Education Beat

Students from low-income families and English learners are automatically awarded $500 for college or career training through a California program. Foster youth and homeless students get another $500 on top of that. But students, or their parents or guardians, have to claim the money. And many families are unaware of this program. How do you find out if you have money waiting for you? What is California doing to try to get more students to claim their accounts? Guests: Stephanie Martinez Anaya, College success coach, Riverside County Lasherica Thornton, Reporter, EdSource Read more from EdSource: More, but not enough, Californians accessing free money for college, career Getting California's students to access free money relies on community partnerships Click here to find out if you or your student has college money Education Beat is a weekly podcast, hosted by EdSource's Zaidee Stavely and produced by Coby McDonald. Subscribe: Apple, Spotify, SoundCloud, YouTube

When the Eaton Fire burned through parts of Los Angeles County this January, it destroyed thousands of homes. The hardest-hit district was Pasadena Unified School District, where around 10,000 students out of the district's 14,000 were displaced. Principals across the district called for help from the county office of education, so that when kids impacted by the fires returned to school, they'd have the mental health support they needed. Guests: Tanya Ward, project director for mental health and school counseling, Los Angeles County Office of Education Mallika Seshadri, reporter, EdSource Read more from EdSource: ‘Psychological first aid': How volunteers helped students recover after LA fires The sound of music returns to students traumatized by the Eaton fire ‘The day I lost my house:' School communities reel from Eaton, Palisades fires Education Beat is a weekly podcast, hosted by EdSource's Zaidee Stavely and produced by Coby McDonald. Subscribe: Apple, Spotify, SoundCloud, YouTube

Jackie Stephens' daughters Mercy and Hope both attended free child care and preschool through Head Start, and she says they've thrived. Jackie has gotten help herself through the program, with breastfeeding, nutritional advice and parenting. But now Jackie's worried. Because earlier this year, President Donald Trump indicated he wanted to eliminate all funding - $12.3 billion - for Head Start. Guests: Jackie Stephens, Parent, Sharon Neese Early Learning Center, Sacramento Timeisha Seymore, Parent, Sharon Neese Early Learning Center, Sacramento Annabel Stofer, Teacher, Sharon Neese Early Learning Center, Sacramento Diana Lambert, Reporter, EdSource Read more from EdSource: Head Start allies wait, worry about possible funding cuts Head Start offers path to success for children, families Education Beat is a weekly podcast, hosted by EdSource's Zaidee Stavely and produced by Coby McDonald. Subscribe Apple, Spotify, SoundCloud, YouTube.

In 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: How federal cuts are already affecting disabled students in California AmeriCorps cuts slash support services, programs for vulnerable communities Trump's budget would abolish funding for English learners, adult ed, teacher recruitment Education Beat is a weekly podcast, hosted by EdSource's Zaidee Stavely and produced by Coby McDonald. Subscribe at Apple, Spotify, SoundCloud

California 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 heed federal advice to bar police from enforcing school rules Resource officers' ‘position of trust' with students sometimes exploited How one rural county pays for its resource officers How we obtained and examined contracts for school resource officers Read the whole series here: Calling the Cops Education Beat is a weekly podcast, hosted by EdSource's Zaidee Stavely and produced by Coby McDonald. Subscribe at Apple, Spotify, SoundCloud

Texas offers more bilingual education than California and backs it up with more funding. We visit an elementary school and a middle school in Austin, Texas, where students learn in Spanish and English. And we talk with a researcher about why Texas is so much farther ahead than California in bilingual education. Guests: Conor Williams, Senior Fellow, The Century Foundation Wendell Norris Marquez, Pre-AP Spanish Teacher, Lively Middle School, Austin Independent School District Yadi Landaverde, Teacher, Perez Elementary School, Austin Independent School District Caroline Sweet, Dual-language Instructional Coach, Perez Elementary School, Austin Independent School District Emil, Hennri Jossue, Iker, Luis and Mathilda, Fourth graders, Perez Elementary School, Austin Independent School District Ximena Macias, Student Teacher, Perez Elementary School, Austin Independent School District Antonia Vincent, AP Spanish Teacher, Lively Middle School, Austin Independent School District Read more from EdSource: Why Texas is ahead of California on bilingual education Education Beat is a weekly podcast, hosted by EdSource's Zaidee Stavely and produced by Coby McDonald. Subscribe at Apple, Spotify, SoundCloud

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 Read more from EdSource: Amid deadly measles outbreak, California's childhood vaccination rates are falling  California school vaccinations database Map: MMR and full vaccination rates in California kindergartners Education Beat is a weekly podcast, hosted by EdSource's Zaidee Stavely and produced by Coby McDonald. Subscribe at Apple, Spotify, SoundCloud

