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Gov. Gavin Newsom said this week that school districts and the state’s 2- and 4-year colleges and universities should reopen to full, in-person instruction after June 15. The California Department of Public Health announced the state would end the color-coded tier system that restricted business and school openings based on infection rates. The combined announcements would be a big step toward normalcy. We explore the impact of Newsom’s pronouncement on the fall for K-12  and the state’s 115 community colleges. A key positive takeaway said the chief lobbyist for the organization representing school administrations, is that hybrid instruction won’t be necessary, and districts should plan with that in mind. Community colleges welcome the message but some will phase in reopening cautiously, with an eye on vaccination numbers and Covid trends this summer, said the president of a San Diego area college and the chancellor of the community college system. Both said they expect to reverse the steep decline in enrollment over the past year. John Fensterwald and Louis Freedberg are the cohosts. The guests are: Edgar Zazueta, senior director of policy and government relations for ACSA, the Association of California School Administrators Eloy Ortiz Oakley, chancellor, California Community Colleges Jack Kahn, interim president of Palomar Community College in northern San Diego County For background, read these EdSource stories: Gov. Newsom expects full in-person fall return to school after state scraps color-coded tiers California Community Colleges chancellor urges slow reopening How California high schools plan to pull off ‘normal’ graduations

After an enervating school year reeling from Covid, many students are looking at the prospect of a mind-numbing summer school with dread. To entice them and their teachers back to the classroom, some school districts are redesigning summer programs, recognizing that unpressured and engaging activities, combining tutoring and physical exercise, may provide a needed transition to reopening in the fall – particularly for students set back most by the pandemic. For weary district administrators, the timing is tough, but the need is unprecedented, as is the money — billions of new federal and state dollars waiting to be spent. This week, we look at opportunities and options of expanded summer learning. We speak with the head of a nonprofit that’s been promoting innovative programs for two decades and the program director in a district that has been successful in building community partnerships. John Fensterwald and Louis Freedberg are the cohosts. The guests are: Jennifer Peck, president and CEO of  Partnership for Children and Youth,  an organization championing high-quality learning opportunities Amanda Reedy, administrator of Gilroy Unified’s Power School and after-school programs For background, read these EdSource stories: To reopen safely and responsibly, schools need their afterschool partners After-school programs can help students during pandemic California schools to get $15.3 billion in federal aid under American Rescue Plan Find out how much California school districts and charter schools will get in Covid relief : a database Also of interest: Make Your Summer Game Plan:  a series of webinars for K-12 leaders and community partners

This week, we look at the future of ethnic studies in California high schools. Earlier this month, the State Board of Education adopted an ethnic studies framework after two years of rewriting and contentious public hearings generating tens of thousands of comments. Though called a model curriculum, it’s not a blueprint or mandate; instead, it consists of principles goals, guides for instruction and sample lessons. Disagreements remain over how ethnic studies should be taught and what course content should look like, and districts now have the challenge of providing the answers. This week’s guests express strong and contrasting views on what ethnic studies should and should not be in a state as diverse as California. John Fensterwald and Louis Freedberg are the co-hosts. Guests are: Manuel Rustin, Pasadena Unified history teacher and chairman, Instructional Quality Commission Theresa Montaño, professor of Chicana & Chicano Studies, CSU Northridge Lori Meyers, co-founder, Educators for Excellence in Ethnic Studies For background, read these EdSource stories: After 8 hours, 250-plus speakers, California board adopts ethnic studies model curriculum A final vote, after many rewrites, for California’s controversial ethnic studies curriculum Gov. Newsom vetoes requirement for ethnic studies course in high school In addition, check out these related cites: Ethnic Studies Model Curriculum, as presented to and adopted by State Board of Education Liberated Ethnic Studies Model Curriculum Coalition  Educators for Excellence in Ethnic Studies Manuel Rustin’s’ weekly podcast All of the Above: An Unstandardized Take on Education

