smith and produced...
2023-04-0600 min
Education BeatCan this new bachelor’s program help bring a fire-devastated region back to life?Some community colleges in California are starting to offer their own bachelor’s degrees. One newly approved program is in ecosystem restoration and applied fire management at Feather River College, in Plumas County in northeast California. Can this program help more students get bachelor’s degrees and at the same time help restore a region devastated by wildfires?
Guests:
Hayden Lampe, Prospective student, Feather River College
Michael Burke, Reporter, EdSource
Read more from EdSource: Students at rural community college can earn a bachelor’s and help prevent wildfires
Education Beat is a weekly podcast...
2023-03-1600 min
Education BeatCan work-study propel students forward in their careers?Do you remember your work-study job in college? Many students work in jobs such as serving food in the dining hall or shelving books in the library. But those jobs don’t often have much to do with what they’re studying or are interested in doing later in life.
A new program seeks to give students both an income and a leg up in their careers. How can this benefit both students and employers?
Guests:
Karina Mendez, Student, City College of San Francisco
Emma Gallegos, Reporter, EdSource
Read more from EdSource: California reco...
2023-03-0900 min
Education BeatGreat training with little pay — new teachers weigh residency programsIn an effort to end the teacher shortage, California has invested hundreds of millions in recent years to fund teacher residency programs, in which residents work alongside veteran teacher mentors while they finish their credentials.
Proponents say the programs improve the quality of teaching. But many student teachers are unwilling to sign up because the stipends are small, or nonexistent. Listen to one teacher resident’s experience, and why she’s not sure it was the best decision.
Guests:
Risty Begum, Teacher Resident, Yolo Teacher Residency Program
Diana Lambert, Reporter, EdSource
Read more from...
2023-03-0200 min
Education BeatHow a teachers’ passion for space takes learning to new heightsHave you ever thought about launching into space? One West Contra Costa Unified science teacher has done more than think about it. He’s preparing to become an astronaut.
How does a budding astronaut engage his middle school students and involve them in his journey? And how does that help them get interested in science?
Guests:
Olaoluwalotobi Thomas, Teacher, Vista Virtual Academy, West Contra Costa Unified
Ali Tadayon, Reporter, EdSource
Read more from EdSource: West Contra Costa Unified teacher trains to be an astronaut while teaching students about space
Education Beat is a...
2023-02-2300 min
Education BeatHow a Hmong immersion program revitalizes language and cross-cultural understandingCalifornia is expanding dual immersion programs statewide, after repealing a law that limited bilingual education. A Hmong-English dual language immersion program in Fresno Unified helps children learn their grandparents’ language and culture, and it promotes cross-cultural understanding. This episode includes a visit to Vang Pao Elementary School in Fresno Unified and audio from a teacher, a student and the principal.
Guests:
Sharon Vang, fourth grade teacher, Vang Pao Elementary School, Fresno Unified School District
Yua Lee, principal, Vang Pao Elementary School, Fresno Unified School District
Irene Her, student, Vang Pao Elementary School, Fresno Unified School District
As...
2023-02-1600 min
Education BeatHow parent tutors can unlock reading for kidsAbout 3 in 5 third graders in California don’t meet state standards in reading and writing. To try to help more kids learn to read, some districts are shifting their strategies. In Oakland, parents and other family members have taken a frontline position as literacy tutors. What’s the advantage of using family members as tutors? And how can they help boost children’s reading skills?
Guests:
Ruelvis Alonga, Uncle and early literacy tutor, Oakland Unified School District
Karen D’Souza, Reporter, EdSource
Read more from EdSource:
Learning to read by third gr...
2023-02-0900 min
Education BeatPeer power: How a Black student group helps youth thriveBlack students face ever-increasing rates of depression, anxiety and suicide. But one group of young people in California is working hard to reverse that – one personal connection at a time.
Bennie Williams was one of only a handful of Black students at his high school in Stockton. This statewide coalition of Black students gave him a place to share experiences, learn about Black history and advocate for improved mental health and educational opportunities.
Guests:
Bennie Williams, Senior, Morehouse College
Angie Barfield, Interim executive director, Black Students of California United
Carolyn Jones, Reporter, EdSource
Rea...
