John Fensterwald
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jfensterwald.bsky.social
John Fensterwald
@jfensterwald.bsky.social
220 followers 270 following 32 posts
Editor at large, EdSource
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jfensterwald.bsky.social
Meet Miliani Rodriguez in this week's EdSource podcast. The high school senior from Coachella Unified and named plaintiff in Miliani R v. State of California, one day will be like Serrano and Williams, synonymous with lawsuits that changed education in California

edsource.org/podcast/hot-...
PODCAST: Hot classrooms, leaky roofs — one student’s fight for better school facilities
Miliani Rodriguez attends Coachella Valley High School, where the AC often breaks in over 100-degree heat and when it rains, the ceilings leak.
edsource.org
November 2, 2025 at 5:48 PM
jfensterwald.bsky.social
EdSource readers, we'd like your thoughts about our latest survey. We take the results seriously.
lnkd.in/g36UbcKb

And non-readers, check us out & then share your thoughts. It's critical amid the Trump administration's retreat from public education to follow what's happening in California schools.
LinkedIn
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lnkd.in
October 17, 2025 at 11:24 PM
jfensterwald.bsky.social
What's in (big money for early literacy) and what's not (nothing for ethnic studies) in @gavinnewsom.bsky.social's May revision? A readable summary of TK to UC by my colleagues #CAbudget #CAed
edsource.org?page_id=732747
No cuts for schools, more funding for early literacy in Newsom’s revised budget
Schools will receive a 2.3% cost of living adjustment; cuts for CSU and UC will be less than they had expected under the governor's January proposal.
edsource.org
May 15, 2025 at 3:45 PM
jfensterwald.bsky.social
Legislative deal on reading instruction reached in nick of time; hearing on AB 1458 today in Assembly Ed @edsource
#ScienceOfReading #caedu #caleg; my latest edsource.org/2025/legisla...
Legislative deal on reading instruction reached in the nick of time
Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas called for an agreement on how to train teachers in reading instruction; when he didn’t get it, he pressured both sides to reach a deal.
edsource.org
April 30, 2025 at 3:53 PM
jfensterwald.bsky.social
UC faculty to vote tomorrow on recommending its own high school #ethnicstudies mandate – at odds w/state's and unfunded; my latest via @edsource edsource.org?page_id=730893
UC faculty to consider its own high school ethnic studies mandate
Ethnic studies faculty at UC have developed course criteria that would be at odds with the state’s own mandated but unfunded model curriculum.
edsource.org
April 22, 2025 at 11:57 PM
jfensterwald.bsky.social
Long-awaited CA's Cradle-to-Career data system #C2C up and running w/valuable info for parents, rich data for researchers TK; by @dianalambert.bsky.social edsource.org?page_id=730777 via @edsource.org
California launches first phase of long-anticipated Cradle-to-Career data system
California launched the first phase of its Cradle-to-Career data system on Tuesday. C2C will link education and workforce data to help students prepare for their futures.
edsource.org
April 22, 2025 at 7:03 PM
jfensterwald.bsky.social
No compromise on literacy bill as hearing deadline looms & debate shifts to a familiar, misguided debate over phonics; my latest edsource.org?page_id=730431
No compromise on literacy bill as hearing deadline looms
English learner advocates oppose a bill to require K-5 teachers to take training in evidence-based methods, including phonics.
edsource.org
April 16, 2025 at 4:26 PM
jfensterwald.bsky.social
Ice cream socials, fights and vomit: Why Cal State resident assistants want to unionize edsource.org?page_id=730063
Ice cream socials, fights and vomit: Why Cal State resident assistants want to unionize
The students that staff dorms at CSU say their roles are expansive. Could unionizing help?
edsource.org
April 11, 2025 at 9:52 PM
jfensterwald.bsky.social
When districts face the tough job of closing schools, Manny Barbara is the go-to guy; my latest edsource.org?page_id=729705
When districts face the tough job of closing schools, Manny Barbara is the go-to guy
Retired Superintendent Manny Barbara has patiently guided school closures in a half-dozen San Jose-area school districts. Alum Rock Union Elementary was the most ambitious involvement and, he promises...
edsource.org
April 7, 2025 at 2:39 PM
jfensterwald.bsky.social
Pandemic-era push to ‘build solutions’ must continue, panel says: ICYMI our roundtable ... a good list of resources on who's innovating, too edsource.org?page_id=729230
Pandemic-era push to ‘build solutions’ must continue, panel says
The coronavirus pandemic led to some leaders adopting innovative approaches to address daunting challenges that have long existed, a panel said.
edsource.org
March 28, 2025 at 8:51 PM
jfensterwald.bsky.social
At community colleges, more than 40% of classes remain online classes -- double the pre-pandemic rate; by Michael Burke edsource.org?page_id=728458
At community colleges, online classes remain popular years after pandemic
Many community college students say they learn better in person but prefer the flexibility of taking classes online.
edsource.org
March 25, 2025 at 4:25 PM
jfensterwald.bsky.social
School innovation: It HAS happened post-Covid in CA; four cases producing results; check out our 1-hr roundtable. Thursday, Nov. 27 at noon; more details, register now edsource.org/broadcasts/f...
ROUNDTABLE: Five years after Covid: Innovations that are driving results
In much of California, recovery from the lingering effects of Covid on learning, chronic absences and students’ mental health has been slow and difficult.   However, some parents, teachers and a...
edsource.org
March 25, 2025 at 4:07 PM
jfensterwald.bsky.social
#UC stays ahead of Trump, to no longer require #diversity statements from faculty applicants; critics charge cowardice; by Michael Burke edsource.org/2025/univers...