Manny Barbara is likely one of the most experienced people in the state when it comes to closing a school. He has helped six districts manage the closing of its schools. Barbara shares the wisdom that he's learned from this experience. As California enrollment declines, how can districts navigate the difficult but sometimes necessary experience of closing a school? Guests: Manny Barbara, retired superintendent and facilitator John Fensterwald, Editor-at-large, EdSource Read more from EdSource: When districts face the tough job of closing schools, Manny Barbara is the go-to guy Which districts are on California's latest financial danger lists — and why Special project: California's Enrollment Rollercoaster Commentary: Closing schools: How much money does it save, and is it worth it? Education Beat is a weekly podcast. This week's episode was hosted by EdSource's Emma Gallegos and produced by Coby McDonald. Subscribe at Apple, Spotify, SoundCloud

Compton drama teacher Catherine Borek has made plays with no stage and no theater, but a whole lot of creativity. She says drama can be therapy to help kids conquer anxiety, and it helps kids thrive who struggle in other classes. As California expands arts education, what role can theater play in the classroom? Guests: Catherine Borek, Drama and English teacher, Dominguez High School, Compton Unified School District Karen D'Souza, Reporter, EdSource Read more from EdSource: Drama class helps Compton students find themselves on stage Madera drama teacher sees the arts as a gateway to improving literacy skills Can theater help prevent violence in schools? Allison Gamlen's journey from actor to arts educator Education Beat is a weekly podcast, hosted by EdSource's Zaidee Stavely and produced by Coby McDonald. Subscribe at Apple, Spotify, SoundCloud

Five years after California schools shut their doors because of the Covid-19 pandemic, most districts in California still struggle to recover the ground they lost. At the same time, they face multiple challenges: soaring mental health difficulties, increased absenteeism, a decline in enrollment, and uncertain finances. Despite these challenges, one school principal in San Jose sees hope and promise in his school, which his team reimagined during the pandemic. Guests: Vito Chiala, Principal, Overfelt High School, East Side Union High School District John Fensterwald, Editor-at-large, EdSource Read more from EdSource: Covid's long shadow in California: Chronic absences, student depression and the limits of money How Covid changed teaching in California: fewer pencils, more technology How Covid's mental health toll transformed California's schools Find the whole series here: Five Years Later: Covid's Lasting Impact on Education Education Beat is a weekly podcast, hosted by EdSource's Zaidee Stavely and produced by Coby McDonald. Subscribe at Apple, Spotify, SoundCloud.

Sonoma State University announced a contentious proposal this spring to cut $24 million dollars by eliminating six academic departments entirely, and another two dozen degree programs, in addition to cutting all NCAA Division II sports, among other measures. A geology student shares what's at stake for the field and for students and faculty who are mourning the possible loss of a "home away from home." Guests: Jackson Kaiser, Geology student, Sonoma State University Amy DiPierro, Reporter, EdSource Read more from EdSource: Scenes of loss – and resilience – at a Cal State campus facing drastic cuts Education Beat is a weekly podcast, hosted by EdSource's Zaidee Stavely and produced by Coby McDonald. Subscribe at Apple, Spotify, SoundCloud.

Undocumented young people risked everything decades ago to "come out of the shadows” and push loudly and proudly for their right to stay in this country. That movement is, in large part, the reason that Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) exists. Yet there is still no path to citizenship for most undocumented immigrants and DACA has not accepted new applications since 2017, locking out most current high school and college-age students. As the new Trump administration threatens mass deportation of immigrants, how will schools and students be impacted? What can we learn from the history of undocumented student activism? This episode was recorded live at SXSW EDU, one of the largest education conferences in the country. Guests: Vanesa Cruz Granados, Co-chair, Undocumented Student-led Network Blanca Hernandez, Immigrant rights' advocate This episode also features the voices of: Rafael Martinez, Assistant professor, Arizona State University, and author of "Illegalized: Undocumented Youth Movements in the United States" Jacky Neri Arias, Executive director of student experience and inclusion, Dominican University Alejandra, Undocumented student, University of California Education Beat is a weekly podcast hosted by EdSource's Zaidee Stavely and produced by Coby McDonald.

