Belief Statement

EdSource believes that access to a quality education is an important right of all children. We further believe that an informed, involved public is necessary to strengthen California’s schools for the benefit of the state’s children as well as civic life in California and its economy. 

Goals

EdSource works to engage Californians on key education challenges with the goal of enhancing learning success. It does so in three ways: providing timely, useful information to policymakers; advancing awareness among the larger public on complex education issues; and highlighting effective models and strategies intended to improve student outcomes. 

EdSource History

Over a period of three decades, EdSource has developed a stellar reputation as a highly respected source of education information, research and analysis. 

EdSource was established in 1977 by the California State Parent Teacher Association, the League of Women Voters of California, and the American Association of University Women.  Initially called the California Coalition for Fair School Finance, its purpose was to explain the impact of the Serrano v. Priest court decision intended to eliminate discrepancies in school funding based on property wealth.  

EdSource has broadened its focus to include a broad range of education reform topics, including charter schools, school accountability, STEM education, teacher evaluations and obstacles students face in the math pipeline from pre-kindergarten to college. It also added community colleges to its portfolio of issues. It has widened its audience to include policymakers, researchers, K–12 and college educators, journalists, parents and community leaders.  In 2011, it added a journalism arm, EdSource Extra.

The expertise of EdSource’s staff of researchers, writers, and communication and outreach specialists is strengthened by a top-notch, diverse, statewide board of directors. 

Our Program

In addition to this website, EdSource’s offers the following programs and services:

• A wide range of publications, including comprehensive reports on California’s most important public education policy issues and a variety of shorter briefs and guides related to K-14 education. 
• Timely shorter reports tied to decisionmaking in Sacramento through its EdSource Today feature. 
• An annual convening on California education policy open to the public and held each spring in Northern or Southern California.   
• The Education Data Partnership web site, which offers data on schools, districts and state level issues in a user-friendly form.
• Periodic presentations at statewide or national meetings, including serving as an impartial convener of advisory or policy groups.