2023-02-0200 min
Education BeatWill Newsom’s equity proposal reach Black kids?A coalition of Black education and civil rights organizations have pressed for extra state funding to help Black students, because they’re the lowest performing students in California. But a long-awaited proposal by Gov. Gavin Newsom doesn’t target Black students, instead focusing additional money on schools with the highest concentration of poverty and increasing oversight of services for all low-performing student groups. Would the new program benefit Black kids?
Guests:
Debra Watkins, founder and executive director, A Black Education Network
Emma Gallegos, Reporter, EdSource
Read more from EdSource: Critics say Newsom’s proposal for low-pe...
2023-01-2600 min
Education BeatSpecial education student becomes school board memberJoshua Brown is prioritizing special education in his rural Northern California district. But his perspective is unusual: He has firsthand experience with the district’s special education program — as a student. Brown has autism and is one of only a handful of people known to have autism nationwide to serve in public office. Can schools benefit from having neurodivergent members on school boards?
Guests:
Joshua Brown, Board Member, Shasta Union Elementary School District
Carolyn Jones, Reporter, EdSource
Read more from EdSource: Former special education student joins school board in Shasta
Education Beat is a we...
2023-01-1900 min
Education BeatHow significant is the UC’s new contract with graduate student workers?The largest academic strike in U.S. history ended last month with a landmark agreement between the University of California and graduate student teaching assistants and graduate student researchers.
How significant is this agreement? What might it mean for students and colleges outside of the UC?
Guests:
Emily Weintraut, Graduate student teaching assistant and researcher, UC Davis
Michael Burke, Reporter, EdSource
Ashley A. Smith, Reporter, EdSource
Read more from EdSource:
University of California disrupted as 48,000 academic workers continue strike
As tensions mount over final grades, academic researchers and scholars reach tentative agreement...
2023-01-1200 min
Education BeatPredictions for California education in 2023It’s January, time to reflect on the past months and look ahead at the coming year. At EdSource that means veteran reporter John Fensterwald is making predictions. Every year, John gets out his crystal ball and tells us a fortune – what he thinks might or might not happen in California education in the new year. We also check in with some other reporters about what stories they will cover this year.
Guests:
John Fensterwald, Editor-at-large, EdSource
Carolyn Jones, Reporter, EdSource
Emma Gallegos, Reporter, EdSource
Ashley A. Smith, Reporter, EdSource
Read more from EdSource: California educat...
2023-01-0500 minEducation BeatThe community college student exodusDavid Tellez had to make a tough decision — continue attending community college full-time, or focus on making money at work for his family. Like thousands of others in the last few years, he chose the latter. Just how many students left California’s community college system? And what are those colleges doing to win them back?
Guests:
David Tellez, Student, Citrus Community College
Michael Burke, Reporter, EdSource
Read more from EdSource: California community colleges eye a different future amid pandemic disruption
Education Beat is a weekly podcast. This week’s episode is hosted by EdSo...
2022-12-2200 min
Education BeatCollege freshmen struggle with mathVictor Contreras is not looking forward to his first college math course. After distance learning, his high school math grades tumbled from A’s and B’s to C’s and D’s. And he’s not alone. Many college freshmen are struggling with math. What are colleges doing to help?
Guests:
Victor Contreras, Student, San Diego State University
Diana Lambert, Reporter, EdSource
Read more from EdSource: First year college students facing what Covid cost them, especially in math
Education Beat is a weekly podcast hosted by EdSource’s Zaidee Stavely and produced by Coby McDon
2022-12-1500 min
Education BeatParcel taxes by simple majority: a game changer?Some school districts raise extra money through parcel taxes for highly qualified teachers and for enrichment classes like art, music and technology. But parcel taxes — which require approval by a two-thirds “supermajority” of voters — are hard to pass, and only a handful of school districts, most of them small, high-income districts, have ever passed one.
A little-known court decision from last year lowered the threshold to pass parcel taxes to a simple majority, as long as citizens put the measure on the ballot and not the government. Could this be a game-changer for low-income school districts?
Guests...
2022-12-0800 min
Education BeatA home that smooths the college path for former prisonersFor students who have spent time in jail, it’s extra difficult to secure housing. Yet having a home, with space to study and supportive roommates, can make it a lot easier for these students to succeed.