In 2022, California voters passed Proposition 28, a law meant to address the paltry and inequitable arts education funding in most schools. Vicky Martinez, a parent of three sons in Los Angeles Unified School District, says her children need a robust arts education in the wake of the pandemic, but the district isn't providing that. Martinez and other parents joined a lawsuit against LAUSD and superintendent Alberto Carvalho, claiming that the district was misusing its Prop. 28 funds. Guests: Vicky Martinez, LAUSD parent Mallika Seshadri, Reporter at EdSource Karen D'Souza, Reporter, EdSource Related: Lawsuit charges misuse of arts education funding at LAUSD schools Shortage of teachers and classrooms slows expansion of arts education in Los Angeles and beyond LAUSD's new magnet film school gives students hands-on learning about entertainment industry Education Beat is a weekly podcast. This episode was hosted by EdSource's Emma Gallegos and produced by Coby McDonald. Are you attending SXSW EDU? We'll be there! Learn more.

Young people who've been in the foster care system often struggle to get to and through college. Some studies show that programs designed just for supporting these students — with scholarships, counseling and peer support, for example — can make a big difference. In this episode, we bring you the story of one student who dropped out of college, then returned years later with renewed resolve and the support of a program for former foster youth. Guests: Faylen Bush, Student, Rio Hondo College Betty Márquez Rosales, Reporter, EdSource Read more from EdSource: For former foster care students, college help exists long after exiting the system The community college creating a home base for transition-age foster students Education Beat is a weekly podcast hosted by EdSource's Zaidee Stavely and produced by Coby McDonald.

When immigrant students have missed years of school in their home countries, they not only have to learn English, but also the basics of how to read and write in any language and the math and science they missed. But the materials to cover that knowledge can often seem boring or childish to older students, causing them to disengage. Oakland Unified School District is now piloting a new curriculum designed just for students who missed out on years of education in their home countries. We visit a classroom to find out what it's like. Voices: Shannon Darcey, Teacher, Oakland Unified School District Julie Kessler, Director of Newcomer and ELL Programs, Oakland Unified School District Maribel and Anallely, Students, Oakland Unified School District Read more from EdSource: How Oakland Unified is helping immigrant students fill education gaps Education Beat is a weekly podcast hosted by EdSource's Zaidee Stavely and produced by Coby McDonald.

A school board meeting in Palo Alto Unified offers a peek into an argument brewing in some school districts statewide over whether ethnic studies should be a requirement for all high school students, and what the course should — or shouldn't — teach. Students say the courses opened their eyes to inequities in their own communities and taught them history about African-Americans, Latinos, Asians and Native Americans that they hadn't learned in other classes. Some parents and school board members in the community argue that courses in some districts take a one-sided view that stresses white supremacy, colonialism and capitalism are the obstacles to racial justice. Guest: John Fensterwald, Editor-at-large, EdSource This episode also includes voices from students, parents, teachers and school board members, from a school board meeting held on Jan. 23, 2025. Read more from EdSource: Anatomy of a divided California school board's vote on ethnic studies The clock is ticking, ethnic studies remains an unfunded mandate; what will Newsom do? Conflict over race, LGBTQ issues cost schools more than $3 billion last school year Education Beat is a weekly podcast hosted by EdSource's Zaidee Stavely and produced by Coby McDonald.

The majority of students in California schools are Latino, while the teachers are mostly white. But that could now be changing, as more people of Latino heritage enroll in teacher preparation programs in the state. How can more Latino teachers change California education? Guests: Zulya Nunez, Teacher candidate, San Diego State University Diana Lambert, Reporter, EdSource Read more from EdSource: How more Hispanic teachers could change the face of California education Education Beat is a weekly podcast hosted by EdSource's Zaidee Stavely and produced by Coby McDonald.

The firestorms in Los Angeles have destroyed at least nine schools and displaced hundreds of teachers and students. A teacher shares the story of her family's escape, and a reporter describes the physical and emotional damage to schools and communities. Guests: Tanya Reyes, teacher in Los Angeles Unified School District and parent in Pasadena Unified School District Mallika Seshadri, Reporter, EdSource Read more from EdSource: Los Angeles schools close, brace for more fire, wind and ash Education Beat is a weekly podcast hosted by EdSource's Zaidee Stavely and produced by Coby McDonald.

The 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 from EdSource: California education issues to watch in 2025, plus predictions on how they may play out Education Beat is a weekly podcast hosted by EdSource's Zaidee Stavely and produced by Coby McDonald.

