California Superintendent Tony Thurmond issued a challenge to the state’s school districts last week to ensure third graders become strong readers by 2026. “We’re asking you to take a pledge today,” he said during the May 20 Zoom session, providing a link for participants to sign. Other elements of Thurmond’s agenda include library cards for 100,000 children,...

When I was a school superintendent in New York City, I would often run into my students outside of class. One particular eighth grader had a daily ritual of buying food from the local corner store following a long day of lessons and after-school sports. Looking at his crumbled bag of hot-flavored chips, fruit snacks...

Today we present “Meet the LAUSD School Board Candidates,” profiles of the candidates running for three open seats on the seven-member Los Angeles school board in the June 7 primary. If elected, candidates for LAUSD school board —  representing the largest school district in the country with an elected board — will confront complex issues...

This article is part of a collaboration between The 74 and the USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism.  This profile is part of “Meet the LAUSD school board candidates,” a series focusing on the candidates running for three open seats on the seven-member school board. LAUSD is the largest school district in the country...

This article is part of a collaboration between The 74 and the USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism.  This profile is part of “Meet the LAUSD school board candidates,” a series focusing on the candidates running for three open seats on the seven-member school board. LAUSD is the largest school district in the country...

BUENA PARK, Calif. — Sliding off their backpacks as they come through the front door of the local Boys and Girls Club, a group of students grab pool cues. Outside, children laugh as they bat around a beach ball on the lawn. But the upbeat mood belies the more serious reason that brings many of...

A version of this essay appeared on the GonzalesforSchools blog. On May 2, I announced that I will be stepping down early from my role on the Oakland Unified School District board. In many ways, I’m proud of the progress the district has made over the last 7.5 years. However, our core issue has not been addressed, and...

Sign up here for LA School Report’s newsletter Take a stroll along the La Jolla Shores Beach in San Diego, and you might find sand between your toes. But users of the new Our Worlds app, winner of the 2022 SXSW EDU Launch Competition, might also find much more. Through augmented reality, they can look...

Updated May 18 This article is part of a collaboration between The 74 and the USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism. Los Angeles Unified high school senior Hailey Galvan had never considered attending one of the country’s most elite colleges — until she took a special college course offered at her school. It was in...

Since the 2020 election, schools have emerged as some of the most contentious venues for American cultural discourse, with debates over the teaching of race, human sexuality, and U.S. history erupting into yelling matches and viral confrontations. The political impact is increasingly seen in state and local elections, where school board members have faced a...