We talk with a student whose college path was transformed by a house for formerly incarcerated students and with a reporter about how this program came about.
Guests:
Jimmie Conner, Student, CSU Fullerton
Betty Márquez Rosales, Reporter, EdSource
Read more from EdSource: From prison to a campus home: CSU Fullerton welcomes formerly incarcerated students
E...
2022-12-0100 min
Education BeatWhy can’t more students take college courses in high school?A student shares how taking college courses while still in high school helped her get ahead in college and save on tuition. But access to these courses, known as dual enrollment, remains uneven across California. In many areas, Latino and Black students are disproportionately under-enrolled in dual enrollment classes.
Guests:
Aliha Vega, Student, UC Berkeley
Ashley A. Smith, Reporter, EdSource
Read more from EdSource: Growing numbers of California high schoolers dual enroll in college courses, but access uneven statewide
Education Beat is a weekly podcast hosted by EdSource’s Zaidee Stavely and produced by...
2022-11-1000 minEducation BeatHow counselors are tracking down missing studentsHalf of all students in California’s largest district, Los Angeles Unified, missed 15 or more days of school last year. This week we hear from an attendance counselor who tracks down those missing students and tries to get them back to class.
Guests:
Ofelia Ryan, President, Association of Pupil Services and Attendance Counselors, Los Angeles Unified
Kate Sequeira, Journalism resident, EdSource
Read more from EdSource: LAUSD makes push to bring chronically absent students back to school
Education Beat is a weekly podcast hosted by EdSource’s Zaidee Stavely and produced by Coby McDonald.
2022-11-0300 min
Education BeatConservatives aim to take control of school boardsThe California Republican Party, churches and conservative organizations have recruited and trained dozens of candidates to run for school board across California.
Some of their goals include fighting against teaching about racism and racial equity and the acceptance of different gender identities. What’s at stake in school board elections?
Guests:
John Rogers, Professor of education, UCLA
Diana Lambert, Reporter, EdSource
Read more from EdSource: 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 M...
2022-10-2700 min
Education BeatKids or cops: who should use this library building?A plan to convert a library building in the farming town of McFarland in the Central Valley into a police station sparked widespread protest.
Kern County recently expanded the library’s hours to open five days a week. Yet the city leaders of McFarland are doubling down, saying the police need the library building to meet the town’s public safety needs.
At the heart of this debate: What is the role of a library? Who does it serve?
Guests:
Andie Sullivan, Director, Kern County Library
Emma Gallegos, Reporter, EdSource
Read more...
2022-10-2000 min
Education BeatHow can we fix the student housing crunch?Kenya Abner and her husband struggled to find student housing for their family. Twenty years later, their daughter ran into the same problem.
Student housing is so scarce in California that tens of thousands of students are left without stable places to live. To tackle that shortage, experts say college leaders must try new and innovative solutions.
Guests:
Kenya Abner, Student, CSU Sacramento
Michael Burke, Reporter, EdSource
Keith Curry, President, Compton College
Su Jin Gatlin Jez, Executive director, California Competes
Jo Mackness, Assistant vice chancellor of student affairs, UC Berkeley
Read more from E...
2022-10-1300 minEducation BeatA mother fights back after her kids are restrained at schoolWhen Elyse K’s daughter was 8, she told her mom that at school “they’d put her up on the wall, like a coat on a coat rack.”
Elyse K took the school to court. The lawsuit filed alleged that a school operated by Contra Costa County County Office of Education for children with severe emotional and behavioral challenges used extreme tactics — such as physical restraints and isolation — to punish students and control their behavior. A recent settlement in the case requires the state to closely monitor the school and to train staff in positive discipline.
How common is excessive rest...
2022-09-2900 min
Education BeatHow a library inside juvenile hall aims to break the prison pipelineNot knowing how to read well can make it more likely for students to drop out of high school, and to end up in jail. By one count, 85 percent of youth in the juvenile justice system have difficulty reading.
This week, we visit a county library trying to boost literacy and a love for books among teenagers who are incarcerated in juvenile hall.
