The Brief

California’s K-12 students are gradually rebounding from the pandemic, with nearly all student groups — especially low-income, Black and Latino students — showing progress in math and English language arts, according to standardized test scores the state released today.

“Today’s results suggest that California’s public schools are making encouraging gains, and these gains are largest for our most vulnerable groups of students,” said Linda Darling-Hammond, president of the State Board of Education.

How we got here

Last year, 47% of students statewide met or exceeded the English language arts standards, up from 46.7% the previous year, and 35.5% met or exceeded the math standard, up from 34.6% the previous year. Black, Latino and low-income students showed bigger gains than the state average in most categories, although still had lower scores overall.

The Smarter Balanced test, given annually to students in grades 3 to 8 and 11, provides the most comprehensive look at how California’s students are faring academically. The test measures how much students know, as well as critical thinking, writing ability and problem-solving skills.  

Although the scores overall inched upward, they’re still far below pre-pandemic levels. Both English language arts and math scores are 4 percentage points below their 2018-19 levels, which were among the highest scores for California students since the state began administering the Smarter Balanced test in 2014-15.

Still, the results brought some hope.

“There’s reason to be optimistic,” said Lucrecia Santibanez, an education professor at UCLA. “Given the multitude of students of California, and the diversity, even small improvements are significant.”

She also lauded the improvements among Black, Latino and low-income students, many of whom suffered hardships during the pandemic. “Schools put a lot of work into helping those students, and it’s good to see things improving,” she said.

Investments in tutoring pay off

State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond attributed the bump in scores to schools’ heavy investments in tutoring, after-school programs, training for teachers and other programs intended to help students catch up after most campuses closed for the 2020-21 school year due to COVID-19.

Many of those programs were funded through federal pandemic relief grants, which ended last month. Schools have been scrambling to find new ways to pay for the programs, many of which are imperiled due to state budget uncertainty and declining enrollment.

(For more information on how your school, use the state database here.)

Of particular interest were the third grade results. Last year’s third graders started kindergarten during the pandemic, missing a key part of early education because most school campuses were closed and they had to attend class remotely. Educators feared the scores would reflect that, but third graders performed about the same as their predecessors.

Big gains for some districts

Watsonville Prep School, a charter school in Santa Cruz County where nearly all students are low-income and Latino, saw big gains, especially in reading. Scores jumped 10 percentage points after the school instituted an “all hands on deck” approach to literacy, director of schools Andrea Hernandez said.

“We are really proud of our students,” Hernandez said. “We made this a priority, and it’s validating that it led to results. We’re excited, but the job isn’t done yet.”

Compton Unified continued its upward trajectory, with math and English language arts scores both climbing almost 3 percentage points. The Los Angeles County district, where 94% of students are low-income, invested in a wide range of tutoring services, including tutors in classrooms to provide immediate help for students who need it.

“Compton Unified has shown steady and remarkable progress,” Superintendent Darin Brawley said. “This achievement reflects the district’s commitment to equity, ensuring that all students receive the interventions and support necessary.”

Benicia Unified, in Solano County, also showed big gains. Math scores rose almost 8 percentage points, to 53% meeting or exceeding standards — well above the state average. The district hired a coach to help teachers improve the way they teach math, with a focus on helping students who traditionally lag in that subject. Latino and Black students’ scores shot up almost 6 percentage points.

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Hermon — Some shoppers heading into Fresco Market were lost in their phones, but when they momentarily looked up, they were greeted by a flap of brilliant green feathers and a cheery squawk. Phones were put away.

“Pepe! Hey Pepe! So good to see you!”

Perched on the shoulder of T.J. Gonzalez, Pepe the Parrot was in full greeter mode. Wide-eyed and seeming to almost smile as he surveyed the parking lot and his approaching public, Pepe did what he naturally does: make people happy.

A common sight at the Hermon market, near where they live, Gonzalez and Pepe can also be found at community centers, farmers’ markets and local events. They often take the Metro into downtown Los Angeles, Long Beach and other locations.

There’s no money asked, stressed Gonzalez, adding that Pepe simply adores the attention. “People want to see and talk with him more than me,” he joked as he cracked a nut and placed it in his mouth. On cue, the bird reached around Gonzalez’s mouth to retrieve it.

Michael Eagle-Hall of El Sereno is delighted to meet Pepe outside of the Fresco Market in Hermon.

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Brenda Rees

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The Eastsider

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A mail carrier for 37 years before he retired, Gonzalez found Pepe, a red-crowned Amazon (flocks are often seen in Northeast L.A.) in July 2021. The chick had fallen out of a nest and was flailing on a busy street in San Marino. “He was like roadkill,” said Gonzalez, who watched cars drive over (without striking) the bird.

Gonzalez retrieved the parrot and looked for help, but wildlife rehabbers said they’d euthanize the bird since it had a broken wing. Gonzalez instead brought him to a vet and christened him Pepe.

