Fifty-one years ago, the United States Supreme Court decided a case that would forever change education for English learners in this country.

In the 1974 case Lau v. Nichols, the Court decided that students who do not yet speak fluent English have a right to fully understand what is being taught in their classrooms, and that schools must take steps to make sure students can understand, whether through additional instruction in English as a second language or bilingual education.

On this episode of Education Beat, we bring you the story of how this case began and how it changed education, from the perspective of a teacher.

Guest:

Read more from EdSource: Q&A: How the 50-year-old case that transformed English learner education began

Education Beat is a weekly podcast, hosted by EdSource’s Zaidee Stavely and produced by Coby McDonald.

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Students from low-income families and English learners are automatically awarded $500 for college or career training through a California program. Foster youth and homeless students get another $500 on top of that. But students, or their parents or guardians, have to claim the money. And many families are unaware of this program.

How do you find out if you have money waiting for you? What is California doing to try to get more students to claim their accounts?

Guests:

Read more from EdSource:

Click here to find out if you or your student has college money

Education Beat is a weekly podcast, hosted by EdSource’s Zaidee Stavely and produced by Coby McDonald.

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When the Eaton Fire burned through parts of Los Angeles County this January, it destroyed thousands of homes. The hardest-hit district was Pasadena Unified School District, where around 10,000 students out of the district's 14,000 were displaced.

Principals across the district called for help from the county office of education, so that when kids impacted by the fires returned to school, they’d have the mental health support they needed.

Guests:

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Education Beat is a weekly podcast, hosted by EdSource’s Zaidee Stavely and produced by Coby McDonald.

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Jackie Stephens' daughters Mercy and Hope both attended free child care and preschool through Head Start, and she says they've thrived. Jackie has gotten help herself through the program, with breastfeeding, nutritional advice and parenting.

But now Jackie’s worried. Because earlier this year, President Donald Trump indicated he wanted to eliminate all funding - $12.3 billion - for Head Start.

Guests:

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Education Beat is a weekly podcast, hosted by EdSource’s Zaidee Stavely and produced by Coby McDonald.

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In the first few months of the Trump administration, several education programs have been slashed. A program to help students with disabilities navigate the transition into adulthood was eliminated, and cuts to AmeriCorps eliminated some volunteers who tutor elementary students in reading and math.

A mother shares the story of how these cuts affected her son, and reporters share what they learned when visiting classrooms and talking with educators.

Guests:

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Education Beat is a weekly podcast, hosted by EdSource’s Zaidee Stavely and produced by Coby McDonald.

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California school districts pay cities and counties millions of dollars a year to put law enforcement officers on campuses, according to a recent EdSource investigation. And in many districts, these contracts are passed with no public discussion and little oversight of officers' duties on campuses.

Guests:

This episode also includes public comment and discussion from a Folsom-Cordova Unified School District board meeting in May 2024.

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Education Beat is a weekly podcast, hosted by EdSource’s Zaidee Stavely and produced by Coby McDonald.

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Texas offers more bilingual education than California and backs it up with more funding.

We visit an elementary school and a middle school in Austin, Texas, where students learn in Spanish and English. And we talk with a researcher about why Texas is so much farther ahead than California in bilingual education.

Guests:

Read more from EdSource: Why Texas is ahead of California on bilingual education

Education Beat is a weekly podcast, hosted by EdSource’s Zaidee Stavely and produced by Coby McDonald.

Subscribe at Apple, Spotify, SoundCloud

There have now been more than 700 cases of measles reported in the U.S. in 2025, and two children have died. The vast majority of these cases are in Texas. Only nine cases have been reported in California. But measles vaccination rates are going down in California schools. In some schools, particularly charter schools, the rates are lower than 95%, which is considered "herd immunity." Why does this matter? What can be done?

Guests:

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Education Beat is a weekly podcast, hosted by EdSource’s Zaidee Stavely and produced by Coby McDonald.

Subscribe at Apple, Spotify, SoundCloud

Manny Barbara is likely one of the most experienced people in the state when it comes to closing a school. He has helped six districts manage the closing of its schools.

Barbara shares the wisdom that he's learned from this experience.

As California enrollment declines, how can districts navigate the difficult but sometimes necessary experience of closing a school?

Guests:

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Education Beat is a weekly podcast. This week's episode was hosted by EdSource’s Emma Gallegos and produced by Coby McDonald.

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Compton drama teacher Catherine Borek has made plays with no stage and no theater, but a whole lot of creativity. She says drama can be therapy to help kids conquer anxiety, and it helps kids thrive who struggle in other classes.

As California expands arts education, what role can theater play in the classroom?

Guests:

Read more from EdSource:

Education Beat is a weekly podcast, hosted by EdSource’s Zaidee Stavely and produced by Coby McDonald.

Subscribe at Apple, Spotify, SoundCloud