San Joaquin County Education Digest

An introduction to Maia Aguirre who is running for a seat on the Lodi Unified School District Board of Education in the November election.

California’s private nonprofit colleges will no longer be able grant students an admissions advantage if their parents donated to or went to the same college after Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a law this morning banning the practice.

An estimated 1 in 5 schools has no air conditioning and another 10% need repair. Underfunded schools struggle to keep classrooms cool as heat waves intensify. “It’s a hot mess,” one teacher says.

The Mercury News guide to the Proposition 2 $10 billion bond to build and repair public schools.

Community colleges are designed to help students get an associate degree and transfer to a four-year university. Most community college students never graduate or transfer, a state audit found.

Cal State officials are projecting a 2025-26 budget hole of about $400 million to $800 million. They are warning of layoffs and academic cuts.

A voter forum was held on September 19 by the League of Women’s Voters of San Joaquin County for the candidates running for seats on the Delta College Board of Trustees in November.

After delays and mishaps, California announces $450 million for high school career pathways.

The UC Regents approved campus requests for more tools for UC police months after campus protesters clashed with law enforcement.

Failed legislative bills have attempted to create safe parking programs for students to sleep in their cars on California campuses while awaiting housing. Meanwhile, Long Beach City College allows homeless students to park overnight.

Plans are underway at the Manteca Unified School District to not only transition to state-mandated electric school buses but to leverage solar and battery storage systems.

California’s public schools have a numbers problem —and it’s not just that their students don’t score very highly in national tests of mathematics ability.

A profile of Lodi Unified School District Board of Education member Joe Nava, who is running for reelection on the November ballot.

It's been a year since Doctor Michelle Rodriguez became the new Superintendent of the Stockton Unified School District, and Stocktonia checks in on her progress.

Lawmakers approved two bills to allow some community colleges to provide bachelor’s degrees in nursing. That’s setting up another conflict with the California State University, which already offers these bachelor’s degrees.

The California School Dashboard makes it hard for the public to see how schools and districts are performing over multiple years, concludes the report's lead author.

Information about how the state’s K-12 students are performing is located on several sites and is difficult to understand, a new report finds.

A look at Gary Knackstedt who is running for reelection to the Lodi Unified School District Board of Education.

Garden Joy community garden is working with the Manteca Unified School District to help meet its goal of locally sourcing 20 percent of school meal produce by the next school year.

A look at the training program for beginner farmers offered by the Center for Land-Based Learning in Woodland.

New Stanislaus State President Britt Rios-Ellis shared her views on the bright future of the Stockton satellite campus.

In the final week of session, legislators are debating whether to give more leeway to public school teachers when to report students to law enforcement. Supporters say disabled and students of color are unfairly disciplined, but opponents say school safety is at risk.

Stocktonia notes an increase in trustees showing up late, leaving early, or not attending meetings of the Stockton Unified Board of Education.

California officials have warned students for years that for-profit schools may make misleading career claims — leaving them with “a mountain of debt” but no job. Still, many for-profit schools remain on the state’s list of recommended job training programs.

Schools that banned phones a few years ago have advice for other districts as the governor calls for a crackdown.

Manteca High has launched a pilot program in which student cell phones will be kept in lockers during classes.

Some California agencies are offering incentives and hosting workshops for school districts that want to build affordable housing for teachers.

A look back at Dr. Michelle Rodriguez's first year as superintendent of the Stockton Unified School District.

River Islands High welcomes its first students for the 2024-2025 school year.

With its opening still months away, the Thomas Toy Teen Center is seeking donations and volunteers, and is hosting an open house on August 15.

If the $10 billion state bond measure to fund school facility upgrades is approved by voters on November 5, millions of dollars will trickle down to a list of approved local projects.

Despite recently hiring over 100 new teachers, the Manteca Unified School District is working to hire dozens more.