Since Pepe could not fly, Gonzalez started walking him around the neighborhood. He soon discovered how kids and adults enjoyed interacting with the parrot. Pepe is also a social media darling, with more than 8,600 followers on Instagram.

Pepe is more of a squawker than a talker, but Gonzalez has learned how to art-direct photos of people and the bird, instructing them on how to hold their hands and arms best. “We just want that smile because that’s all that Pepe wants from you,” said Gonzalez.

Crews have now recovered the bodies of all nine backcountry skiers who were killed in an avalanche in Northern California earlier this week. It marks an end to what authorities on Saturday described as an agonizing five-day search and recovery operation complicated by intense winter storms northwest of Lake Tahoe.

"While we wish we could have saved them all, we are grateful that we can bring them home," said Nevada County Sheriff Shannan Moon during a Saturday news conference.

Until Saturday, authorities had not confirmed the death of a ninth victim, a skier who had been missing and presumed dead. Officials say their body was found near the eight other victims that have now been recovered. Authorities said avalanche hazards and weather conditions were too dangerous most of the week to search for the remaining victim or recover the bodies.

Four of the bodies were recovered on Friday, and the rest of the bodies were recovered on Saturday, all in the Castle Peak area where the avalanche – one of the deadliest in California history — struck. Six people from the group of 15 skiers survived Tuesday's disaster, the last day of a three-day backcountry ski trip. One guide and five travelers were among the survivors.

Helicopters with the California National Guard as well as the California Highway Patrol were used to hoist the remaining bodies from the mountain, officials said at the press conference.

On Friday, officials were able to use specialized techniques with the help of Pacific Gas & Electric to reduce the avalanche risk.

The ski trip was organized by Blackbird Mountain Guides, an outdoor tour company based in Truckee, Calif. Moon confirmed the identities of the victims. Three guides were killed: Andrew Alissandratos, 34, from Verdi, Nev.; Michael Henry, 30, from Soda Springs, Calif.; and Nicole Choo, 42, of South Lake Tahoe, Calif. The other victims, who had signed up for the group trip, are: Carrie Atkin, 46, of Soda Springs; Lizabeth Clabaugh, 52, of Boise, Idaho; Danielle Keatley, 44, of Soda Springs and Larkspur, Calif.; Kate Morse, 45, of Soda Springs and Tiburon, Calif.; Caroline Sekar, 45, of Soda Springs and San Francisco; and Katherine Vitt, 43, of Greenbrae, Calif.

The Sierra Avalanche Center classified the avalanche between a D2 and D3 on the avalanche danger scale.

"A D2 would take down a person. A D3 would take down a house, so it was right in between those. It was described by them as a football field length of a path of the avalanche," Sheriff Moon said on Saturday.

Multiple agencies are investigating.

"We are investigating the incident to determine if there were any factors that would be considered criminal negligence," Ashley Quadros with the Nevada County Sheriff's Office said in an email to NPR on Sunday. "It is a standard investigation. It is too early to know if criminal charges will be applicable, as the investigation is preliminary and remains active and ongoing."

The area will be closed to visitors for several weeks.
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The Transportation Security Administration said Sunday that its PreCheck program would remain operational despite an earlier announcement from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security that the airport security service was being suspended during the partial government shutdown.

"As staffing constraints arise, TSA will evaluate on a case by case basis and adjust operations accordingly," the agency said.

It was not immediately clear whether Global Entry, another airport service, would be affected. PreCheck and Global Entry are designed to help speed registered travelers through security lines, and suspensions would likely cause headaches and delays.

The turmoil is tied to a partial government shutdown that began Feb. 14 after Democrats and the White House were unable to reach a deal on legislation to fund the Department of Homeland Security. Democrats have been demanding changes to immigration operations that are core to President Donald Trump's deportation campaign.

Homeland Security previously said it was taking "emergency measures to preserve limited funds." Among the steps listed were "ending Transportation Security Administration (TSA) PreCheck lanes and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Global Entry service, to refocus Department personnel on the majority of travelers."

Secretary Kristi Noem said in a statement on Saturday night that "shutdowns have serious real world consequences."

One group of fliers will definitely be affected, according to TSA

"Courtesy escorts, such as those for Members of Congress, have been suspended to allow officers to focus on the mission of securing America's skies," the agency said.

Airlines for America, a trade group representing major carriers, said Saturday night that "it's past time for Congress to get to the table and get a deal done." It also criticized the announcement by saying it was "issued with extremely short notice to travelers, giving them little time to plan accordingly."

Democrats on the House Committee on Homeland Security criticized Homeland Security handling of airport security after the initial announcement on Saturday night. They accused the administration of "kneecapping the programs that make travel smoother and secure."

Sen. Andy Kim, a New Jersey Democrat, said Noem's actions are part of an administration strategy to distract from other issues and shift responsibility.

"This administration is trying to weaponize our government, trying to make things intentionally more difficult for the American people as a political leverage," he told CNN on Sunday. "And the American people see that."