This week, Anne Vasquez, EdSource's new executive director, outlines her vision for the organization. She reflects on how growing up in Miami — the daughter of immigrants fleeing Cuba penniless under Fidel Castro — shaped her perspectives on education and the dual roles of equity and merit in providing opportunities for all of California's children. The veteran journalist, newspaper executive and former chief digital officer for Tribune Publishing discusses how strengthening storytelling can widen EdSource's audience of teachers and parents. She was interviewed by podcast host John Fensterwald Recent EdSource columns by Anne Vasquez: A case for redefining merit in education Why a return to the classroom was scary but worth it Note: Our podcast will take a short hiatus and return later this summer with some exciting changes. Stay tuned for more details.

The U.S. is confronting the rise of white supremacy, disinformation, and extreme threats to democracy — while a global pandemic has created the worst health and economic emergency of our time. How can educators cultivate the informed, engaged, and effective citizenry we desperately need to ensure the strengthening of a socially just democracy? Research shows that teaching controversial issues leads to students' increased political knowledge, interest and engagement, but for a range of reasons educators often avoid it. Events this week were a reminder of the controversial issues that teachers and students could take on, but often don't. The Israeli-Palestinian conflict took another deadly turn, Republican leaders blocked efforts to set up bipartisan commission to look into the Jan. 6 invasion of the Capitol, and the U.S. Supreme Court took on a case that could further erode a woman's right to an abortion. Hosted by Louis Freedberg, we  devote this week's podcast to this critically important issue. Our guests are: Pedro Noguera, Dean of the USC Rossier School of Education, who authored a recent essay in Newsweek on "Tolerance doesn't mean avoiding the 'ugly' side of U.S. history." Judy Pace, professor of education at the University of San Francisco, and author of Hard Questions: Learning to Teach Controversial Issues (Rowman & Littlefield, 2021). Check out Pace's summary of key elements for effective teaching of controversial issues here. Her work is supported by  the Spencer Foundation. Going Deeper:  Educating for American Democracy: Excellence in History and Civics for All Learners,” iCivics, March 2, 2021. Educating for Civic Reasoning and Discourse, National Academy of Education, May 2021. The Political Classroom: Evidence and Ethics in Democratic Education, Diana Hess & Paula McAvoy, 2016. Resources for Educators Civics Education Resources Annals of Social Studies Research for Teachers (ASSERT) Education for Sustainable Democracy (Podcast)

Gov. Gavin Newsom wants to spark the postsecondary aspirations of all families by creating $500 college savings accounts for all current low income public school students and future ones as they enter the 1st grade, with extra amounts for foster and homeless children, at a cost of $2 billion. The proposal was a surprise piece of his $20 billion, 5-year "transformational" package for preK-12 schools in the May state budget revision that he presented this week. College savings accounts are not a new concept but they've never been done on this scale. We discuss the merits and specifics with two leaders of Oakland Promise, an organization that already has an extensive college savings plan and college readiness programs in place. Also, we speak with UC Berkeley Law professor Christopher Edley, Jr. about why he wants to lead Berkeley's Graduate School of Education for the next two years. Edley, a long-time advocate for education equity, will become the school's interim dean in July, replacing Dean Prudence Carter who is stepping down. John Fensterwald and Louis Freedberg are the co-hosts. Our guests are: Mia Bonta, CEO, Oakland Promise Amanda Feinstein, director, Brilliant Baby, Oakland Promise Christopher Edley, law professor and incoming dean, UC Berkeley Graduate School of Education For background, read these EdSource stories: Newsom proposes universal transitional kindergarten, new programs for low-income students 'College Promise' programs reaching more students in California

