"These numbers look stark, but in context they reveal far more about the conditions California children are growing up in than the quality of classroom instruction. California educates a disproportionate share of children experiencing housing insecurity. A 2024 analysis found that 4% of California students were homeless, with some counties reaching 16%. The California Department of Education reports 230,443 homeless students statewide, a 26% increase over five years that mirrors broader trends in affordability, overcrowding and displacement."
"Another defining factor is California's substantial English learner population. According to the Public Policy Institute of California, current and former English learner students score 1617 percentage points lower, on average, than peers who were never classified as English learners. This is not evidence of system failure; it reflects the time and stability required to learn academic English. California's public schools serve more English learner students than any other state."
California's standardized test results show low proficiency rates—47% in English and 36% in math statewide, and NAEP proficiencies of 29% for 4th-graders and 25% for 8th-graders. High rates of housing insecurity and homelessness among students (4% statewide, up to 16% in some counties; 230,443 homeless students, a 26% five-year increase) and widespread poverty suppress academic outcomes. California serves more English learner students than any other state, with current and former English learners scoring 1617 percentage points lower on average, reflecting the multi-year time and stability required to attain academic English. Pandemic recovery remains uneven.
Read at www.mercurynews.com
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]