Carolyn Jones
CalMattersCarolyn Jones covers K-12 education forCalMatters, a nonprofit, nonpartisan media venture explaining California policies and politics, and a JPR news partner.
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Supporters of a California trans youth ballot measure wanted to change the name assigned by the attorney general, but a judge said no. -
California schools got $23.4 billion in federal pandemic relief money. Low-income schools that got the most may be hardest hit when the funds expire this year. -
At some rural schools construction projects are left undone, teaching jobs are unfilled and students who need specialized services don鈥檛 get them. -
Despite a few improvements, the data shows students are still struggling on several fronts. -
In 2020, the state agreed to a settlement in a lawsuit that claimed too many students were not learning to read. As part of that agreement, the state spent over $50 million on 75 schools with the lowest reading scores. -
Small, rural districts often struggle to pass local bond measures to pay for school construction and repairs. In some cases, leaking roofs, dry rot and broken air conditioners haven鈥檛 been fixed in years. -
A new law requires K-12 schools to add media literacy to curriculum for English language arts, science, math and history-social studies. Among the lessons will be recognizing fake news. -
Only 40% of California high schools offer computer science classes. A new law aims to make it easier to certify computer science teachers. -
With the growing use of AI, campus officials are trying to set clear guidelines for college application essays. -
California is rolling out its transitional kindergarten program, with the goal of offering it for all 4-year-olds by 2025-26. While some schools have had programs in place for years, others are just starting to create teaching guidelines. -
California would penalize school boards that ban books based on inclusion of certain groups under a bill the governor is expected to sign into law. But some fear unintended consequences. -
Nearly a third of K-12 students statewide were chronically absent in 2020-21, more than three times the pre-pandemic rate. Some school officials fear that pattern will become the new normal.