This week we're re-running a special episode from 2023 that recently won 1st place for best longform storytelling in audio from the Society of Professional Journalists of Northern California. The last couple of years have seen an expansion of bachelor's degree programs in prison. Inside the first women's program at the Central California Women's Facility in Chowchilla, incarcerated women are working to rebuild their lives by pursuing these higher degrees. Guests: Melanie Gandara, formerly incarcerated student Canesha Sherron Sinclair, incarcerated student Kelsey Morasci, incarcerated student Professor Tad Bellew, anthropology professor, Fresno State University Professor Keramet Reiter, criminology and law professor, University of California, Irvine Allen Burnett, formerly incarcerated student Read more from EdSource: Students earn college degrees in expanded California prison program Commentary | The trouble with labels: words become prophesy Education Beat is a weekly podcast. This episode is hosted by EdSource's Ashley A. Smith and produced by Coby McDonald.

This week we're re-running an episode from 2023, that won several awards this year, including a 1st place in immigration reporting and one of the best podcasts in the state from the California News Publishers Association, and 3rd place in immigration and border reporting from Best of the West. About 1 in 10 children in California have at least one undocumented immigrant parent. The immigration struggles of parents have real impacts on children, including on their education. This is the story of a Central Valley dad who had been undocumented but went to apply for his green card and ended up separated from his wife and four kids, because of a change in immigration policy under the first Trump administration. His forced absence created emotional and financial burdens for his entire family and derailed some of his children's college plans. Voices: José Luis Ruiz Arévalos Armanda Ruiz Elena Gutiérrez Ramírez Nathan Gutiérrez Ramírez Ignacio Gutiérrez Ramírez Priscila Ruiz Ramírez Erin Quinn, Senior managing attorney, Immigrant Legal Resource Center Read more from EdSource: Family reunited after four years separated by Trump-era immigration policy How immigration policy forced a California family apart and disrupted their education Education Beat is a weekly podcast hosted by EdSource's Zaidee Stavely and produced by Coby McDonald. Jennifer Molina contributed to the reporting for this episode.

When Gabriela Rodriguez was in third grade in San Jose Unified, her teacher recommended her for a scholarship to join the New Ballet school. Now, at 19, she is starring in The San Jose Nutcracker and dreams of teaching others the joy of dance. How can dance and other arts inspire and impact students' education and life trajectories? Guests: Gabriela Rodriguez, ballet student and dancer, New Ballet Karen D'Souza, Reporter, EdSource Read more from EdSource: Ballet opens doors for children to chase the joy of dance Education Beat is a weekly podcast hosted by EdSource's Zaidee Stavely and produced by Coby McDonald.

Alice Keeney had to study for months in the Navy to learn how to operate nuclear reactors that power submarines and aircraft carriers. But when she tried to transfer her classes over to Cal Poly Pomona, they wouldn't give her credit. Why is credit for learning outside the classroom important? And how did Alice — and her allies — eventually change how CSUs evaluate transcripts? Guests: Alice Keeney, Former machinist mate in the Navy and former student at Cal Poly Pomona Emma Gallegos, Reporter, EdSource Education Beat is a weekly podcast hosted by EdSource's Zaidee Stavely and produced by Coby McDonald.

Tulare County, in California's Central Valley, struggles with very high poverty rates and youth mental health issues that were exacerbated by the pandemic. It also has one of the lowest numbers of school mental health workers in the state. So now the county is giving internships to graduate students in social work and placing them in schools, in an effort to tackle the shortage. How can this strategy help students? What challenges do school social workers face in counties like Tulare? Guests: Greg Salcedo, School social worker, Tulare Joint Union High School District Vani Sanganeria, Local News Fellow, EdSource Read more from EdSource: Tackling the student mental health crisis in rural Central Valley Education Beat is a weekly podcast hosted by EdSource's Zaidee Stavely and produced by Coby McDonald.

This week we are re-airing an episode from 2023 that won an Excellence in Journalism Award for Education Reporting in the Radio/Audio/Podcast category, from the Society of Professional Journalists of Northern California. A 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. What happened in the months after the teacher's removal? And how did it affect other teachers and students? Guests: Greg Bailey, Drama teacher, Temecula Valley High School Mallika Seshadri, Journalism resident, EdSource Read more from EdSource: Learning at Temecula Valley Unified suffers as censorship fears rise LGBTQ+ students in conservative crosshairs Temecula Valley Unified CRT ban has created a hostile school environment, lawsuit says Temecula Valley Unified reverses course and adopts state-approved social studies curriculum Temecula board again votes to reject textbooks, despite warnings from Newsom 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 McDonald.

Students 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 pushing its 116 campuses to place more STEM students directly into Calculus. Some community college students and math faculty are concerned that this push will leave students unprepared for the advanced math they need for their STEM majors. But other math professors who are early adopters say that they're optimistic that this law is exactly what California students need to get on track for success in STEM fields. Guests: Rena Weiss, Math Professor, Moorpark College Amy DiPierro, Reporter, EdSource Michael Burke, Reporter, EdSource Read more from EdSource: Educators divided on impact of changes in STEM math placement at California community colleges What to know about changes in STEM math placement at California community colleges Education Beat is a weekly podcast. This episode is hosted by EdSource's Emma Gallegos and produced by Coby McDonald.