Guests:
Lisa Harris, Library Manager, Social Justice Services, Alameda County Library
Betty Márquez Rosales, Reporter, EdSource
Read more from EdSource: An island of reading for youth in the California j...
2022-09-2200 min
Education BeatWhy do so many kids struggle to learn to read?VIDEO | Is My Kid Learning How to Read?
Esti Iturralde, who has a PhD in psychology, conducts a little experiment with her daughter on how children best learn to read. Watch the video here.
Half of California third graders can’t read at grade level.
There’s exhaustive brain research that suggests that most children must be explicitly taught how to connect sounds with letters, yet many children are not taught how to do that. Why do so many children struggle to read? And why are we still debating over how they...
2022-09-1500 min
Education BeatCan we axe remedial classes?Remedial math and English classes were designed to help students prepare for college-level courses, but research has shown that they actually made it harder for students to finish college. Students would get stuck in these remedial courses, that they often didn’t actually need, get frustrated and drop out.
Despite efforts to limit remedial classes in California, many colleges are still offering them. A new bill would go further to almost completely eliminate these classes. What would it take to get rid of remedial courses and why does it matter?
Guests:
Anne Gloag, Math depa...
2022-09-0800 min
Education BeatWhy do low-income schools have more uncredentialed teachers?Students from low-income families are more likely to have uncredentialed teachers than students from wealthier households. A teacher shares how credentialing impacts quality of teaching and classroom management, and we discuss what California and its school districts are doing to address this issue.
Guests:
Thomas Courtney, 4th and 5th grade teacher, San Diego Unified School District
Diana Lambert, Reporter, EdSource
Read more from EdSource:
Poorer students still get the least qualified teachers, but California has made progress
Nearly 1 out of 5 classes in California taught by underprepared teachers
Oakland, with among lowest ratio...
2022-09-0100 minEducation BeatTeens fight for the right to vote for school boardHigh schoolers in California have been organizing to give 16 and 17 year olds the right to vote in local school board elections, giving students more say in their school districts. Two measures were passed by voters in Oakland and Berkeley in recent years, but the teens who organized to put them on the ballot are still waiting for them to be implemented. What now?
Guests:
Ixchel Arista, Senior, Oakland High School
Carolyn Jones, Reporter, EdSource
Read more from EdSource: Hope, frustration and hard lessons as youth try to lower voting age for school board
E...
2022-08-1100 min
Education BeatMath for babies and toddlersFresno County is the hub of a statewide pilot project to help early childhood educators, child care providers and elementary school teachers teach math concepts at an early age. A teacher at one child development center shares how she uses math concepts all day, even during a diaper change.
Guests:
Brittany Montelongo, Master teacher, Lighthouse for Children Child Development Center
Ashleigh Panoo, Journalism resident, EdSource
Read more from EdSource: Can infants learn math? State-backed pilot project in Fresno aims to find out
Education Beat is a weekly podcast hosted by EdSource’s Zaidee St...
2022-08-0400 min
Education BeatHow pandemic relief funds are paying for summer campCalifornia school districts received millions of dollars this year in federal and state Covid relief funding to address the impacts of the pandemic. One district, Lodi Unified, spent a chunk of the funds to send students to a two-week summer camp at a local university. Students took college classes taught by university professors, and they got a taste of dorm life.
Guests:
Clara Brienza-Larsen, Incoming freshman, Lodi Unified School District
Mariya Wharry, Program Coordinator, Lodi Unified School District
Carolyn Jones, Reporter, EdSource
Read more from EdSource: How one district used Covid funds to send kids t...
2022-07-2100 min
Education BeatWho should respond to crisis calls on campus?When college students have mental health crises, a call to 9-1-1 is often the only option, resulting in a visit from the police. One California State University campus, Cal State Long Beach, is changing that and will begin sending mental health professionals to respond to crisis calls. Why is this change important?
Guests:
Presley Dalman, Graduate, California State University, Long Beach
Ashley A. Smith, Reporter, EdSource
Read more from EdSource: CSU Long Beach makes mental health priority
Education Beat is a weekly podcast hosted by EdSource’s Zaidee Stavely and produced by Co...
2022-07-1400 min
Education BeatHow Prop 13 widened the wealth and education gap in CaliforniaCalifornia voters passed Proposition 13 in 1978 in response to rising property taxes. A new analysis concludes that Prop 13 has contributed to a widening wealth gap, a severe housing shortage and — for decades — inadequate funding for public schools.
