Diana Lambert

California Head Start programs face uncertainty as federal funds are paused Four Head Start programs in California will not receive their annual federal funding due to the U.S. government shutdown, potentially impacting 1,000 vulnerable children and their families.

Four Head Start programs in California will not receive their annual federal funding due to the U.S. government shutdown, potentially impacting 1,000 vulnerable children and their families.http://edsource.org/?page_id=744091

California rethinks how to identify 4-year-olds who need extra help learning English The challenge is that children at this age are still developing language skills. In the past, students would sometimes cry and put their heads down on the desk during tests.

The California Department of Education has until March 31 to select a list of potential screeners to determine if TK students need help learning English. Screeners will be tested next year before screening begins in 2027-28. @zstavely.bsky.social @tonythurmond.bsky.social edsource.org?page_id=743756

White House visa fee hike could weaken California’s teacher pipeline The White House's decision to add a $100,000 fee to the H-1B visa, which allows employers to hire from overseas for hard-to-fill positions, could negatively impact school districts already facing seve...

The White House’s decision to add a $100,000 fee to the H-1B visa, which allows employers to hire from overseas for hard-to-fill positions, could negatively impact school districts already facing severe teacher shortages. edsource.org?page_id=743591 @wearecta.bsky.social @gavinnewsom.bsky.social

New law changes how California kids learn to read California Governor Gavin Newsom has approved Assembly Bill 1454, which provides elementary school teachers with training in evidence-based reading instruction, and includes $480 million in the 2025-2...

Gov. Gavin Newsom signs new law that will change how California kids learn to read. The state joins a national effort to focus on evidence-based reading instruction, including phonics. edsource.org?page_id=742396 @zstavely.bsky.social @climateofgavin.bsky.social @lausdsup.bsky.social #literacy

Despite test score gains, California students still lag behind pre-pandemic levels Although there were some improvements, California students are still struggling to increase their scores to pre-pandemic levels.

Despite test score gains, California students still lag behind pre-pandemic levels. CSBA and other education advocates say more need to be done to close the achievement gap. edsource.org?page_id=742613 @governor.ca.gov @edtrust.bsky.social #literacy

Report: Teacher pay penalty growing edsource.org?page_id=741790

UPDATE: More women are now leading U.S. school districts, study says The latest education news updates from EdSource.

More women are now leading U.S. school districts, study says edsource.org?page_id=740876

PODCAST: How a charter school serving adults became embroiled in scandal and sparked calls for reform An audit found the charter received millions in funding for which it was not eligible, assigned teachers to classes they were not credentialed to teach, and avoided standardized testing, in addition t...

LISTEN to Education Beat podcast on Highlands Community Charter and Technical Schools' $180 million debt to the state of California. How did this promising charter school become an example for the need for charter reform.
edsource.org/podcast/char...

Bill to extend substitute teaching time raises academic concerns Supporters say extending classroom contracts for substitute teachers would provide greater continuity, but opponents fear it could negatively impact student achievement.

Supporters of California bill to extend substitute teaching time say it would provide greater continuity, but opponents fear it could negatively impact student achievement. @wearecta.bsky.social #cateachers #credentialing edsource.org?page_id=740428 via @edsource edsource.org?page_id=740428

California leaders warn schools: English learner rights remain despite Trump rollback The Trump administration has rescinded guidelines on how schools should teach English learners, which has caused concern for administrators and families.

Some educators and advocates are worried that President Trump’s decision to rescind federal guidance on teaching English learners could mean scaled back instruction for California students and an end to providing translations to families. @zstavely.bsky.social
edsource.org?page_id=740199

Former Sacramento superintendent takes charge at troubled charter school Jonathan Raymond has taken the reins of Highlands Community Charter and Technical Schools, which was recently the subject of a critical state audit. He is asking the state to allow the school to conti...

Jonathan Raymond has taken the reins of Highlands Community Charter, the recent subject of state audit that found it owed $180 mil. He wants the state to allow the school to continue educating adults who are trying to better themselves.http://edsource.org/?page_id=739996 @gavinnewsom.bsky.social

How a Sacramento charter school misused $180 million and became a poster child for reform Highlands Community Charter and Technical Schools in Sacramento has been found to have misused $180 million in K-12 funds, hired unqualified teachers, and wasted taxpayer money, leading to increased scrutiny of charter school oversight.

How a Sacramento charter school misused $180 million and became a poster child for reform edsource.org?page_id=739782 #charters

UPDATE: Applications open for student member on State Board of Education The latest education news updates from EdSource.

Applications open for student member on State Board of Education edsource.org?page_id=739363

UPDATE: Elk Grove Unified Superintendent Christopher Hoffman plans to retire The latest education news updates from EdSource.

Elk Grove Unified Superintendent Christopher Hoffman plans to retire edsource.org?page_id=738840 @elkgrovenews.bsky.social

UPDATE: Teachers still waiting for paid pregnancy leave after Assembly bill fails to advance The latest education news updates from EdSource.

California teachers still waiting for paid pregnancy leave after Assembly bill fails to advance edsource.org?page_id=738843 @wearecta.bsky.social @neatoday.bsky.social #teachers

Fresno Unified error skews state teacher data, analysis shows A mistake made by a staff member deflated claims that the state added 3,000 new teachers to its ranks between 2020 and 2024.