Many 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: Alejandra Lopez, Student, Cal Poly Pomona John Fensterwald, Editor-at-large, EdSource Diana Lambert, Reporter, EdSource Read more from EdSource: What Trump's victory means for education in California California education leaders try to reassure students of protections against Trump policies (también disponible en español) California schools chief pledges to resist cuts in funding if Trump axes U.S. Dept. of Education Education Beat is a weekly podcast hosted by EdSource's Zaidee Stavely and produced by Coby McDonald.

Millions 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 Diana Lambert, Reporter, EdSource Read more from EdSource: Lack of candidates means many Californians won't vote for school board Education Beat is a weekly podcast hosted by EdSource's Zaidee Stavely and produced by Coby McDonald.

This November for the first time ever in California, some 16- and 17-year-olds will be able to vote. Voters in Oakland and Berkeley both passed measures years ago to allow 16- and 17-year-olds to vote in school board elections, but it took four and eight years, respectively, for the Alameda County Registrar of Voters to implement the law. A high school junior reflects on the significance of this moment and the importance of civic engagement for teenagers. Guests: Sophie Mehoulley, high school junior and member of Oakland Youth Vote Coalition Emily Hamill and Kelcie Lee, college student journalists, California Student Journalism Corps Read more from EdSource: Berkeley, Oakland teens cast first votes in school board elections Hope, frustration and hard lessons as youth try to lower voting age for school board Teens fight for the right to vote for school board Education Beat is a weekly podcast hosted by EdSource's Zaidee Stavely and produced by Coby McDonald.

Oakland Unified School District began this school year with some unsettling news: the drinking water in the district's schools had tested positive for dangerously high levels of lead. The district had found high levels of lead in the water during tests conducted over spring and summer, but it didn't share those results with parents and staff until this August. Lead testing hasn't been required in California schools for the last five years. That means Oakland Unified is unusual among California school districts in that it knows that there's a lead problem at all. Guests: Hannah Lau, student at Life Academy in Oakland Unified School District Nate Landry, parent of Edna Brewer Middle School student Monica Velez, EdSource reporter Read more from EdSource: Oakland teachers union calls for action after high levels of lead reported in school drinking water Gaps in California law requiring schools to test for lead could leave children at risk Education Beat is a weekly podcast. This episode is hosted by EdSource's Emma Gallegos and produced by Coby McDonald.

Many school buildings in California are in dilapidated conditions, with leaky roofs, broken concrete, moldy walls or crumbling foundations. Some students suffer without air conditioning even as temperatures soar. This year, school districts and community colleges are putting an unprecedented $50 billion in construction bonds on local ballots. A $10 billion statewide bond to supplement that money is on the ballot, too. What's at stake? What do voters need to know about school bonds? Guests: Brie Fraley, Parent, Del Norte Unified School District Daryl Camp, Superintendent, San Lorenzo Unified School District Hallie Lozano, Literacy coach, San Juan Unified School District John Fensterwald, Editor-at-large, EdSource Read more from EdSource: Upgrading facilities can make schools safer and more sustainable, panel says A guide to what a $10 billion construction bond on the ballot could mean for your school 252 districts place bonds on the ballot; here's how two would spend the money Central Valley schools juggle extensive building needs with limited funds to fix them Education Beat is a weekly podcast hosted by EdSource's Zaidee Stavely and produced by Coby McDonald.

California made strides attracting new teachers before the pandemic, but the number of new teaching credentials went down 16% in 2021-22 and 14% in 2022-23. In a 2022 UCLA study, one in five California teachers said they would probably or definitely leave the profession in the next three years — because of burnout, low pay, student apathy and behavioral issues. Still, thousands of people earn their credentials each year, and thousands of students are passionate about becoming teachers and are working toward that goal. Student journalist Clara Brownstein set out to find out what motivates them to enter the profession. Guests: Susana Espinoza, Student minoring in education, UC Berkeley Clara Brownstein, California Student Journalism Corps Read more from EdSource: Teachers are still leaving, but these aspiring educators are excited to join the profession Education Beat is a weekly podcast hosted by EdSource's Zaidee Stavely and produced by Coby McDonald.