“This Week in California,” EdSource’s award-winning podcast, takes a look at innovative ideas emerging from the governor’s office for ensuring that more students make it to college.  We also look at the multiple challenges facing school superintendents during the pandemic, against the backdrop of the resignations of Superintendents Vince Matthews in San Francisco and Richard Carranza in New York, along with the wrenching news that Mills College in Oakland, established in 1852, will be closing its doors for undergraduate and graduate instruction in the next two or three years. Hosted this week by Louis Freedberg, our guests are: Lande Ajose, senior policy advisor for higher education to Gov. Newsom Becca Bracy, executive director, The Broad Center Larry Gordon, senior postsecondary reporter, EdSource For background check out these EdSource stories: California needs “common app” for admission to its public colleges, higher ed panel urges San Francisco superintendent resignation points to ongoing turnover in school leadership Mills College announces plan to close, triggering debate about other schools’ futures  

Learning pods popped up like mushrooms after Covid struck as the answer du jour for wealthy parents who could afford private tutors. But across the nation, nonprofits on their own or with districts, began creating more inclusive forms serving low-income families. They’ve provided tutoring, social and emotional support, and, in the case of Oakland REACH’s City-Wide Virtual Hub, martial arts, science activities, summer school, K-2 literacy classes and family liaisons for hundreds of children and parents. This week, we check in again with Oakland REACH CEO Lakisha Young, who describes her learning hub’s evolution. It just received $900,000 to partner with Oakland Unified to expand its work. And we talk with Robin Lake, director of the Center on Reinventing Public Education, which selected Oakland REACH for funding, on why learning hubs are worth watching. We also speak to policy analyst Desiree Carver Thomas, lead author of a report by the Palo Alto-based Learning Policy Institute that examined the pandemic’s potential to worsen teacher shortages and widen staffing inequities in low-income schools, unless the state and districts double down on solutions that work. For background on these issues, check out the following: Oakland nonprofit, school district awarded $900,000 to keep growing ‘City-Wide Virtual Hub’ Parents worried about the fall plan ‘learning pods’ and micro-schools California teacher shortages could make reopening schools for in-person instruction difficult California teacher credentialing requirements continue to be eased during pandemic Also: Five lessons on how community-driven learning hubs could change school districts long-term Announcing a new initiative to support district- and community-led innovation through learning hubs California Teachers and COVID-19: How the Pandemic Is Impacting the Teacher Workforce

Two-plus months after Gov. Gavin Newsom first proposed $2 billion in grants to coax school districts to send younger students back to school, the Legislature passed a significantly modified version with the same funding, and Newsom signed it this week. But will the new law, coming amid rapidly falling Covid infection rates, speed the reopening process? It depends which district and which parents you ask. We speak with Fresno Unified Supt. Bob Nelson, who strongly criticized Newsom’s original proposal, but is now working with his employee unions to try to meet the April 1 deadline to send some students back to the classroom. Two parents we interview offer opposite views. Scott Davison, an attorney who has a son in Carlsbad Unified, said the new plan “is not going to move the needle much” in terms of reopening. Active in Open Schools California, a new statewide parent group pushing for immediate in-person instruction, Davison said Newsom should issue an order forcing teachers back to the classroom. Alana Levitt, a parent with 1st and 5th graders in Santa Monica-Malibu Unified, commended the new plan as “a step in the right direction.” An associate director of a preschool that’s been open since July, Levitt said she understands how complicated it is to put safety measures in place, and a pilot program of sending students for a limited time in the afternoon strikes her as appropriate for now.  For background on these issues, check out the following: California Legislature approves plan to encourage schools to reopen for in-person instruction Quick Guide: California’s plan for getting more kids back to school California teacher shortages could make reopening schools for in-person instruction difficult Newsom, lawmakers set April 1 deadline to reopen schools for K-2 students

