Two recent projects to improve academic skills indicate that learning can be improved with sustained effort that uses proven techniques and shuns trendy short-term fixes that school systems often adopt in their desperate efforts to raise test scores.

Declining enrollment, the end of pandemic relief grants and state budget uncertainty have combined to put hundreds of California school districts in precarious financial straits. For some districts, closing schools may be the only way to avoid the state seizing control of operations.

California is in the midst of a decade-long and ever-present teacher shortage crisis. Since 2016, the state has invested $1.2 billion to address the issue, and while this infusion of resources seemed to help make a difference initially, there has been a 33% decline in teachers — over 5,300 total — since the 2020-21 school year.

Many brightly colored kids’ snacks and beverages will disappear from California schools under a new law Gov. Gavin Newsom signed on Sunday that bans certain artificial food dyes from K-12 campuses.

At Bullard High School in Fresno, it’s easy to see the benefits of banning students’ cellphones. Bullying is down and socialization is up, principal Armen Torigian said. Enforcing the smartphone restrictions? That’s been harder.

Counties with large areas of public land get federal funding that many rural schools rely on. The most recent round of payments in May will be the last unless Congress votes to extend the program.

Students would learn about paying for college, online banking, taxes, budgeting, credit, retirement accounts, loans, how the stock market works and other topics.

Steers, sheep, horses, pigs, rabbits, chickens, a sweet-smelling tangerine grove and acres of rotating crops are part of Madera South’s agriculture pathway for students—one of thousands of career-focused courses in California high schools that are part of a renaissance in career and technical education.