California State University and the University of California are revamping protest rules and banning encampments, barriers and, under certain circumstances, the wearing of face masks. They join a wave of other colleges across the country that have revisited rules about how and where people can demonstrate on their campuses in the wake of pro-Palestinian protests last spring. The changes have sparked criticism and protest from many students and faculty, who say some of the new restrictions could limit free speech rights. Guest: Amy DiPierro, Reporter, EdSource Read more from EdSource: Cal State, University of California ban encampments, impose protest rules Why the ACLU is suing UC Santa Cruz for banning students who participated in spring protests ACLU says Cal State Long Beach sound amplification rules ‘unconstitutional' Federal judge orders UCLA to ensure equal access to Jewish students following pro-Palestinian protests Education Beat is a weekly podcast hosted by EdSource's Zaidee Stavely and produced by Coby McDonald.

When Lenore Skenazy let her nine-year-old son Izzy find his own way home by subway in New York City, she was reviled by some as "America's Worst Mom." But Lenore feels that as a society, adults have taken away freedom and autonomy from children, leaving in their place anxiety and passivity. The organization she co-founded, Let Grow, encourages parents to give their children the kind of small freedoms their generation had enjoyed  as children, such as walking alone to school or to the park, and playing  freely with other children, without being directed by adults. How can schools and parents give children more free play, independence and responsibility? Is there evidence this can boost mental health and wellbeing? Guests: Lenore Skenazy, Co-founder, Let Grow Karen D'Souza, Reporter, EdSource Read more from EdSource: Free-range parenting: A chat with Lenore Skenazy Education Beat is a weekly podcast hosted by EdSource's Zaidee Stavely and produced by Coby McDonald.

If 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 engagement, Roseville City School District Zaia Vera, education consultant and former head of social emotional learning, Oakland Unified School District Betty Márquez Rosales, reporter, EdSource Mallika Seshadri, reporter, EdSource Read more from EdSource: Helping students with mental health struggles may help them return to school Communication with parents is key to addressing chronic absenteeism, panel says

Rigoberto Sánchez-Mejía has been taking music lessons with Harmony Project, a nonprofit music education organization in Los Angeles, for 12 years, since he was 5 years old. He credits them with putting him on a path to college and giving him a tool to calm down when life is too stressful. Harmony Project serves about 4,000 kids from low-income communities across Los Angeles and Orange County, giving them free music lessons, instruments and the opportunity to play in orchestras, big band, mariachi groups and more. A staggering 97% of participants graduate high school, and close to 80% go on to college. What's their secret? How does music education like Harmony's help students in school and life? Guests: Rigoberto Sánchez-Mejía, Graduate, Harmony Project Natalie Jackson, Executive director, Harmony Project Karen D'Souza, Reporter, EdSource Read more from EdSource: Harmony Project: Harnessing the power of music to boost LAUSD students Education Beat is a weekly podcast hosted by EdSource's Zaidee Stavely and produced by Coby McDonald.

Earlier this month, Governor Gavin Newsom urged school districts to take steps to restrict cellphone use, and state lawmakers are considering a bill that would restrict student cellphone use at all public schools statewide. What's it like in school districts that have already taken steps to ban or restrict cell phones and smart watches in the classroom? How do these policies curb bullying, classroom distractions and addiction to mobile devices? What do parents think? Guests: Andrea Blair-Simon, Parent, Folsom Cordova Unified School District Diana Lambert, Reporter, EdSource Read more from EdSource: California passes bill to limit student cell phone use on K-12 campuses Cellphone bans becoming more common in California schools How parents can limit children's harmful cellphone use at home Education Beat is a weekly podcast hosted by EdSource's Zaidee Stavely and produced by Coby McDonald.

As students and teachers head back to school across California, they might notice some changes because of a number of new laws that go into effect for the 2024-25 school year. Students will have easier access to mental health care and free menstrual products. All students will be learning about climate change, beginning in first grade. College students will get more transparency about the cost of books and other materials they need to buy for their classes. What do these and other laws that go into effect this school year do and why were they enacted? How will students, teachers and parents be affected? Guests: Diana Lambert, Emma Gallegos, Mallika Seshadri and Amy DiPierro, Reporters, EdSource Read more from EdSource: New laws impacting education go into effect as the school year begins Education Beat is a weekly podcast hosted by EdSource's Zaidee Stavely and produced by Coby McDonald.

