For Democrats and Republicans alike, charter schools have long provided a happy compromise between vouchers for religious schools and no school choice at all. Charters give families an alternative schooling option but remain publicly funded, secular institutions authorized by government agencies. They have been warmly endorsed by Presidents Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, Barack Obama,...

For nearly six minutes Saturday, school shooting survivor Emma Gonzalez stood at a podium in front of almost 1 million people, on national television, and said nothing. It was a remarkable and chilling silence — one that rang louder than the star-studded musical performances that took the stage in Washington, D.C., before Gonzalez got up to speak. “Six minutes...

California parents looking for better public schools for their kids will get to elect a new state schools chief in November, and this week was their first chance to compare the three candidates side by side — something parents can’t yet do with schools. The three candidates for state superintendent of public instruction met for...

There’s been a lot of talk but little action from Los Angeles and California education officials when it comes to supporting the lowest-performing schools. Last week state board members again voted to put off revisions to California’s education plan, which are required in order for the plan to be approved by the federal Department of...

As students across the country are making their voices heard on gun control, California youths are being given the opportunity to have a voice in ensuring all students have access to a quality education with a California Students’ Bill of Rights, unveiled Thursday in Los Angeles by gubernatorial candidate Antonio Villaraigosa. Students from Alliance Susan...

Concerns about their own safety mingled with students’ expressions of support for victims of school shootings, as peaceful demonstrations were held Wednesday at campuses across Los Angeles. “I think we should have more drills at school because we haven’t had any, and I feel like we’re really unprepared in case a real (shooting) happens,” Talita...

Inspired by students’ activism and echoing their demands, the nation’s second-largest school district committed Tuesday to do “everything in its power” to ensure students’ safety. After hearing from a procession of students, LA Unified’s school board unanimously passed a resolution calling for stricter gun laws and stronger school safety policies. Tuesday’s vote came one day...

When parents are choosing a school for their children, what do they need to know and how can they best compare schools? That’s what LA Unified is asking as it continues to build its unified enrollment system. The first evolution of its new online application system launched last fall, and since then over 72,000 families...

This article first appeared in The Chronicle of Social Change. California Governor Jerry Brown’s budget includes full funding for a state program meant to boost support for foster youth and other vulnerable populations in schools. But advocates are criticizing the program for its lack of expenditure tracking and transparency on how schools spend the state’s money. The...

All eyes have been on March 5 since the Trump administration announced last September that in six months it would end the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, which has provided work permits and deportation relief to hundreds of thousands of undocumented immigrants who were brought to the U.S. as children. That timeline, the Trump...