Like a Category 4 hurricane, Covid-19 has undermined the state's newly built California School Dashboard and system of state and county support for schools deemed to need help for poor performance. It could be a few years before the system is fully back up and running. Meanwhile, school districts and charter schools are getting tens of billions of dollars in state and federal Covid relief to spend. Advocates for low-income students are thrilled about the prospects for post-pandemic help for students but also worry a once-in-a-generation opportunity will be missed if money isn't spent effectively. This week, we explore these issues with: Heather Hough, executive director of the nonprofit research organization Policy Analysis for California Education or PACE; John Affeldt, managing attorney and education equity director for the public interest law firm, Public Advocates; Sara Noguchi, superintendent of the 30,000-student K-12 district,  Modesto City Schools. For background, read these EdSource stories: Mental health, equity should be schools’ focus as students return, report says $31 billion in federal coronavirus relief coming soon to schools, college students and universities Find out how much California school districts and charter schools will get in Covid relief  Local assessments an option if statewide tests aren't viable during pandemic, California officials signal Also of interest: Reimagine and Rebuild California Schools: Restarting School with Equity at the Center

Gov. Gavin Newsom said this week that school districts and the state's 2- and 4-year colleges and universities should reopen to full in-person instruction after June 15. The California Department of Public Health announced the state would end the color-coded tier system that restricted openings of businesses and schools.  The combined announcements signal a big step toward normalcy. In this week's podcast, we explore the impact of Newsom's pronouncement on the fall for K-12 schools and community colleges. A key positive takeaway said the chief lobbyist for the Association of California School Administrators, is that hybrid instruction (combining in-person and remote learning) won't be necessary, and districts should plan with that in mind. Community colleges welcomed the message but some will phase in reopening cautiously, with an eye on vaccination numbers and Covid-19 trends this summer, said the president of a San Diego area college and the chancellor of the community college system. Both said they expect to be able to reverse the steep decline in enrollment at many of the system's 115 colleges that offer on-campus instruction. John Fensterwald and Louis Freedberg are the cohosts. Our guests are: Edgar Zazueta, Senior Director of Policy and Government Relations for ACSA, the Association of California School Administrators Eloy Ortiz Oakley, Chancellor, California Community Colleges Jack Kahn, Interim President, Palomar Community College in San Diego County For background, read these EdSource stories: Gov. Newsom expects full in-person fall return to school after state scraps color-coded tiers California Community Colleges chancellor urges slow reopening How California high schools plan to pull off ‘normal’ graduations

After an enervating school year reeling from Covid, many students are looking at the prospect of a mind-numbing summer school with dread. To entice them and their teachers back to the classroom, some school districts are redesigning summer programs, recognizing that unpressured and engaging activities, combining tutoring and physical exercise, may provide a needed transition to reopening in the fall – particularly for students set back most by the pandemic. For weary district administrators, the timing is tough, but the need is unprecedented, as is the money — billions of new federal and state dollars waiting to be spent. This week, we look at opportunities and options of expanded summer learning. We speak with the head of a nonprofit that's been promoting innovative programs for two decades and the program director in a district that has been successful in building community partnerships. John Fensterwald and Louis Freedberg are the cohosts. The guests are: Jennifer Peck, president and CEO of  Partnership for Children and Youth,  an organization championing high-quality learning opportunities Amanda Reedy, administrator of Gilroy Unified's Power School and after-school programs For background, read these EdSource stories: To reopen safely and responsibly, schools need their afterschool partners After-school programs can help students during pandemic California schools to get $15.3 billion in federal aid under American Rescue Plan Find out how much California school districts and charter schools will get in Covid relief : a database Also of interest: Make Your Summer Game Plan:  a series of webinars for K-12 leaders and community partners

