Education

Graduating students during a commencement ceremony at Southwestern College in Chula Vista on May 24, 2024. Photo by Adriana Heldiz, CalMatters

Education

They conquered gloom and Zoom: 2024 college grads on what comes next

Five college graduates reflect on their unique college experience and look forward to their early career plans.

By Li Khan, Haydee Barahona, Briana Mendez-Padilla, Christina Chkarboul and Elizabeth Wilson • June 28, 2024

Higher Education

Young people don’t trust ads for financial aid. California is polishing its pitch

The California Student Aid Commission conducted focus groups and found emotional messages connected well with students and parents. They then said they were more likely to apply for financial aid.

By Mikhail Zinshteyn • June 28, 2024

Students walk down a hallway at Fremont High School in Oakland on Oct. 10, 2023. Photo by Laure Andrillon for CalMatters

K-12 Education

Parents’ lawsuit forces California schools to track discrimination against students

The agreement between the state and the ACLU requires state authorities to visit schools, interview teachers, look at individual students’ records and take more hands-on steps to see if a school has a pattern of discriminating.

By Carolyn Jones • June 28, 2024

The playground at Burnt Ranch Elementary School in Burnt Ranch on Dec. 13, 2019. Photo by Dave Woody for CalMatters

K-12 Education

A ‘lifeline’ for California’s rural schools is about to expire. Why is it stalled in Congress?

Counties with large areas of public land get federal funding that many rural schools rely on. The most recent round of payments in May – $33.7 million for California – will be the last unless Congress votes to extend the program.

By Carolyn Jones • June 27, 2024

The Secretary of State building in Sacramento on Nov. 7, 2022. Photo by Miguel Gutierrez Jr., CalMatters

Education

The effort to bring back affirmative action in limited form is dead

The measure’s author said it would compete with other priorities this year, including an effort to fend off a proposed constitutional amendment to punish retail thieves and another to restrict forced labor in prisons. He wants to propose it for a future election season.

By Mikhail Zinshteyn • June 25, 2024

Higher Education

Gavin Newsom and the Legislature are far apart on college spending as budget deadline nears

Gov. Newsom’s latest budget proposal cuts the Middle Class Scholarship to $100 million. The Legislature wants to provide more than $900 million for it.

By Mikhail Zinshteyn • June 17, 2024

San Francisco Foundation CEO Fred Blackwell speaks during a panel discussion on reparations at CalMatters’ IdeasFest at the Sheraton Grand Hotel in Sacramento on June 6, 2024. Photo by Cristian Gonzalez for CalMatters

College Beat

Black leaders provide roadmap to reparations in California

Panelists discuss the importance of acknowledging and apologizing for California’s racist policies during CalMatters’ Ideas Festival.

By Sharmarke Holif • June 11, 2024

Higher Education

Student loan relief deadline approaching for 300,000 California borrowers

Student loan borrowers can become eligible for lower payments or faster debt forgiveness by applying for federal loan consolidation by June 30.

By Mikhail Zinshteyn • June 10, 2024

LAUSD Board Member Tanya Ortiz Franklin helps students on the first day back at school for LAUSD students following the COVID-19 remote school period in Los Angeles on Aug. 16, 2021. Photo by Lucy Nicholson, Reuters

Education

Trump-appointed judges revive lawsuit against L.A. schools’ COVID vaccine mandate

Courts recently have tossed lawsuits challenging expired COVID-19 rules. A panel on the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals restored a case against the Los Angeles Unified School District, allowing employees to sue to prevent future vaccine mandates.

By Carolyn Jones • June 7, 2024

Housing

California’s highest court rejects ‘people as pollution’ argument for UC Berkeley housing

The California Supreme Court gave the greenlight for UC Berkeley to build student and homeless housing at People’s Park, ending a years-long legal debate over whether student noise is an environmental pollutant.

By Ben Christopher • June 6, 2024