Jemma K Stephenson
@jemmakstephenson.bsky.social
Education reporter for San Diego Union Tribune
Reposted by Jemma K Stephenson
“Calling the meeting to order”. Postcard from my collection, mailed 1907.
October 16, 2025 at 8:05 PM
“Calling the meeting to order”. Postcard from my collection, mailed 1907.
Reposted by Jemma K Stephenson
The model Learn4Life schools use is non-classroom-based (kids mostly work remotely) and independent-study (kids don't attend remote classes but rather complete assignments on their own).
To some teachers, that lack of structure was especially tough for their vulnerable student population. 4/x
To some teachers, that lack of structure was especially tough for their vulnerable student population. 4/x
‘This isn’t right’: Teachers question priorities, track record of Learn4Life charter schools
The network’s model has drawn criticism of its effectiveness, and some teachers described its schools as more focused on funding than on results.
www.sandiegouniontribune.com
October 13, 2025 at 10:15 PM
The model Learn4Life schools use is non-classroom-based (kids mostly work remotely) and independent-study (kids don't attend remote classes but rather complete assignments on their own).
To some teachers, that lack of structure was especially tough for their vulnerable student population. 4/x
To some teachers, that lack of structure was especially tough for their vulnerable student population. 4/x
Reposted by Jemma K Stephenson
What schools really cared about, teachers said, was posting high average daily attendance, or ADA — the basis for school funding in California.
“You gotta get ADA. That was the real driver,” one said.
But they had qualms about how they say they were expected to do it.
“You gotta get ADA. That was the real driver,” one said.
But they had qualms about how they say they were expected to do it.
‘This isn’t right’: Teachers question priorities, track record of Learn4Life charter schools
The network’s model has drawn criticism of its effectiveness, and some teachers described its schools as more focused on funding than on results.
www.sandiegouniontribune.com
October 13, 2025 at 10:09 PM
What schools really cared about, teachers said, was posting high average daily attendance, or ADA — the basis for school funding in California.
“You gotta get ADA. That was the real driver,” one said.
But they had qualms about how they say they were expected to do it.
“You gotta get ADA. That was the real driver,” one said.
But they had qualms about how they say they were expected to do it.
Reposted by Jemma K Stephenson
“It just felt like I’m perpetuating this problem of this kid falling further and further behind even when they’re trying. I remember feeling at the time, ‘This isn’t right, it shouldn’t be this way.’”
“We didn’t graduate enough students.”
“We didn’t treat them like we should’ve.”
“We didn’t graduate enough students.”
“We didn’t treat them like we should’ve.”
‘This isn’t right’: Teachers question priorities, track record of Learn4Life charter schools
The network’s model has drawn criticism of its effectiveness, and some teachers described its schools as more focused on funding than on results.
www.sandiegouniontribune.com
October 13, 2025 at 10:08 PM
“It just felt like I’m perpetuating this problem of this kid falling further and further behind even when they’re trying. I remember feeling at the time, ‘This isn’t right, it shouldn’t be this way.’”
“We didn’t graduate enough students.”
“We didn’t treat them like we should’ve.”
“We didn’t graduate enough students.”
“We didn’t treat them like we should’ve.”
Reposted by Jemma K Stephenson
First up: The education.
Kristen Taketa spoke with a dozen current and former teachers and administrators. They shared a sense of frustration at their schools’ priorities and regret at the schools' track records. 2/x
Kristen Taketa spoke with a dozen current and former teachers and administrators. They shared a sense of frustration at their schools’ priorities and regret at the schools' track records. 2/x
‘This isn’t right’: Teachers question priorities, track record of Learn4Life charter schools
The network’s model has drawn criticism of its effectiveness, and some teachers described its schools as more focused on funding than on results.
www.sandiegouniontribune.com
October 13, 2025 at 10:08 PM
First up: The education.
Kristen Taketa spoke with a dozen current and former teachers and administrators. They shared a sense of frustration at their schools’ priorities and regret at the schools' track records. 2/x
Kristen Taketa spoke with a dozen current and former teachers and administrators. They shared a sense of frustration at their schools’ priorities and regret at the schools' track records. 2/x
Reposted by Jemma K Stephenson
The Learn4Life charter school network enrolls 20k of CA's most vulnerable teens.
