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Despite test score gains, California students still lag behind pre-pandemic levels

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Diana Lambert @dianalambert.bsky.social · 4d

Despite test score gains, California students still lag behind pre-pandemic levels. CSBA and other education advocates say more need to be done to close the achievement gap. edsource.org?page_id=742613 @governor.ca.gov @edtrust.bsky.social #literacy

Although there were some improvements, California students are still struggling to increase their scores to pre-pandemic levels.

Diana Lambert @dianalambert.bsky.social · 13d

Report: Teacher pay penalty growing edsource.org?page_id=741790

UPDATE: More women are now leading U.S. school districts, study says

Diana Lambert @dianalambert.bsky.social · 27d

More women are now leading U.S. school districts, study says edsource.org?page_id=740876

PODCAST: How a charter school serving adults became embroiled in scandal and sparked calls for reform

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Diana Lambert @dianalambert.bsky.social · Sep 11

LISTEN to Education Beat podcast on Highlands Community Charter and Technical Schools' $180 million debt to the state of California. How did this promising charter school become an example for the need for charter reform.
edsource.org/podcast/char...

An audit found the charter received millions in funding for which it was not eligible, assigned teachers to classes they were not credentialed to teach, and avoided standardized testing, in addition t...

Bill to extend substitute teaching time raises academic concerns

Diana Lambert @dianalambert.bsky.social · Sep 11

Supporters of California bill to extend substitute teaching time say it would provide greater continuity, but opponents fear it could negatively impact student achievement. @wearecta.bsky.social #cateachers #credentialing edsource.org?page_id=740428 via @edsource edsource.org?page_id=740428

Supporters say extending classroom contracts for substitute teachers would provide greater continuity, but opponents fear it could negatively impact student achievement.

California leaders warn schools: English learner rights remain despite Trump rollback

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Diana Lambert @dianalambert.bsky.social · Sep 8

Some educators and advocates are worried that President Trump’s decision to rescind federal guidance on teaching English learners could mean scaled back instruction for California students and an end to providing translations to families. @zstavely.bsky.social
edsource.org?page_id=740199

The Trump administration has rescinded guidelines on how schools should teach English learners, which has caused concern for administrators and families.

Former Sacramento superintendent takes charge at troubled charter school

Diana Lambert @dianalambert.bsky.social · Sep 4

Jonathan Raymond has taken the reins of Highlands Community Charter, the recent subject of state audit that found it owed $180 mil. He wants the state to allow the school to continue educating adults who are trying to better themselves.http://edsource.org/?page_id=739996 @gavinnewsom.bsky.social

Jonathan Raymond has taken the reins of Highlands Community Charter and Technical Schools, which was recently the subject of a critical state audit. He is asking the state to allow the school to conti...

How a Sacramento charter school misused $180 million and became a poster child for reform

Diana Lambert @dianalambert.bsky.social · Sep 3

How a Sacramento charter school misused $180 million and became a poster child for reform edsource.org?page_id=739782 #charters

Highlands Community Charter and Technical Schools in Sacramento has been found to have misused $180 million in K-12 funds, hired unqualified teachers, and wasted taxpayer money, leading to increased scrutiny of charter school oversight.

UPDATE: Applications open for student member on State Board of Education

Diana Lambert @dianalambert.bsky.social · Aug 27

Applications open for student member on State Board of Education edsource.org?page_id=739363

UPDATE: Elk Grove Unified Superintendent Christopher Hoffman plans to retire

Diana Lambert @dianalambert.bsky.social · Aug 19

Elk Grove Unified Superintendent Christopher Hoffman plans to retire edsource.org?page_id=738840 @elkgrovenews.bsky.social

UPDATE: Teachers still waiting for paid pregnancy leave after Assembly bill fails to advance

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Diana Lambert @dianalambert.bsky.social · Aug 19

California teachers still waiting for paid pregnancy leave after Assembly bill fails to advance edsource.org?page_id=738843 @wearecta.bsky.social @neatoday.bsky.social #teachers

Fresno Unified error skews state teacher data, analysis shows

Diana Lambert @dianalambert.bsky.social · Aug 19

Fresno Unified error skews newly released state teacher data, EdSource analysis shows. It shows how easy it is to introduce significant errors into data, which then become part of the permanent state record. edsource.org?page_id=738872 #data @californiateacher.bsky.social

A mistake made by a staff member deflated claims that the state added 3,000 new teachers to its ranks between 2020 and 2024.