This week, we look at the future of ethnic studies in California high schools. Earlier this month, the State Board of Education adopted an ethnic studies framework after two years of rewriting and contentious public hearings generating tens of thousands of comments. Though called a model curriculum, it's not a blueprint or mandate; instead, it consists of principles goals, guides for instruction and sample lessons. Disagreements remain over how ethnic studies should be taught and what course content should look like, and districts now have the challenge of providing the answers. This week's guests express strong and contrasting views on what ethnic studies should and should not be in a state as diverse as California. John Fensterwald and Louis Freedberg are the co-hosts. Guests are: Manuel Rustin, Pasadena Unified history teacher and chairman, Instructional Quality Commission Theresa Montaño, professor of Chicana & Chicano Studies, CSU Northridge Lori Meyers, co-founder, Educators for Excellence in Ethnic Studies For background, read these EdSource stories: After 8 hours, 250-plus speakers, California board adopts ethnic studies model curriculum A final vote, after many rewrites, for California's controversial ethnic studies curriculum Gov. Newsom vetoes requirement for ethnic studies course in high school In addition, check out these related cites: Ethnic Studies Model Curriculum, as presented to and adopted by State Board of Education Liberated Ethnic Studies Model Curriculum Coalition  Educators for Excellence in Ethnic Studies Manuel Rustin's' weekly podcast All of the Above: An Unstandardized Take on Education

For weeks, Gov. Gavin Newsom was saying that teachers should be be a priority to be vaccinated, but it wasn't clear what he meant. This week, he put power behind his pledge to allocate 10% of the state's vaccines to school employees over the next few weeks by setting clear and uniform priorities for which of them should be at the front of the line to get their shots. Alameda County Supt. L.K. Monroe, president of CCSESA which represents all 58 county offices of education, explains the policy and its implications for California's hardest hit communities. And Heber Marquez, a teacher in Los Angeles Unified who lives and works in Maywood, a Covid-stricken  city in Los Angeles County, explains why families, and teachers, are hesitant to send students back to school until vaccines are more widely available. Also, Brooks Allen, executive director of the State Board of Education, and an advisor to Gov.Newsom, sums up the status of standardized tests in math and English this year known as the Smarter Balanced Assessments.   This week the  U.S. Department of Education told states they need to do testing of some kind, while giving them flexibility to modify the tests, how they can be reported and when they can be given.  The State Board of Education spent hours debating the issue this week. For background on these issues, check out the following: California sets priorities for vaccination of teachers and school employees Why some school districts are open for in-person instruction but in some cases, neighboring ones aren’t New cases of Covid-19 fall dramatically in California, enabling more schools to reopen Rising tensions, heated words add pressure to reach a deal soon on reopening California schools California moves ahead to pursue flexibility waivers for standardized tests this year

San Francisco Mayor London Breed, expressing the frustration of many parents, sues San Francisco's school board and superintendent to try to force city schools to reopen. Gov. Gavin Newsom, worried about further potential delays, clarifies that vaccinating teachers is a priority but not a prerequisite for returning to school for in-person instruction. With the Legislature soon to weigh in on its position on reopening schools, it's been a busy week of jostling to put stakes in the ground. We get reactions to the issues: San Francisco Unified Superintendent Vincent Matthews says he's exasperated that city officials made inaccurate accusations and sued before sitting down to talk. California Teachers Association President E. Toby Boyd insists that vaccinating teachers who are heading back to school is a key piece to ensuring students and staff are safe, and time is needed to put protections in place. Sacramento County Superintendent of Schools Dave Gordon, meanwhile, says his county and 13 districts are ready and waiting to vaccinate all school staff in clinics within two weeks — as soon as the vaccines arrive. For background on these issues, check out the following: Dispute widens between Gov. Newsom, school employee unions over reopening campuses Joining national debate, San Francisco enters uncharted territory in battle over reopening schools California schools consider extending next school year while mental health remains a concern Quick Guide: What California’s color-coded county tracking system means for schools

This week, John and Ryan Smith, external officer for the Partnership for Los Angeles Schools, reflect on the insurrection at the U.S. Capitol and its impact on students watching the event, and they share 2021 predictions for education in California. John wagers his "fensters" against Ryan's "smiths" on odds of schools reopening for in-person instruction, the state budget, a recall of Gavin Newsom, ethnic studies' passage, a teacher shortage, and the pandemic's impact on the classroom. Keep your own scorecard and file it away until January 2022. For background on these issues, check out the following: California educators condemn and reflect on Capitol attack California education issues to watch in 2021 — and predictions of what will happen California education issues to watch in 2020 — and predictions of what will happen