But its stated mission of helping students succeed may be at odds with what teachers suggest it's best at: steering public money to an obscure nonprofit.
I'll explain. 1/x
www.sandiegouniontribune.com/2025/10/05/t...
But its stated mission of helping students succeed may be at odds with what teachers suggest it's best at: steering public money to an obscure nonprofit.
I'll explain. 1/x
www.sandiegouniontribune.com/2025/10/05/t...
‘This isn’t right’: Teachers question priorities, track record of Learn4Life charter schools
The network’s model has drawn criticism of its effectiveness, and some teachers described its schools as more focused on funding than on results.
www.sandiegouniontribune.com
October 13, 2025 at 10:06 PM
The Learn4Life charter school network enrolls 20k of CA's most vulnerable teens.
But its stated mission of helping students succeed may be at odds with what teachers suggest it's best at: steering public money to an obscure nonprofit.
I'll explain. 1/x
www.sandiegouniontribune.com/2025/10/05/t...
But its stated mission of helping students succeed may be at odds with what teachers suggest it's best at: steering public money to an obscure nonprofit.
I'll explain. 1/x
www.sandiegouniontribune.com/2025/10/05/t...
Reposted by Jemma K Stephenson
I'm thrilled to share a profile of Saran Tugsjargal, who has been an advocate on behalf of the 850,000 TK-12 students with disabilities in California.
It has meant a lot for her to stand up for students like her who felt stigmatized.
“My heart was beaming,” she said.
edsource.org/2025/student...
It has meant a lot for her to stand up for students like her who felt stigmatized.
“My heart was beaming,” she said.
edsource.org/2025/student...
How this teen pushed California to change special education policy
Saran Tugsjargal said the advocacy work she did — first for herself, then on behalf of the 850,000 students in California — has turned into what she hopes will be her life mission.
edsource.org
September 26, 2025 at 10:18 PM
I'm thrilled to share a profile of Saran Tugsjargal, who has been an advocate on behalf of the 850,000 TK-12 students with disabilities in California.
It has meant a lot for her to stand up for students like her who felt stigmatized.
“My heart was beaming,” she said.
edsource.org/2025/student...
It has meant a lot for her to stand up for students like her who felt stigmatized.
“My heart was beaming,” she said.
edsource.org/2025/student...
For any Alabama friends who still follow me, Dr. Pendleton was from Gadsden www.sandiegouniontribune.com/2025/09/25/a...
As San Diego schools’ first Black and first female leader, Bertha Pendleton showed ‘willingness to share with everybody’
The Alabama native, who died this week at 92, spent more than 40 years with the San Diego Unified School District before retiring as superintendent in 1998.
www.sandiegouniontribune.com
September 26, 2025 at 3:18 AM
For any Alabama friends who still follow me, Dr. Pendleton was from Gadsden www.sandiegouniontribune.com/2025/09/25/a...
Reposted by Jemma K Stephenson
Undocumented preschoolers can stay in Head Start — for now. @jonapolitano.bsky.social reports
Undocumented Preschoolers Can Stay in Head Start — For Now
Two federal judges issued injunctions blocking the Trump administration from barring undocumented students from the anti-poverty early ed program.
www.the74million.org
September 12, 2025 at 7:32 PM
Undocumented preschoolers can stay in Head Start — for now. @jonapolitano.bsky.social reports
Reposted by Jemma K Stephenson
Head Start has never asked families about their immigration status. The Trump administration wants to change that, but its new rule is now on hold nationwide.
Preliminary injunctions block Trump Head Start rule barring undocumented children
Head Start has never asked families about their immigration status. The Trump administration wants to change that, but its new rule is now on hold nationwide.
bit.ly
September 11, 2025 at 11:45 PM
Head Start has never asked families about their immigration status. The Trump administration wants to change that, but its new rule is now on hold nationwide.
Reposted by Jemma K Stephenson
One shooting victim remains in critical condition at a Lakewood hospital. The other is in critical condition at Children’s Hospital Colorado.
Evergreen shooting victims still hospitalized, resource center opens for victims, witnesses
One shooting victim remains in critical condition at a Lakewood hospital. The other is in critical condition at Children’s Hospital Colorado.
bit.ly
September 11, 2025 at 5:21 PM
One shooting victim remains in critical condition at a Lakewood hospital. The other is in critical condition at Children’s Hospital Colorado.
