Dublin Superintendent Chris Funk talks to kindergartners during recess on the playground at Murray Elementary School.

Topic

Student Well-Being

What sets the stage for student learning? EdSource reports on major school reform initiatives rooted in improving the physical, emotional and behavioral health of children and teens. Strategies include social and emotional skill-building, trauma-informed teaching and school-based health centers. The goal: Attendance improves, discipline referrals fall, teen pregnancy rates drop and engagement in learning increases.

Recently in this Topic

Credit: Courtesy of Stephanie Nguyen's office

Credit: Courtesy of Stephanie Nguyen's office

New bill proposes reforming special education by empowering California families

Emma Gallegos

Local organizations train and organize parents, but that doesn’t necessarily translate into coordination and action in Sacramento, according to the bill's supporters.

March 26, 2026
Legislation
Credit: Marcio Jose Sanchez / AP Photo

Credit: Marcio Jose Sanchez / AP Photo

Immigrant families in California retreat from public benefits amid proposed changes to enforcement rules

Betty Márquez Rosales

It is unclear if or when the federal administration's proposed changes to "public charge" rules would go into effect.

March 23, 2026
Student Well-Being
Credit: Lea Suzuki/San Francisco Chronicle via AP

Credit: Lea Suzuki/San Francisco Chronicle via AP

‘I was hooked’: California lawmakers target gambling addiction in youth

Vani Sanganeria

In a recent report, about half of 16-year-old boys said they had gambled in the past year, mostly on gaming, sports and traditional betting.

March 20, 2026
Student Well-Being
Credit: Lasherica Thornton/ EdSource

Credit: Lasherica Thornton/ EdSource

Fresno school district, teachers union get families housed

Lasherica Thornton

A partnership funded by the school district and teachers union philanthropy has given families a stable home and a supportive environment, allowing children to focus on school.

March 19, 2026
Homeless Youth

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Fresno Unified and teachers union join forces to put a roof over families' heads

March 26, 2026

Fresno Unified and the Fresno Teachers Association are housing 20 families and offering classes and supports to help them get ahead.

Zaidee Stavely

11 California county education offices underpaid or overpaid millions due to state clerical error

March 17, 2026

These county education offices, all starting with the letter “S,” mistakenly got or were missing millions in state funding.

Lasherica Thornton

Seeking more help for students in crisis, Cal State weighs options for after-hours mental health care

March 13, 2026

Cal State and the union for counselors agree that students deserve great care. But they disagree about hiring an outside vendor to provide it.

Amy DiPierro

New efforts to reform California’s childhood sex abuse law draw on past proposals

March 11, 2026

Reform discussions reflect the tension surrounding Assembly Bill 218, the 2020 law that opened the floodgates of litigation, the desire to achieve justice for victims of childhood sexual assault, while limiting the financial burden of public agencies.

Thomas Peele

Commentary

Building wealth early: How Gen Z can master money before it's too late

March 10, 2026

Young people are stepping into adulthood at a financially complex moment. They're eager to learn how to navigate it, but they need access to reliable information.

Bill Cheney

California governor pushes for permanent state funding of community schools

March 9, 2026

Following $4 billion in a school model that ensures students are healthy, engaged and supported, funding could be in the state’s funding formula.

Lasherica Thornton

California teachers on the picket line amid shrinking school budgets

March 5, 2026

Teachers are striking for better pay, benefits and class size. But school districts say their budgets are extremely tight and they’re contemplating layoffs.

Zaidee Stavely

Supreme Court order puts California schools in legal limbo over transgender student privacy

March 4, 2026

The California Department of Education has not yet provided guidance on disclosure to schools, stating that the department is unable to comment on ongoing litigation.

Vani Sanganeria

Unable to advocate for their children, Indigenous parents from Mexico call for more interpretation

March 2, 2026

Triqui and Mixteco-speaking parents in Greenfield in Monterey County said without interpretation, they could not advocate for their children at crucial times.

Zaidee Stavely

When teens counsel teens: Why peer support programs are growing

February 26, 2026

At Antioch High School, peer advocates mentor freshmen, meet with students who've been found with alcohol or drugs, and facilitate conflict resolution.

Zaidee Stavely

California schools with low vaccination rates lose millions of dollars

February 25, 2026

California schools lost over $2.2 million in state funding over two years because some students did not have all the vaccinations required by law.

Diana Lambert

Chronic absences in early grades linked to higher risk of district transfers, study shows

February 24, 2026

Students in grades K-3 are about twice as likely to change school districts, linking low attendance to increased academic disruptions in early grades.

Betty Márquez Rosales

Special education has become a flash point in negotiations with teachers

February 24, 2026

With a growing number of students qualifying for special education, teachers are struggling to meet the needs of these students while also dealing with unsustainable caseloads.

Emma Gallegos

How many California schools are in the 3,200-foot buffer zone where the state bans new drilling?

February 23, 2026

The Trump administration is suing California over a law regulating oil and gas wells close to schools, homes and other sensitive sites. How many schools stand to be impacted?