Children Now
Coverage of Children Now in the Nexus archive.
- Decision Time Has Come for Newsom’s Proposal To Shift Control of CA Department of Education
Governor Gavin Newsom's proposal to transfer control of the California Department of Education from the elected state superintendent to a new appointed education commissioner faces debate. Supporters, including Children Now and Assembly Bill 2117 co-author David Alvarez, argue for governance realignment, while opponents like the California Teachers Association criticize the move as undemocratic. A Stanford-affiliated report previously recommended similar reforms to improve education system management.
- These teens have the weight of the world on their shoulders. Mental health is taking a nosedive
A California teen highlights the mental health struggles of youth, citing stress, anxiety, and systemic barriers to accessing care. Advocates and families push for expanded mental health resources, including Senate Bill 363, to address treatment denials and improve accessibility for minors.
- More kids than ever are attending state-funded preschool, with California’s surge leading the way
State-funded preschool enrollment in the U.S. reached a record 1.8 million children in 2025-2026, driven by California's expansion of universal preschool access. California added 25,000 students to its transitional kindergarten (TK) program but met only two of ten quality benchmarks, highlighting challenges in scaling early education programs.