For weeks, Gov. Gavin Newsom was saying that teachers should be be a priority to be vaccinated, but it wasn’t clear what he meant. This week, he put power behind his pledge to allocate 10% of the state’s vaccines to school employees over the next few weeks by setting clear and uniform priorities for which of them should be at the front of the line to get their shots. Alameda County Supt. L.K. Monroe, president of CCSESA which represents all 58 county offices of education, explains the policy and its implications for California’s hardest hit communities. And Heber Marquez, a teacher in Los Angeles Unified who lives and works in Maywood, a Covid-stricken  city in Los Angeles County, explains why families, and teachers, are hesitant to send students back to school until vaccines are more widely available. Also, Brooks Allen, executive director of the State Board of Education, and an advisor to Gov.Newsom, sums up the status of standardized tests in math and English this year known as the Smarter Balanced Assessments.   This week the  U.S. Department of Education told states they need to do testing of some kind, while giving them flexibility to modify the tests, how they can be reported and when they can be given.  The State Board of Education spent hours debating the issue this week. For background on these issues, check out the following: California sets priorities for vaccination of teachers and school employees Why some school districts are open for in-person instruction but in some cases, neighboring ones aren’t New cases of Covid-19 fall dramatically in California, enabling more schools to reopen Rising tensions, heated words add pressure to reach a deal soon on reopening California schools California moves ahead to pursue flexibility waivers for standardized tests this year

How to grade students struggling to cope academically and how to measure the progress of English learners are two challenges teachers and schools face during the pandemic. This week we talk with EdSource reporter Sydney Johnson on different strategies to grade students, including giving students more time to finish their work, switching from letter grades to giving students feedback in the form of more descriptive narratives about their work. And reporter Zaidee Stavely details the difficulties of assessing language proficiency among students who speak a language other than English at home through a lengthy test not originally designed to be given online at home. Also this week, in an excerpt from one of the first media interviews he has done since taking office on January 1, new California State University Chancellor Joe Castro shares with EdSource postsecondary education reporter Ashley Smith his plans for reopening campuses and dealing with a recent decline in applications to the CSU’s 23 campuses. Want to read more about Chancellor Castro’s priorities?  Read this report by Ashley.  For more on  assessing student progress, read these EdSource stories by Sydney and Zaidee:  California schools struggle to test English learners’ progress during pandemic California teachers grapple with grading nearly a year after initial school closures

San Francisco Mayor London Breed, expressing the frustration of many parents, sues San Francisco’s school board and superintendent to try to force city schools to reopen. Gov. Gavin Newsom, worried about further potential delays, clarifies that vaccinating teachers is a priority but not a prerequisite for returning to school for in-person instruction. With the Legislature soon to weigh in on its position on reopening schools, it’s been a busy week of jostling to put stakes in the ground. We get reactions to the issues: San Francisco Unified Superintendent Vincent Matthews says he’s exasperated that city officials made inaccurate accusations and sued before sitting down to talk. California Teachers Association President E. Toby Boyd insists that vaccinating teachers who are heading back to school is a key piece to ensuring students and staff are safe, and time is needed to put protections in place. Sacramento County Superintendent of Schools Dave Gordon, meanwhile, says his county and 13 districts are ready and waiting to vaccinate all school staff in clinics within two weeks — as soon as the vaccines arrive. For background on these issues, check out the following: Dispute widens between Gov. Newsom, school employee unions over reopening campuses Joining national debate, San Francisco enters uncharted territory in battle over reopening schools California schools consider extending next school year while mental health remains a concern Quick Guide: What California’s color-coded county tracking system means for schools

Arguably the most contentious issue of the pandemic is no longer over wearing masks but whether or how children can return to school for in-person instruction. And there is growing urgency. At stake is whether more children will return to school sometime during the current school year. As we show in this week’s podcast, there are no easy answers. Everyone wants children back in school, but the issue is whether it is safe to do so. A growing number of parents — including those who have signed on to a new organization Open Schools California — think it is, and cite evidence to back them up. However, many other parents, as well as teachers, are convinced that it isn’t safe. Hear from two leaders in Open Schools California: Megan Bacigalupi, an Oakland Unified parent, and Ernesto Falcon from nearby West Contra Costa Unified. For a contrary perspective, we talk with 3rd grade teacher Marissa Glidden, president of the United Teachers of Richmond. And then let us know what you think by sending comments to edsource@edsource.org!  For background on these issues, check out the following: In his own words: President Biden on ‘making it safe to get kids back to school’ Newly formed California-wide parent group turns up the pressure to reopen schools All aspects of his return-to-school plan are negotiable, Gov. Newsom tells superintendents With Gov. Newsom’s back-to-school plan all but doomed, what might it take to salvage it?