August 15, 2024 When a parent meets Alisha Schoen in court, it is always a last resort. Schoen is a Santa Clara County prosecutor tasked with bringing the parents of habitually truant students to court. At this point, both the school and district have tried and failed to improve a students' attendance. Parents of habitually truant students risk criminal charges under a 2010 law championed by Kamala Harris, then the San Francisco District Attorney. But most prosecutors, like Schoen, are not interested in getting a conviction and punishing parents. Instead, Schoen said, they want to find out why a student is missing school and what kind of support or government services might actually help improve their attendance. Guests: Alisha Schoen, Community Prosecutor for Santa Clara's District Attorney's Office Betty Márquez Rosales, Reporter, EdSource Education Beat is a weekly podcast. This episode is hosted by EdSource's Emma Gallegos and produced by Coby McDonald.

After participating in Fresno Unified's Teacher Academy program in high school, recent graduate Aly Ortiz knows she wants to be a teacher and is passionate about teaching in a dual language immersion school. A growing number of districts are hoping to address the teacher shortage by introducing students to the teaching field when they're still in high school. What do students learn from these programs? How can districts make the most of them? Guests: Aly Ortiz, High school graduate, Fresno Unified School District Lasherica Thornton, Reporter, EdSource Read more from EdSource: Can high school teacher academies address the shortage? Programs point to yes Education Beat is a weekly podcast hosted by EdSource's Zaidee Stavely and produced by Coby McDonald.

The West Contra Costa Unified School District promised back in 2019 that Stege Elementary School would get a complete redesign to attract more students and more experienced teachers and turn around low test scores, high suspension rates and chronic absenteeism. The school building itself was supposed to be remodeled by the 2020-21 school year. But now, a group of teachers, staff and parents are suing the district, alleging that it failed to address severely poor building conditions and teacher vacancies, violating the rights of students, the majority of whom are Black, Latino, low-income and English learners. What happened? And what is the significance of this lawsuit statewide? Guests: Sam Cleare, Teacher, Stege Elementary School Karissa Provenza, Attorney, Public Advocates Monica Velez, Reporter, EdSource Read more from EdSource: West Contra Costa sued over poor building conditions, teacher vacancies Saving Stege: What will it take to redesign this struggling California school? Education Beat is a weekly podcast hosted by EdSource's Zaidee Stavely and produced by Coby McDonald.

Districts across California are struggling to hire teachers, but California doesn't offer teacher preparation programs at community colleges, which is a barrier for those who live far away from four-year colleges. In contrast, Washington State is preparing hundreds of teachers with bachelor's degrees at community colleges. What's the difference between these states and what can California learn from Washington? Guests: Saray Preciado and Jannet Zavala, Graduates, Yakima Valley College Michael Burke, Reporter, EdSource Read more from EdSource: Education Beat is a weekly podcast hosted by EdSource's Zaidee Stavely and produced by Coby McDonald.

Misty Her first entered Fresno Unified as a first grader, learning English as a second language. Her family was among hundreds of thousands of Hmong refugees who came to the U.S. after the Vietnam War. She's dedicated her career to giving back to the district where she grew up, starting as a bilingual instructional aide, then a teacher, principal, and deputy superintendent. In May, the school board appointed her as the new interim superintendent of Fresno Unified. She is the first woman to lead the district since its inception in 1873, and the first Hmong person, in a district where 10% of English learners speak Hmong at home. What challenges does Her face in leading the third-largest school district in California? Why does her appointment as interim superintendent matter? Guests: Bob Nelson, Outgoing superintendent, Fresno Unified School District Misty Her, Interim superintendent, Fresno Unified School District Lasherica Thornton, Reporter, EdSource Read more from EdSource: Fresno's first female leader vows to address the needs of each student From Fresno Unified to Fresno State: Bob Nelson finds another way to serve Politics, threats, agendas have permeated search for Fresno Unified superintendent, many say Community outrage leads to changes in Fresno Unified superintendent search Education Beat is a weekly podcast hosted by EdSource's Zaidee Stavely and produced by Coby McDonald.

When teachers noticed that children in Oakland preschool and kindergarten classrooms were not engaging in imaginative play or interacting with each other as much after the pandemic, staff at Children's Fairyland, a local theme park, turned to an old favorite — puppets. Children and adults have been enthralled by Fairyland's handmade puppets and original puppet shows for decades. Now, they can try their own hand at puppetry and bring their own stories to life. How does puppetry and other imaginative play help children learn and grow? And how can schools use this type of arts education in the classroom? Guests: Jacqui June Whitlock, Puppet education specialist, Children's Fairyland Karen D'Souza, Reporter, EdSource Read more from EdSource: Puppetry is far more than child's play for young learners in Oakland Education Beat is a weekly podcast hosted by EdSource's Zaidee Stavely and produced by Coby McDonald.

