Diana Lambert
Diana Lambert covers teachers and teaching. Before coming to EdSource, Diana was an education reporter for The Sacramento Bee for more than a decade. She has won numerous awards, including the 2017 James Madison Freedom of Information Award from the Society of Professional Journalism, and both a first-place honor for investigative reporting from The Inland Press Association and the McClatchy President’s Award in 2016. Before becoming an education reporter Diana was a bureau chief for the Sacramento Bee. She began her career at age 17 as a part-time proofreader for the Lodi News-Sentinel. Diana earned a bachelor’s degree from California State University, Sacramento.
All articles by Diana Lambert
Crowded classes, staff shortages, insufficient pay are making some California teachers rethink careers
California schools don’t pay enough to teachers or have the resources to meet the needs of its students, according to a CTA survey of educators.
Diana Lambert
January 7, 2025
New law could boost Social Security checks for thousands of retired California teachers
The Social Security Fairness Act, signed by President Joe Biden on Sunday, will increase retirement benefits for many educators and other public sector workers, including nearly 290,000 in California.
Diana Lambert And Mallika Seshadri
January 6, 2025
New year starts with new laws impacting education
A number of new state laws related to education go into effect on Jan. 1.
Diana Lambert And Emma Gallegos
December 30, 2024
Conflict over race, LGBTQ issues cost schools more than $3 billion last school year
Uncivil discourse and hostile rhetoric has divided school communities, disrupted school board meetings and cost districts a combined $3.2 billion last school year, according to recently released research.
Diana Lambert
December 4, 2024
California schools recovering from pandemic, dashboard shows
Improvements in student scores, graduation and chronic absentee rates are signs California is moving past pandemic learning loss.
Diana Lambert, Zaidee Stavely, And Daniel J. Willis
November 21, 2024
School board results show wins on conservative and progressive sides
Increased efforts by teachers unions and conservative groups to get favored candidates elected had mixed results this year.
Diana Lambert, Mallika Seshadri, And Monica Velez
November 8, 2024
What Trump's victory means for education in California
Donald Trump's election could have major implications for California and its students. The president-elect has promised to deport undocumented immigrants and to cut funding to schools with 'woke' policies.
Diana Lambert, Zaidee Stavely, John Fensterwald, Karen D'Souza, Amy DiPierro, And Michael Burke
November 6, 2024
Harris or Trump? A lot at stake today for California students
Today’s election could revolutionize how children are educated in the U.S., depending on who gets elected president. Donald Trump wants to eliminate programs, while Kamala Harris wants to make child care more affordable and relieve college debt.
Diana Lambert, Zaidee Stavely, John Fensterwald, Emma Gallegos, Amy DiPierro, Michael Burke, And Louis Freedberg
November 5, 2024
Teachers, conservatives battle for sway on school boards
California teachers unions and conservative groups have intensified efforts to get their favored candidates elected to district school boards on Nov. 5.
Diana Lambert
October 30, 2024
Lack of candidates means many Californians won't vote for school board
More than half of the school board races in 49 counties analyzed won't appear on the November ballot because either no one is running for the seat or a single candidate is unopposed.
Diana Lambert And Daniel J. Willis
October 22, 2024
Statewide test scores improved in 2024, but achievement still not back to pre-Covid levels
English and math scores improved from 2023 to 2024, but still have not caught up to results from prior to the pandemic.
Diana Lambert, John Fensterwald, Zaidee Stavely, Lasherica Thornton, Mallika Seshadri, And Monica Velez
October 10, 2024
What you need to know to become a teacher in California | Quick Guide
The teacher shortage prompted California lawmakers to ease testing requirements, waive exam fees and begin new programs to recruit and retain teachers.
Diana Lambert
September 30, 2024
California passes bill to limit student cellphone use on K-12 campuses
The Phone-Free School Act requires school districts and charter schools to develop a policy limiting the use of smartphones by July 1, 2026.
Diana Lambert
August 29, 2024
How parents can limit children's harmful cellphone use at home
How much screen time is too much has been an ongoing debate for years. But the issue has gained urgency since the Covid-19 pandemic closed schools in 2020 and made young people more reliant on cell phones and other devices.
Diana Lambert
August 27, 2024
Cellphone bans becoming more common in California schools
California school districts are enacting cellphone bans to reduce distractions in K-12 classrooms and to combat addiction to the devices.