President Joe Biden wasted no time: Inaugurated at noon Wednesday, by Thursday, he had issued an executive order on supporting the reopening of schools and early childhood education providers during the pandemic and detailed how in a 200-page national Covid strategy. He called on Congress to approve $130 billion for K-12 and $35 billion for higher ed in immediate Covid relief. This week, we turn to two well-known education leaders, Linda Darling-Hammond and Ted Mitchell, to explain President Biden’s immediate and post-pandemic priorities for schools and colleges and the potential impact for California. Darling-Hammond, who is president of the California State Board of Education, headed up Biden’s ed transition team; Congress willing, she said, there’ll be more money coming soon to help schools reopen. Mitchell, former undersecretary of education during the Obama administration, is president of the American Council on Education. He details Biden’s executive order for a moratorium on repaying college loans and a plan to forgive $10,000 worth of students’ college debt. For background on these issues, check out the following: Immigration reform proposed by Biden could alleviate anxiety, fear for thousands of California children Inconsistent vaccine supply, lack of state coordination complicate teacher vaccinations In inaugural address, Biden says it is possible to teach children ‘in safe schools’ Also: Executive Order on Supporting the Reopening and Continuing Operation of Schools and Early Childhood Education Providers National Strategy for the COVID-19 Response and Pandemic Preparedness

This week, two people involved in the debate over Gov. Gavin Newsom’s plan to provide $2 billion in incentives to school districts that agree to bring back elementary school students in February and March offer different perspectives. Fresno Unified Superintendent Bob Nelson, who joined six other large urban superintendents in criticizing the strategy, said the timeline is too compressed to reach a deal with teachers who have agreed to reopen when Covid infection rates are lower than Newsom proposes and the plan doesn’t consider the worries of parents in urban areas with high infection rates. Dr. Jeanne Noble, a physician who directs the Covid response for the UCSF Emergency Department, says that data from schools open in Marin County and in North Carolina show schools can be operated safely for all students and kept safe for adults by ensuring that students wear masks, keep socially distant and, along with staff, are tested regularly for the coronavirus.  For background on these issues, check out the following: Newsom opens one-stop Covid information ‘hub’ on reopening schools Big district superintendents, Newsom advisers remain at odds on back to school plan Some California teachers and staff to receive Covid-19 vaccines beginning this week Also: Letter by seven urban superintendents to Gov. Newsom critical of his reopening plan Commentary by Dr. Jeanne Noble, other UCSF health professionals call for Feb. 1st school reopening

This week, John and Ryan Smith, external officer for the Partnership for Los Angeles Schools, reflect on the insurrection at the U.S. Capitol and its impact on students watching the event, and they share 2021 predictions of education in California. John wagers his “fensters” against Ryan’s “smiths” on odds of school reopening for in-person instruction, the state budget, a recall of Gavin Newsom, ethnic studies’ passage, a teacher shortage, and the pandemic’s impact on the classroom. Keep your own scorecard and file it away until January 2022. For background on these issues, check out the following: California educators condemn and reflect on Capitol attack California education issues to watch in 2021 — and predictions of what will happen California education issues to watch in 2020 — and predictions of what will happen