On this episode, we discuss the legacy of Prop 13 and possible paths forward.
Guests:
María Echaveste, President and CEO, Opportunity Institute
John Fensterwald, Editor-at-large, EdSource
Read more from EdSource: California Prop. 13’s ‘unjust legacy’ detailed in critical study
Education Beat is a weekly podcast hosted by EdSource’s Zaidee Stavely and produced by Coby McDonald.
2022-07-0700 min
Education BeatWhy aren’t more districts investing in tutoring?Tutoring that’s either one-on-one or in very small groups and happens at least three times a week has been shown to greatly improve students’ learning.
Many academic and advocacy groups say this is a critical way schools can help students recover from learning loss, after a year of distance learning. But many parents haven’t found tutoring options at their children’s schools.
Guests:
Cristina Sánchez, Parent, Los Angeles Unified
Joanna French, Associate director of research and policy, Innovate Public Schools
Kate Sequeira, Journalism resident, EdSource
Read more from EdSource: Tutoring options i...
2022-06-3000 min
Education BeatHow restorative justice transformed this Oakland schoolFive years ago, Fremont High in Oakland had some of the highest discipline rates and lowest attendance in the city. Only 1 in 4 graduates were qualified to attend public college in California. One in 3 dropped out entirely. Today, with a newly rebuilt campus and an intensive focus on improving campus climate, Fremont has seen its enrollment jump, and the number of students who qualify for college admission has nearly tripled.
Students and staff say the restorative justice program is a big part of how that transformation occurred.
Guests:
Kimberly Higareda, Student, Fremont High School
Joshua W...
2022-06-2300 min
Education BeatLack of housing threatens to derail student parents’ dreamsBeing a full-time student makes scratching together money for rent difficult, so many students opt for discounted student housing, when it’s available. But on-campus housing often isn’t an option for students with children, because it’s rarely designed to accommodate families, and many colleges don’t allow children in on-campus housing, or even in their emergency housing programs for homeless students.
What’s it like for student parents to navigate the student housing system in California colleges? And what can be done to help them?
Guests:
Elizabeth Clews, Prospective transfer student
Betty Márquez Ro...
2022-06-1600 min
Education BeatOverworked and underappreciated, teachers are burning outAfter a difficult and isolated year of distance learning, student behavior in Lynda White’s middle school classroom quickly descended into chaos. With administrators stretched thin, White was left to deal with it on her own, and she eventually joined the ranks of thousands of other California teachers who quit their jobs mid-year. Some teachers left because of the challenges of teaching during a pandemic. Many burned out, citing bad behavior and a lack of support.
Guests:
Lynda White, Retired teacher, Cutler-Orosi Joint Unified School District
Diana Lambert, Reporter, EdSource
Read more from EdSource: Covid chal...
2022-06-0900 min
Education BeatHow community schools help kids thriveCalifornia recently approved the first round of grants to convert potentially thousands of schools into full-service “community schools”. Community schools provide all kinds of services for kids and families – health care, mental health therapy, housing assistance, fresh fruit and vegetables – in an effort to help kids thrive in school. A reporter discusses what he saw at a local community school and a community school coordinator shares how her school has been transformed with this program.
Guests:
Leslie Hu, Community school coordinator, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Academic Middle School, San Francisco Unified
Jessica Petrilli, Principal, Helms Middle Sc...
2022-06-0200 min
Education BeatStudents grapple with ever-present threat of gun violenceClose to 300,000 students have faced gun violence in their schools since the Columbine shooting in 1999. Many more have experienced threats of violence on their campuses. EdSource’s California Student Journalism Corps interviewed students who have survived a school shooting or shooting threats about how those experiences have impacted them.
Guests:
Leesa Hogan, Student, Merritt College
Megan Tagami, Student journalist, California Student Journalism Corps
Raya Torres, Student journalist, California Student Journalism Corps
Read more from EdSource: Students from across California share experiences with campus gun violence
Education Beat is a...