Reposted by Jemma K Stephenson
I'm planning to follow up on this subject. If you're someone who works with girls in STEM fields, get in touch with me!
My (and @emmagallegos.bsky.social's, and @bettymr.bsky.social's) latest, based on @apnews.com research. Girls' gains in math relative to boys not only went away but the gap is worse than before, and I'm not sure anyone has really noticed how bad it's gotten.
Girls had higher math scores in 62% of California districts in 2018-19, but only 4% in 2023-24.
September 9, 2025 at 11:00 PM
I'm planning to follow up on this subject. If you're someone who works with girls in STEM fields, get in touch with me!
Reposted by Jemma K Stephenson
Across San Diego County, a push to move schools off fossil fuels is met with enthusiasm — and wariness
www.sandiegouniontribune.com/2025/09/02/a...
www.sandiegouniontribune.com/2025/09/02/a...
Across San Diego County, a push to move schools off fossil fuels is met with enthusiasm — and wariness
Larger urban and suburban districts are embracing the mandate, and going beyond it. But small rural districts say electric school buses don’t make sense for them.
www.sandiegouniontribune.com
September 2, 2025 at 8:06 PM
Across San Diego County, a push to move schools off fossil fuels is met with enthusiasm — and wariness
www.sandiegouniontribune.com/2025/09/02/a...
www.sandiegouniontribune.com/2025/09/02/a...
Reposted by Jemma K Stephenson
A safe parking lot for homeless schoolchildren appears to be back on track
www.sandiegouniontribune.com/2025/09/02/a...
www.sandiegouniontribune.com/2025/09/02/a...
A safe parking lot for homeless schoolchildren appears to be back on track
The project at San Diego’s old Central Elementary could open as soon as September.
www.sandiegouniontribune.com
September 2, 2025 at 6:06 PM
A safe parking lot for homeless schoolchildren appears to be back on track
www.sandiegouniontribune.com/2025/09/02/a...
www.sandiegouniontribune.com/2025/09/02/a...
Reposted by Jemma K Stephenson
🚨BREAKING: A federal district court has found that the Alabama state senate map runs afoul of Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act by failing to create an additional Black-majority district in the Montgomery area.
drive.google.com/file/d/1ZVLd...
drive.google.com/file/d/1ZVLd...
August 22, 2025 at 7:28 PM
🚨BREAKING: A federal district court has found that the Alabama state senate map runs afoul of Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act by failing to create an additional Black-majority district in the Montgomery area.
drive.google.com/file/d/1ZVLd...
drive.google.com/file/d/1ZVLd...
Reposted by Jemma K Stephenson
I and others at @calmatters.org are tracking all 39 lawsuits and counting here:
calmatters.org/politics/202...
calmatters.org/politics/202...
Resistance state: Tracking California's lawsuits against the new Trump administration
California under Gov. Gavin Newsom is suing the Trump administration to protect birthright citizenship, stop the mass firing of federal workers and sustain funding for health and science research.
calmatters.org
August 20, 2025 at 3:47 AM
I and others at @calmatters.org are tracking all 39 lawsuits and counting here:
calmatters.org/politics/202...
calmatters.org/politics/202...
Reposted by Jemma K Stephenson
Today is my last day with the @alabamareflector.com. Starting Monday, I will be joining the team at the @georgiarecorder.com.
I'll have more to share about my new role next week. For now, I'm feeling incredibly thankful for my time in Alabama.
I'll have more to share about my new role next week. For now, I'm feeling incredibly thankful for my time in Alabama.
August 15, 2025 at 12:57 PM
Today is my last day with the @alabamareflector.com. Starting Monday, I will be joining the team at the @georgiarecorder.com.
I'll have more to share about my new role next week. For now, I'm feeling incredibly thankful for my time in Alabama.
I'll have more to share about my new role next week. For now, I'm feeling incredibly thankful for my time in Alabama.
wonder how much of the vocab i learned to translate the seafarer and beowulf comes up in medical records
Filling out a medical form and hand to God these options came up for “preferred language.”
August 7, 2025 at 6:49 PM
wonder how much of the vocab i learned to translate the seafarer and beowulf comes up in medical records
Reposted by Jemma K Stephenson
Is your child’s school in a fire danger zone?