Fresno Unified error skews newly released state teacher data, EdSource analysis shows. It shows how easy it is to introduce significant errors into data, which then become part of the permanent state record. edsource.org?page_id=738872 #data @californiateacher.bsky.social

Migrant education helps farmworkers’ children catch up; Trump wants to end it Migrant education helps children brush up on science, math, reading and writing, but the $121 million California expected to receive is in jeopardy.

Migrant education helps farmworkers' children catch up; Trump wants to end it edsource.org?page_id=736431 @zstavely.bsky.social

UPDATE: California joins lawsuit seeking the release of $6.8 billion in school funds The latest education news updates from EdSource.

California joins lawsuit seeking the release of $6.8 billion in school funds edsource.org?page_id=736537

What Trump’s budget and tax law means for California students $6.2 billion recently withheld from schools and $12 billion in proposed education cuts are separate from the bill signed last week.

What Trump's budget and tax law means for California students edsource.org?page_id=735962

Trump freezes grant funding, upending school budgets President Donald Trump froze $6.2 billion in federal education grants - $811 million that was to go to California - the day before the money was scheduled to be released. Now districts are scrambling ...

President Trump froze $6.2 B in federal education grants – $811 M that was to go to California – the day before the money was to be released. Now districts are scrambling to fund programs before school reopens.http://edsource.org/?page_id=735665 @zstavely.bsky.social @tonythurmond.bsky.social

What the new state budget holds in store for education Public universities will dodge big proposed cuts, while TK-12 schools will receive significant one-time funding for new or expanded programs.

What the new state budget holds in store for education edsource.org?page_id=735265 @emmagallegos.bsky.social

‘There was a lot of fear’: Central Valley immigration raids drive up absences in schools, study finds Immigration raids in January and February increased absences by 22% in five school districts, according to a newly released Stanford study.

Immigration raids in California’s Central Valley earlier this year caused enough fear to keep nearly a quarter of the students in five districts home from school, according to a report released Monday by Stanford University. @lashericat.bsky.social #immigration edsource.org?page_id=734892

Trauma, upheaval, fear: Students and families caught in the crosshairs of immigration enforcement Schools across California report that parents and students have been detained or deported. In the aftermath, teachers are trying to help.

As U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids ramp up across California, so have reports of students grappling with trauma, upheaval and fear after family members — and sometimes students themselves — are detained. @zstavely.bsky.social @lausdsup.bsky.social #LA
edsource.org?page_id=734464

California poorly trains and supports teaching math, report concludes The National Council on Teacher Quality gave most graduate credentialing programs an "F" in elementary math preparation. Are math and everything else too much to squeeze into a year-long program?

California poorly trains and supports teaching math, report concludes  edsource.org?page_id=734228 @jfensterwald.bsky.social

Newsom promises funding to jump-start early literacy The governor's budget will include $200 million to fund teacher and administrator training in evidence-based reading instruction.

Newsom promises funding to jump-start early literacy. The California governor’s budget will include $200 million to fund teacher and administrator training in evidence-based reading instruction. @wearecta.bsky.social #literacy edsource.org?page_id=734156

Transgender athlete wins, shares state honors, creating questions about inclusion Transgender athlete AB Hernandez competed and won in three California track and field events despite federal threats, statewide attention and local angst.

AB Hernandez, a transgender student-athlete, achieved two 1st-place and a 2nd-place win at the state championship Saturday. She shared the podium with cisgender females as a result of new rules adopted last week. @lashericat.bsky.social @transequality.bsky.social

  edsource.org?page_id=733725

The banquet has always been expensive, but increasingly so. Disneyland is reportedly giving the CDE a break on the cost. I wasn’t able to get a breakdown of each expense before publication.

State’s school awards dinner at Disneyland comes with hefty price tag California educators converged on Disneyland on Friday to collect awards honoring their schools. But some superintendents are conflicted about sending their staff, balancing a need to celebrate with p...

Exceptional California schools are being celebrated at Disneyland today, but the honor came with a $500 per person ticket price. The money is spent to cover the more than $500,000 cost of the event. @http://edsource.org/?page_id=733627 via @edsource #CSRP2025 #edchat edsource.org?page_id=733627

Trump proposals for students with disabilities create confusion and fear Students, their parents and educators in California say they have serious concerns about federal proposals that could transform service delivery to students with disabilities.

Federal proposals that could transform how schools deliver education to California's 850,000 students with disabilities are causing concern and fear. @emmagallegos.bsky.social
@wearecta.bsky.social
edsource.org?page_id=732880 via
@edsource edsource.org?page_id=732880

PODCAST: Uncertainty over Head Start funding puts parents and teachers on edge Jackie Stephens' daughters Mercy and Hope both attended preschool through Head Start, and she says they've thrived. But now she's worried.

Listen to Education Beat host Zaidee Stavely interview me and Head Start parents Jackie Stephens and Timeisha Seymore about the cost of cutting funding to the early education program. @zstavely.bsky.social @headstart.bsky.social @edsource.org @firstfiveyears.bsky.social
edsource.org/podcast/unce...