Schools scramble to find teachers as California expands transitional kindergartenNovember 2, 2022This school year the California transitional kindergarten program began expanding to eventually include all 4-year-olds.
State GovernmentThough wage theft is a crime, few California DAs file charges for itOctober 25, 2022Some prosecutors say that may change. They are partnering with the state on more wage cases or forming special units to pursue labor abuses as crimes. A new felony law could help, they say.
Amid ominous signs, California releases first student test scores since the pandemicOctober 24, 2022State education officials — who initially seemed to be delaying the release of student scores until after the election — instead shared them in a way guaranteed to hinder coverage of what’s expected to be a steep pandemic-driven decline.
Health CareThe public health workforce got an infusion of money during the pandemic, but is it enough?October 22, 2022During the decade after the 2008 recession, state funding for public health dropped 64%. COVID-19 funding has boosted the budgets of local public health departments, but the exodus of staff has left local officials struggling to fill vacancies.
State GovernmentYour questions about California’s gas rebate answeredOctober 19, 2022Readers had questions about California’s gas rebate payments, including whether it matters how many cars you have and why it’s based on 2020 tax returns. We’ve answered some here.
California is a hotspot for catalytic converter theft. Will new laws make a difference?October 11, 2022A disproportionate share of catalytic converter thefts happen in California. Here’s what lawmakers are trying to do about it, and why one law-enforcement backed approach didn’t make it out of Sacramento.
Dual admission program will give community college students an early taste of life at UCOctober 5, 2022The University of California aims to ease the transition from community college to university with a new dual admission pilot program launching this spring.
Race and EquityNative American students hope a new education law helps reverse years of misinformationOctober 1, 2022A new law will encourage California school districts to work with local Native American tribes to develop history lessons for students.
Health CareAs state sets higher Medi-Cal contract standards, some providers predict major disruptionsSeptember 26, 2022The state’s new Medi-Cal contracts are part of an overhaul to improve patient care. But some say the new providers aren’t fully prepared to handle more Medi-Cal patients.
EnvironmentWrangling over renewables: Counties push back on Newsom administration usurping local controlAugust 6, 2022The state can expedite approval of renewable energy projects but rural counties say they already do their part with solar and wind farms. “We’re in the crosshairs, but we don’t think we are the right target here,” one rural advocate says.