📍 Explore our interactive map to see if your local school is in a fire hazard zone: bit.ly/4l8GduT
📍 Explore our interactive map to see if your local school is in a fire hazard zone: bit.ly/4l8GduT
August 5, 2025 at 11:16 PM
Is your child’s school in a fire danger zone?
📍 Explore our interactive map to see if your local school is in a fire hazard zone: bit.ly/4l8GduT
📍 Explore our interactive map to see if your local school is in a fire hazard zone: bit.ly/4l8GduT
Reposted by Jemma K Stephenson
Penny Schwinn founded the Sacramento-based charter Capitol Collegiate Academy and served on the Sacramento County Board of Education.
UPDATE: Penny Schwinn drops bid to take No. 2 spot at U.S. Department of Education
The latest education news updates from EdSource.
edsource.org
August 1, 2025 at 5:03 PM
Penny Schwinn founded the Sacramento-based charter Capitol Collegiate Academy and served on the Sacramento County Board of Education.
Reposted by Jemma K Stephenson
A DACA recipient accidentally drove into Mexico. Now he’s being fast-tracked for deportation.
www.sandiegouniontribune.com/2025/07/29/a...
www.sandiegouniontribune.com/2025/07/29/a...
A DACA recipient accidentally drove into Mexico. Now he’s being fast-tracked for deportation.
Erick Alexander Hernández also alleges an officer at the port of entry demanded a bribe
www.sandiegouniontribune.com
July 29, 2025 at 3:53 PM
A DACA recipient accidentally drove into Mexico. Now he’s being fast-tracked for deportation.
www.sandiegouniontribune.com/2025/07/29/a...
www.sandiegouniontribune.com/2025/07/29/a...
Reposted by Jemma K Stephenson
The ruling is a significant victory for charter advocates, after the district board declared hundreds of schools off limits to charters.
Read more: bit.ly/4o3VKPe
Read more: bit.ly/4o3VKPe
July 25, 2025 at 2:14 AM
The ruling is a significant victory for charter advocates, after the district board declared hundreds of schools off limits to charters.
Read more: bit.ly/4o3VKPe
Read more: bit.ly/4o3VKPe
Reposted by Jemma K Stephenson
Via @alander.bsky.social: A Georgia man accused of running a $140 million Ponzi scheme contributed a total of $132,000 to three elected Alabama GOP officials or their PACs, according to finance records. A PAC run by one of the recipients later made a $29,000 loan to one of the man's businesses.
Georgia man accused of running $140M Ponzi scheme contributed to 3 Alabama officials | Alabama Reflector
The SEC has accused Edwin Brant Frost IV of running a Ponzi scheme in Georgia. Frost and his businesses made $136,000 in contributions to Alabama candidates and PACs.
alabamareflector.com
July 17, 2025 at 12:07 PM
Via @alander.bsky.social: A Georgia man accused of running a $140 million Ponzi scheme contributed a total of $132,000 to three elected Alabama GOP officials or their PACs, according to finance records. A PAC run by one of the recipients later made a $29,000 loan to one of the man's businesses.
Reposted by Jemma K Stephenson
The @washingtonpost.com assigned around 20 staffers to this account of the Texas flood, with one jawdropping anecdote after another
One thing that becomes clear: The extraordinary courage of camp counselors, who evacuated their girls as older adults floundered and stalled
Free link wapo.st/44N1cNI
One thing that becomes clear: The extraordinary courage of camp counselors, who evacuated their girls as older adults floundered and stalled
Free link wapo.st/44N1cNI
Camp Mystic’s leader got a ‘life threatening’ flood alert. They evacuated an hour later.
More than an hour passed between Camp Mystic receiving a severe flood warning and a decision to evacuate young campers asleep in cabins by the Guadalupe River.
wapo.st
July 14, 2025 at 1:23 PM
The @washingtonpost.com assigned around 20 staffers to this account of the Texas flood, with one jawdropping anecdote after another
One thing that becomes clear: The extraordinary courage of camp counselors, who evacuated their girls as older adults floundered and stalled
Free link wapo.st/44N1cNI
One thing that becomes clear: The extraordinary courage of camp counselors, who evacuated their girls as older adults floundered and stalled
Free link wapo.st/44N1cNI