Santa Rita Union School District, in Monterey County, is constantly patching up rotting floors and leaking roofs. Wealthier districts in the same county have state-of-the-art theaters, gymnasiums and science classrooms. That's partly due to a decades-old method for funding school construction in California that many say has exacerbated inequalities. How did California's funding formula for school facilities become so unequal? And what are advocates proposing to do about it? Guests: Melissa Alderman, Superintendent, Santa Rita Union School District John Fensterwald, Editor-at-large, EdSource Read more from EdSource: Behind the scenes, a battle looms over fair funding for school construction Property-poor districts demand fairer funding for school facilities Achieving fair funding for school modernization in California: a case study [VIDEO] Education Beat is a weekly podcast hosted by EdSource's Zaidee Stavely and produced by Coby McDonald.

University campuses have been roiled by turmoil over the latest war between Israel and Hamas. Pro-Palestinian protesters made little progress in finding common ground with administrators on many University of California campuses. Encampments came down not through mutual agreements but when administrators called in police. But what happened at UC Riverside, a campus with a reputation for being welcoming to Middle Eastern students, was different. Protesters were able to forge a deal with administrators without the arrests or violent clashes with police. What can other universities learn from the deal reached on the Riverside campus? Guests: Samia Alkam, UC Riverside doctoral student and lead negotiator for pro-Palestinian students Michael Burke, higher education reporter, EdSource Read more from EdSource: How pro-Palestinian protesters at one UC campus got a deal UC has $32 billion in assets targeted by pro-Palestinian protesters, but no plans to divest UCLA chancellor faces Congress, says he regrets not removing encampment sooner College commencements face disruption from pro-Palestinian protests Police tear apart encampment, disperse protesters on UCLA campus Education Beat is a weekly podcast. This episode is hosted by EdSource's Emma Gallegos and produced by Coby McDonald.

On 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? Guests: Rose Ciotta, Investigations and Projects Editor, EdSource Thomas Peele, Investigative Reporter, EdSource Daniel J. Willis, Data Reporter, EdSource Read more from EdSource: Calling the Cops Database When California schools summon police Call records show vast police presence in California schools Going police-free is tough and ongoing, Oakland schools find San Bernardino County: Growing hot spot for school-run police Safety concerns on the rise in LAUSD; Carvalho looks to police Education Beat is a weekly podcast hosted by EdSource's Zaidee Stavely and produced by Coby McDonald.

In San Jose's Alum Rock Union School District, students from third to eighth grade gather after school to learn how to play guitar, trumpet, violin, guitarrón, and vihuela, and to sing mariachi music. What is the impact of a bilingual music program like this one? With new funding available from California's Prop 28, can districts expand programs like this one or will they have to do something new? Guests: Zaida Ramos, Program Director, Alum Rock Union School District Mariachi Program Karen D'Souza, Reporter, EdSource Read more from EdSource: Mariachi program teaches history and culture as well as music Arts education: Will misuse of funds undermine the Proposition 28 rollout? Education Beat is a weekly podcast hosted by EdSource's Zaidee Stavely and produced by Coby McDonald.

California lawmakers set the average class size for transitional kindergarten, a new grade for four-year-olds, at 24 kids, with 1 adult for every 12 students. It's generally agreed upon in early education field that smaller class sizes and more adults make for higher quality preschool, with more one-on-one attention and better supervision. In many preschools licensed by the state, one adult is required for every 8 children. But some districts are not staffing their TK classrooms to meet the 1:12 ratio, or they're going over the class size. Some teachers say it's a safety issue. Guests: David Hunter, Transitional kindergarten teacher, Fresno Unified Lasherica Thornton, Reporter, EdSource Read more from EdSource: These districts and charters were fined for violating TK requirements TK staffing ratios are often unmet, teachers say; why some districts escape fines

As 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 Hornet Betty Márquez Rosales, Reporter, EdSource Mallika Seshadri, Reporter, EdSource Read more from EdSource: As protests surge across college campuses, student journalists report from the front lines Education Beat is a weekly podcast hosted by EdSource's Zaidee Stavely and produced by Coby McDonald.

California has one of the lowest rates of English literacy in the U.S. Almost one third of adults in the state can do little more than fill out a basic form or read a very simple piece of writing in English. Many of them are immigrants. Experts say programs aimed at addressing poor literacy reach only a fraction of adults who need help. One way to reach them is to bring classes directly to the workplace. Guests: Marcelina Chamu, Janitor Emma Gallegos, Reporter, EdSource Read more from EdSource: When you can't read a medicine bottle: California immigrants struggle with low English literacy Education Beat is a weekly podcast hosted by EdSource's Zaidee Stavely and produced by Coby McDonald.