California schools are receiving a historic increase in special education funding, bringing new resources and support to students with disabilities, teachers, paraprofessionals, and school districts across the state.

In this edition of Education Matters, see how an additional $2.4 billion in California’s state budget for special education could help schools address decades of underfunding while meeting the growing needs of students who require specialized services.

Golden Charter Academy is celebrating the opening of its new state-of-the-art school campus across the street from the Fresno Chaffee Zoo, bringing a longtime vision for environmental education to life.

In this edition of Education Matters, take a look inside the new home of Golden Charter Academy, the nation's first TK-8 environmental steward zoo school. Founded by CEO Robert Golden, the Fresno charter school combines academics with hands-on environmental learning, giving students unique opportunities to connect classroom lessons with the world around them.

Cellphones are a major part of students’ everyday lives, but what happens when they are removed from the classroom?

At Fresno County’s Career Technical Education Charter High School (CTEC), students are required to silence and store their cellphones during class as part of a phone-free classroom policy that has been in place for more than a year. The goal is simple: reduce cellphone distractions, improve student focus, and encourage more face-to-face interaction in the classroom.