Heading into 2021, California’s K-12 districts, child care providers, and colleges and universities will get about $8.5 billion in federal coronavirus relief that Congress approved this week. Leilani Aguinaldo, governmental relations director for School Services of California, outlines the K-12 portion. Districts with large numbers of low-income families will get an outsized share (see EdSource’s database  for each districts’s amount). We end the last podcast of the year with an appreciation of teachers. Respected educator Ken Futernick describes Teacher Stories, a website he founded where parents and students can describe how teachers changed their lives; two contributors read their expressions of gratitude. And fifth-grade teacher Thomas Courtney, featured on Teacher Stories, tells us how he finds energy and joy connecting with two generations of students in his 22 years in San Diego schools. For background on these issues, check out the following: California school districts, charter schools to get $6.8 billion, in varying amounts, of federal aid Covid relief by district in California, an EdSource database Congress approves billions more in Covid relief for schools and college Teacher Stories, Ken Futernick’s teacher appreciation website San Diego teacher Thomas Courtney’s interview with Ken Futernic

This week, we hold a roundtable discussion with EdSource reporters Larry Gordon, Betty Márquez Rosales and with Rose Ciotta, the editor overseeing two ongoing projects on the impact of Covid-19 on California education. EdSource published the latest installments for both this week. “Education During Covid: California Families Struggle To Learn,” tracks how Covid-19 has affected a cross section of 16 families with children in pre-K through high school. “College and Covid: Freshman Year Disrupted” — the focus of the podcast — takes a deep look into how the pandemic has disrupted the freshman year in college and interrupted some students’ plans to enroll. Márquez profiles three students working full time to shore up their families’ lost income. Gordon explains what the CSU is doing to keep students from dropping out. Ciotta outlines future plans for the project. For background on these issues, check out the following: College And Covid: Freshman Year Disrupted How counseling aims to help CSU freshmen graduate in four years When helping family comes before going to college Education During Covid: California Families Struggle To Learn Disappointing grades, technology glitches and glimpses of learning fun

It’s great or terrible timing for California’s new Master Plan for Early Learning and Care. The 112-page report from the Newsom administration outlines plans to expand preschool, child care and paid family leave, and boost pay and training for the early childhood workers over the next decade. Its release in the midst of a pandemic bodes poorly for big new spending next year. But, importantly, it also signals that early childhood education should be as much of a priority as the Master Plan for Higher Education was 60 years ago. This week, we take stock of the master plan from several angles. EdSource early education reporter Karen D’Souza provides context for the document and what might happen next. Kim Johnson, director of California’s Department of Social Services, describes the critical and expanding role of her department in consolidating child care programs and services to make them more consistent and comprehensive.  Marlene Zepeda, professor emeritus in the Department of Child and Family Studies at California State University, Los Angeles, explains the importance of the master plan’s recognition of the need to identify and assess dual-language learners at an early age.  For background on these issues, check out the following: Master Plan for Early Learning and Care: Making California for All Kids Another step toward universal preschool in California? Preschoolers learning English need to be identified, supported, says California’s master plan New Master Plan for Early Learning and Care points way to California for all (commentary)  Inside California’s new master plan to reshape early education and child care

California is violating the constitutional rights of low-income children of color who are bearing the brunt of the shortcomings of distance learning statewide through deficient technology and ineffective instruction, a lawsuit filed this week is charging. The State Board of Education and the California Department of Education, in particular, have failed to prevent and address these inequities, the public interest law firm Public Counsel alleges in Cayla J v California, named for an 8-year-old Oakland student. We speak with Jesselyn Friley, a lead attorney in the case, who explains the need for the lawsuit and possible remedies. Plus, in a departing interview with EdSource, CSU Chancellor Tim White, who is stepping down after 8 years, relates that despite the pandemic, the 23-campus system had historically high first-year student retention rates, and is on target to meet ambitious 4- and 6-year graduation rates by 2025. He also discusses the challenges ahead for next year’s budget. For background on these issues, check out the following: Public Counsel’s complaint in Cayla J v. State of California Public Counsel’s Sept. 8, 2020 letter to State Supt. Tony Thurmond and State Board President Linda Darling Hammond and their response (see pages 67 to 84 of the complaint) Up to 1 million California students may still lack connectivity during distance learning Retiring CSU Chancellor White says pandemic changes can benefit higher ed Next CSU chancellor pledges to improve graduation rates, despite the pandemic Newsom’s proposed budget cuts to higher education force difficult choices ahead