2022-05-2600 min
Education BeatThe Class of 2022The Class of 2022’s high school experience was transformed by Covid. Many struggled emotionally and academically during distance learning, often failing to turn in assignments or turn on their cameras during classes. But others emerged stronger than ever, using their time alone to double down on academics or to cultivate hobbies or even a mental health website with coping skills for kids.
Guests:
Miles Fu, Senior, El Camino Fundamental High School
Tatiana Torres, Senior, Heritage High School, Founder, Calm-4-You
Diana Lambert, Reporter, EdSource
Read more from EdSource: Challenged by Covid, the Class of 2022 looks ah...
2022-05-1200 min
Education BeatShould a small town library be turned into a police station?A small town in the Central Valley could convert its community library into a police station. The proposal has upset many residents who say that the library is vital for reading, homework, and community.
Guests:
Jazmine Ciciliano, Sixth grader
Phil Corr, President, Friends of the McFarland Library
Emma Gallegos, journalism resident, EdSource
Read more from EdSource: A small town in Kern County contemplates turning its community library into a police station
Education Beat is a weekly podcast hosted by EdSource’s Zaidee Stavely and produced by Coby McDonald.
2022-04-2800 min
Education BeatStudents fight for mental health hotlines on ID’sAs lawmakers and college officials focus on how to better support student mental health, some students are coming up with their own ideas for bills, and even writing them themselves. One new bill would require all community colleges and California State University campuses to print a phone number on student identification cards for local mental health services.
Guests:
Kimberly Woo, Student, UC Berkeley
Léo Corzo-Clark, Student, Brown University
Carolyn Jones, Senior Reporter, EdSource
Read the EdSource story: Mental health hotline numbers would appear on California college student ID cards if bill passes
E...
2022-04-2100 min
Education BeatMaking math fun after pandemic setbacksAfter a year of distance learning, the range of skill levels in math class is very wide, with some students still learning concepts from several grades behind. That means teachers have to get creative to get students excited about math and make up for lost time, now that they are back in school in person.
Guests:
Sandhya Raman, Math teacher, Morrill Middle School, Berryessa Union School District
John Fensterwald, Editor-at-large, EdSource
Read the EdSource article:
Student math scores touch off ‘five-alarm fire’ in California
Education Beat is a weekly podcast hosted by EdSource’s Zaid...
2022-04-1400 min
Education BeatThe Miami effect: New L.A. schools chief Alberto Carvalho on language and communityAs 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 Sc...
2022-03-2400 min
Education BeatChild care providers struggle to surviveThe 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 p...
2022-03-1700 min
Education BeatScrambling to find school bus driversAmong 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...
2022-03-1000 min
Education BeatWhat’s keeping California’s community college students from transferring?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...
2022-03-0300 min
Education BeatThe challenge of being a principal during CovidIn 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 Ang...
2022-02-1000 min
Education BeatWhat it takes to be an award-winning counselorTwo 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...
2021-12-0900 min
Education BeatWhat will universal TK mean for California kids?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 tr...
2021-10-0700 min
Education BeatSparking joy for readingStudies 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’...
2021-09-1600 min
Education BeatIntroducing Education Beat, a new podcast by EdSourceHello 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 te...
2021-07-3100 min
This Week in California EducationIntroducing Education Beat, a new podcast by EdSourceCOMING SOON: Education Beat, a new podcast from EdSource, will debut August 5. Join host Zaidee Stavely each week as she explores everything from preschool to college, bringing you the personal stories behind the headlines.
2021-07-3100 min
This Week in California EducationEdSource’s new executive director, Anne Vasquez, on forces that shape her views of educationNew Executive Director Anne Vasquez reflects on her childhood as the daughter of immigrants and outlines her vision for EdSource.
2021-06-0400 min
This Week in California EducationLouis Freedberg looks back at EdSource and education in a monumental decade in CaliforniaJohn Fensterwald interviews his co-host, Louis Freedberg, who is stepping down as head of EdSource, about growing up in South Africa and getting kids excited about learning in the United States.
2021-05-2800 minThis Week in California EducationDistance learning: An EdSource poll, a parent’s lament, a teacher’s tipsThis week: EdSource's poll on distance learning (low marks from parents); excerpts from a frazzled mom's diary and a teacher's techniques to motivate kids.
2020-10-0900 min