University of California to no longer require diversity statements in faculty hiring
Long-standing policy is ended amid fears of reprisals from Trump administration. Critics say the change is cowardly.
edsource.org
March 21, 2025 at 3:49 PM
jfensterwald.bsky.social
Covid’s long shadow in California: Chronic absences, student depression and the limits of money. Where we stand 5 years later. May latest   edsource.org?page_id=728640
Covid’s long shadow in California: Chronic absences, student depression and the limits of money
The effects of the coronavirus-related shutdown linger five years later, as measured in test scores and student engagement, especially among the Golden State's most vulnerable children.
edsource.org
March 20, 2025 at 7:14 PM
jfensterwald.bsky.social
How to describe middling and poor test scores? CA State Board frets over the right words; my latest edsource.org?page_id=727943
How to describe middling and poor test scores? State Board frets over the right words
Scores on the Smarter Balanced and state science tests will soon be labeled Advanced, Proficient, Developing and Minimal.
edsource.org
March 7, 2025 at 7:00 AM
jfensterwald.bsky.social
CA's digital #CareerPassport, documenting career experiences as well as degrees, could transform searching for jobs; by @emmagallegos.bsky.social
edsource.org?page_id=727807
Job hunting is awful. California believes its ‘Career Passport’ can change that
California is building an ambitious new platform called the Career Passport, a virtual portfolio that aims to showcase the skills every Californian has learned through school, in college, on the job o...
edsource.org
March 7, 2025 at 6:59 AM
jfensterwald.bsky.social
ICYMI – Highlights from Linda McMahon's Senate hearing on her nomination to be Trump's "last" (really?) Ed secretary #DOGE #USDoE edsource.org/2025/trumps-...
Trump’s nominee says she may break apart, not shut down Education Department
Linda McMahon aligns with the president's views on parental choice and DEI, promises to fund what Congress passes.
edsource.org
February 14, 2025 at 5:58 PM
Reposted by John Fensterwald
jfensterwald.bsky.social
CA school districts weighed down by new costs of child sexual assaults: billions in claims for victims now adults #FCMAT #CSBA my latest
edsource.org/2025/schools...
California school districts are weighed down by new costs of old sexual assaults
A 2019 state law widened districts’ liability for past sexual assaults. A report found so far it spurred $2 billion to $3 billion in claims filed on students’ behalf.
edsource.org
February 10, 2025 at 4:41 PM
jfensterwald.bsky.social
CA school districts weighed down by new costs of child sexual assaults: billions in claims for victims now adults #FCMAT #CSBA my latest
edsource.org/2025/schools...
California school districts are weighed down by new costs of old sexual assaults
A 2019 state law widened districts’ liability for past sexual assaults. A report found so far it spurred $2 billion to $3 billion in claims filed on students’ behalf.
edsource.org
February 10, 2025 at 4:41 PM
jfensterwald.bsky.social
Despite Trump's transgender sports ban, CA interscholastic federation pledges to uphold trans sports participation as laid out in state law; by Bob Egelko www.sfchronicle.com/politics/art...
As Trump orders trans sports ban, California says its rules protecting athletes remain in place
California leaders say they will continue to follow state law ensuring trans student athletes can participate on teams consistent with their identity.
www.sfchronicle.com
February 6, 2025 at 5:47 PM
jfensterwald.bsky.social
Fresno teachers say district is slow-walking launch of #ethnicstudies by @lashericat.bsky.social
edsource.org/2025/fresno-...
Fresno Unified teachers say district is slow-walking ethnic studies launch
Though ethnic studies is not yet funded statewide, districts, such as Fresno Unified, who already require the course, are facing challenges.
edsource.org
February 6, 2025 at 5:39 PM
jfensterwald.bsky.social
CA teachers in 32 districts band together to negotiate expiring contracts in new @wearecta.bsky.social strategy; by @dianalambert.bsky.social @monicav50.bsky.social edsource.org/2025/califor...
CTA chapters band together to leverage districts for higher pay, smaller classes, more resources
The California Teachers Association's "We Can't Wait" campaign plans to use the power of 32 union chapters to increase pressure on school districts to raise salaries, increase staffing and add resourc...
edsource.org
February 6, 2025 at 5:30 PM
jfensterwald.bsky.social
Gap between 90% and 10% achievers in 8th grade math escalated between 2013-2024 in 8th grade math; a chasm in CA. #NAEP analysis by @chadaldeman.bsky.social www.the74million.org/article/whic...
Which States Have the Fastest-Growing Achievement Gaps in 8th-Grade Math?
Aldeman: Disparities between the highest and lowest performers widened in every state in the last 2 years. But the pattern is much older than that
www.the74million.org
February 6, 2025 at 5:24 PM
jfensterwald.bsky.social
Great read by @karendsouza.bsky.social on the power of art: how Homeboy ArtAcademy in LA resurrects lives #arteducation #Prop28 edsource.org/2025/at-las-...
At LA’s Homeboy Art Academy, arts education saves lives
The program uses a focus on the arts as a way to empower gang-involved and formerly incarcerated youth.
edsource.org
February 4, 2025 at 9:36 PM
jfensterwald.bsky.social
CA should continue its $1 B investment in teacher recruitment via residencies, education grants & National Board incentives, report by LPI by @dianalambert.bsky.social edsource.org/2025/califor...
California should continue to invest in teacher recruitment, retention, study says
California has spent over $1 billion on programs to recruit and retain teachers, but it will take time to see results, according to new research.
edsource.org
February 4, 2025 at 9:31 PM