Author Archives: Carolyn Jones, CalMatters

Carolyn Jones covers K-12 education at CalMatters. A longtime news reporter, she’s covered education for nearly a decade, focusing on everything from special education to state funding policies to inequities in student achievement. She’s won numerous awards from the California Newspaper Publishers Association, and was a finalist in 2020 for beat reporter of the year (small newsroom) by the Education Writers Association. In 2023, she spent five weeks in Albania as a Fulbright Specialist working on media literacy and promoting a free press. At CalMatters, she’s written about how culture wars play out in schools, the challenges facing Native American students, lack of funds for rural school repair, the revolution in school meals and other topics. She always tries to include student voices in stories, linking broader policy issues to their impacts on young people, their families and communities. Previously, she worked at EdSource, the San Francisco Chronicle and the Oakland Tribune, covering government, breaking news, the environment and other beats. Jones attended public schools in California, where she got her start in journalism at the San Rafael High Red & White, and graduated from UC Berkeley with a degree in English. A longtime Oakland resident, she has two children and a Siberian husky.

Native News

‘Feels like erasure’: Why Native American students may be undercounted by 90% in California schools

by Carolyn Jones, CalMatters May 25, 2026May 25, 2026

Native American students who also identify as another race, such as Black, white or Asian, are counted as “two or more races,” not Native American.

Education

Ban cell phones in all K-12 schools? Not so fast, say school officials

by Carolyn Jones, CalMatters May 17, 2026May 17, 2026

Studies have shown that cell phone use is a serious distraction for students that affects their mental health, social-emotional development and ability to concentrate in class.

Education

California teachers ‘tread lightly’ for America’s 250th as they navigate competing narratives

by Carolyn Jones, CalMatters March 17, 2026March 17, 2026

California is strengthening civics education as America marks its 250th birthday. Teachers have to navigate a polarized political environment as they guide lessons on the Constitution.

Education

California schools face a new budget hit: Soaring insurance costs after sex abuse lawsuits

by Carolyn Jones, CalMatters February 23, 2026February 23, 2026

A recent state law lifted the statute of limitations on sex abuse lawsuits, driving a huge increase in payouts by school districts and government agencies. It has also increased insurance premiums for all agencies.