Migrant education helps farmworkers’ children catch up; Trump wants to end it

Diana Lambert @dianalambert.bsky.social · Jul 16

Migrant education helps farmworkers' children catch up; Trump wants to end it edsource.org?page_id=736431 @zstavely.bsky.social

Migrant education helps children brush up on science, math, reading and writing, but the $121 million California expected to receive is in jeopardy.

UPDATE: California joins lawsuit seeking the release of $6.8 billion in school funds

Diana Lambert @dianalambert.bsky.social · Jul 15

California joins lawsuit seeking the release of $6.8 billion in school funds edsource.org?page_id=736537

What Trump’s budget and tax law means for California students

Diana Lambert @dianalambert.bsky.social · Jul 8

What Trump's budget and tax law means for California students edsource.org?page_id=735962

$6.2 billion recently withheld from schools and $12 billion in proposed education cuts are separate from the bill signed last week.

Trump freezes grant funding, upending school budgets

Diana Lambert @dianalambert.bsky.social · Jul 2

President Trump froze $6.2 B in federal education grants – $811 M that was to go to California – the day before the money was to be released. Now districts are scrambling to fund programs before school reopens.http://edsource.org/?page_id=735665 @zstavely.bsky.social @tonythurmond.bsky.social

President Donald Trump froze $6.2 billion in federal education grants - $811 million that was to go to California - the day before the money was scheduled to be released. Now districts are scrambling ...

What the new state budget holds in store for education

Diana Lambert @dianalambert.bsky.social · Jun 27

What the new state budget holds in store for education edsource.org?page_id=735265 @emmagallegos.bsky.social

Public universities will dodge big proposed cuts, while TK-12 schools will receive significant one-time funding for new or expanded programs.

‘There was a lot of fear’: Central Valley immigration raids drive up absences in schools, study finds

Diana Lambert @dianalambert.bsky.social · Jun 20

Immigration raids in California’s Central Valley earlier this year caused enough fear to keep nearly a quarter of the students in five districts home from school, according to a report released Monday by Stanford University. @lashericat.bsky.social #immigration edsource.org?page_id=734892

Immigration raids in January and February increased absences by 22% in five school districts, according to a newly released Stanford study.

Trauma, upheaval, fear: Students and families caught in the crosshairs of immigration enforcement

Diana Lambert @dianalambert.bsky.social · Jun 13

As U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids ramp up across California, so have reports of students grappling with trauma, upheaval and fear after family members — and sometimes students themselves — are detained. @zstavely.bsky.social @lausdsup.bsky.social #LA
edsource.org?page_id=734464

Schools across California report that parents and students have been detained or deported. In the aftermath, teachers are trying to help.

California poorly trains and supports teaching math, report concludes

Diana Lambert @dianalambert.bsky.social · Jun 9

California poorly trains and supports teaching math, report concludes edsource.org?page_id=734228 @jfensterwald.bsky.social

The National Council on Teacher Quality gave most graduate credentialing programs an "F" in elementary math preparation. Are math and everything else too much to squeeze into a year-long program?

Newsom promises funding to jump-start early literacy

Diana Lambert @dianalambert.bsky.social · Jun 6

Newsom promises funding to jump-start early literacy. The California governor’s budget will include $200 million to fund teacher and administrator training in evidence-based reading instruction. @wearecta.bsky.social #literacy edsource.org?page_id=734156

The governor's budget will include $200 million to fund teacher and administrator training in evidence-based reading instruction.

Transgender athlete wins, shares state honors, creating questions about inclusion

Diana Lambert @dianalambert.bsky.social · Jun 2

AB Hernandez, a transgender student-athlete, achieved two 1st-place and a 2nd-place win at the state championship Saturday. She shared the podium with cisgender females as a result of new rules adopted last week. @lashericat.bsky.social @transequality.bsky.social

edsource.org?page_id=733725

Transgender athlete AB Hernandez competed and won in three California track and field events despite federal threats, statewide attention and local angst.

State’s school awards dinner at Disneyland comes with hefty price tag

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Diana Lambert @dianalambert.bsky.social · May 30

The banquet has always been expensive, but increasingly so. Disneyland is reportedly giving the CDE a break on the cost. I wasn’t able to get a breakdown of each expense before publication.

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Diana Lambert @dianalambert.bsky.social · May 30

Exceptional California schools are being celebrated at Disneyland today, but the honor came with a $500 per person ticket price. The money is spent to cover the more than $500,000 cost of the event. @http://edsource.org/?page_id=733627 via @edsource #CSRP2025 #edchat edsource.org?page_id=733627

California educators converged on Disneyland on Friday to collect awards honoring their schools. But some superintendents are conflicted about sending their staff, balancing a need to celebrate with p...