Carolyn Jones • CalMatters, Author at Times of San Diego

Two people hold a transgender flag with a message reading PROTECT TRANS KIDS in San Diego

‘Shocking’: What Supreme Court ruling on transgender policy means for California students

by Carolyn Jones • CalMatters March 4, 2026, 11:48 a.m.March 4, 2026, 4:45 p.m.

The ruling undermines California’s Safety Act, which bars school districts from adopting “forced outing” policies.

Protesters hold signs saying "WE CAN'T WAIT, STAFF SPECIAL ED"

Wave of California teacher strikes ‘is no coincidence’

by Carolyn Jones • CalMatters March 2, 2026, 11:16 a.m.March 2, 2026, 11:16 a.m.

A teacher demonstrating gestures to students in a classroom with a whiteboard and educational posters.

Will this be the year California makes kindergarten mandatory?

by Carolyn Jones • CalMatters Jan. 7, 2026, 2:00 p.m.

A school bus dropped students off at Mira Mesa High School. Photo by Chris Stone

How California is trying to reshape high school

by Carolyn Jones • CalMatters Nov. 2, 2025, 8:13 a.m.Nov. 2, 2025, 8:13 a.m.

Person writing on a sticky note placed on an open book.

Expect more phonics lessons in California schools under law Newsom signed

by Carolyn Jones • CalMatters Oct. 20, 2025, 1:31 p.m.Oct. 20, 2025, 1:31 p.m.

Classroom at Birney Elementary School in the San Diego Unified School District, one of 10 San Diego Unified schools winning 2020 honors.

Test scores jump in San Diego, across state, but students still catching up post-pandemic

by Carolyn Jones • CalMatters Oct. 12, 2025, 8:01 a.m.Oct. 12, 2025, 8:01 a.m.

A student using a laptop with labeled folders on a cabinet in the background.

Ethnic studies was supposed to start in California schools. What happened?

by Carolyn Jones • CalMatters Sept. 18, 2025, 3:29 p.m.Sept. 18, 2025, 3:29 p.m.

Students reading

Compromise bill makes phonics-based reading instruction an option in California

by Carolyn Jones • CalMatters May 4, 2025, 8:15 a.m.

Students reading

Watered-down bill makes phonics-based reading instruction optional in California

by Carolyn Jones • CalMatters May 4, 2025, 8:15 a.m.

Students working in a classroom with a colorful poster in the background.

Ruling limits Trump administration’s attempted crackdown on diversity programs in schools

by Carolyn Jones • CalMatters April 27, 2025, 9:56 a.m.April 27, 2025, 9:57 a.m.

Child sitting on a colorful carpet reading a children's book.

California tries once again to mandate ‘science of reading’ in classrooms

by Carolyn Jones • CalMatters April 6, 2025, 11:25 p.m.April 7, 2025, 7:46 a.m.

The new rainbow crosswalk includes pink and blue transgender colors and brown and black to represent people of color.

California not backing down on trans student privacy, despite threats to funding

by Carolyn Jones • CalMatters March 27, 2025, 3:00 p.m.March 27, 2025, 4:14 p.m.

Valley fever area

Rural California Schools, Roads Lose Millions in Federal Funding After Trump Admin Cuts

by Carolyn Jones • CalMatters March 25, 2025, 8:49 a.m.March 25, 2025, 8:49 a.m.

Students in classroom.

California Attempting to Protect Students, Families From Deportation Efforts

by Carolyn Jones • CalMatters Jan. 5, 2025, 11:50 p.m.Jan. 6, 2025, 7:34 a.m.