Thanksgiving is Americans’ holiday to express gratitude. In a growing number of schools in California, students do this as part of their day. This week, we meet Brandi Quintero, chair of the English Department at Lindsay High School, who is building a spirit of kindness and a positive mindset among her students by incorporating gratitude exercises inspired by the education site GiveThx.org. Listen to students from her school and from Impact Academy of Arts and Technology in Hayward read notes of gratitude to their classmates. Also this week, President-elect Joe Biden named Alejandro Mayorkas to lead the Department of Homeland Security, signaling that refugees and DACA recipients will again be welcome in the United States. Mayorkas, brought to America as an infant by parents fleeing from Fidel Castro’s Cuba, implemented the Deferred Action on Childhood Arrivals program while head of the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services during the Obama administration.  We listen to a passage from a speech in which he describes a life-changing visit to a refugee camp on the Somalia-Kenya border.  For background on these issues, check out the following: Biden’s nominee for homeland security chief likely to change immigration policies affecting children and youth Trump administration refuses to accept new applications for DACA program Many undocumented youth remain in limbo after Supreme Court’s DACA decision GiveThx  – website designed to strengthen students social and emotional skills through expressions of gratitude Parents’ appreciation for teachers grows, but sentiments are simpler

California’s highly-regarded Legislative Analyst’s Office caught doomsayers off guard this week with its annual financial outlook for the state budget: A fast economic rebound from a recession that has largely spared the richest Californians will produce a windfall of revenue for K-12 schools and community colleges next year. The LAOs’ K-12 expert, Edgar Cabral, discusses why and previews a dilemma facing Gov. Newsom and the Legislature: whether to use the financial bonanza to pay off $12.5 billion in deferrals – the late payments to school districts they imposed to avoid funding cuts in this year’s budget– or give districts more money to spend next year. Also, this year’s presidential election exposed a public largely ignorant of the basics of the democratic process. Erica Hodgin, co-author of a new report by UC Riverside and UCLA on the sad state of civics education in schools, suggests ways to rejuvenate it, including a new incentive, the State Seal of Civic Engagement. For background on these issues, check out the following: UC Riverside and UCLA report: Reclaiming the Democratic Process in California Schools High school teachers in California wary of taking on contentious Biden-Trump election Impeachment trial a ‘teachable moment’ for government, history teachers Task force urges remake of civics education In ‘remarkable’ turnaround, California schools can expect huge one-time windfall next year, LAO says Guide to California’s education budget deferrals: pros, cons and costs of delayed payments California Legislature approves state budget; here are the highlights for education funding

This week, President-elect Joe Biden named his 20-person education transition team headed by California State Board of Education president Linda Darling-Hammond. Martha Kanter, who served as undersecretary of education in the Obama-Biden administration, talks with EdSource about Biden’s big ideas for education. “Look for plans to increase Pell Grants and unprecedented attention to community colleges,” she said. EdSource higher education reporter Ashley Smith highlights other likely priorities, including the renewal, by executive order of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program (DACA). And Louis delves into how preschool and K-12 will benefit – assuming a potentially divided Congress goes along. With Covid-19 infection rates soaring, three more counties were reclassified as “purple,” meaning schools can’t reopen for at least several weeks. Christopher Hoffman, superintendent of Elk Grove Unified, the state’s fifth largest district near Sacramento, talks about the impact of a further delay in going back to in-person instruction. For background on this issue, check out the following: Community colleges find an advocate in future First Lady Jill Biden President-elect Joe Biden’s expansive education agenda expected to draw greater scrutiny Education transition team for Biden administration announced, with Linda Darling-Hammond as “lead” Rising Covid-19 rates halt school reopening plans in three California counties Education and the coronavirus crisis: What’s the latest?