44:I[58016,["/_next/static/chunks/0e29vbidvogc6.js","/_next/static/chunks/09md0.811p4qk.js","/_next/static/chunks/0jjo8hz~ewue4.js","/_next/static/chunks/084k0pvimg.lq.js","/_next/static/chunks/0a~e7k..h6jfc.js","/_next/static/chunks/0d1e9m2ig9v3v.js","/_next/static/chunks/0dzini03ngxm2.js","/_next/static/chunks/0rizq9ux3s1w3.js","/_next/static/chunks/139o5utivfajl.js","/_next/static/chunks/0i-f~c821e7uk.js","/_next/static/chunks/0z7avafhgjcyr.js"],"ProcessEpisodeButton"] 46:I[185,["/_next/static/chunks/0e29vbidvogc6.js","/_next/static/chunks/09md0.811p4qk.js","/_next/static/chunks/0jjo8hz~ewue4.js","/_next/static/chunks/084k0pvimg.lq.js","/_next/static/chunks/0a~e7k..h6jfc.js","/_next/static/chunks/0d1e9m2ig9v3v.js","/_next/static/chunks/0dzini03ngxm2.js","/_next/static/chunks/0rizq9ux3s1w3.js","/_next/static/chunks/139o5utivfajl.js","/_next/static/chunks/0i-f~c821e7uk.js","/_next/static/chunks/0z7avafhgjcyr.js"],"SendEmailButton"] 47:I[45269,["/_next/static/chunks/0e29vbidvogc6.js","/_next/static/chunks/09md0.811p4qk.js","/_next/static/chunks/0jjo8hz~ewue4.js","/_next/static/chunks/084k0pvimg.lq.js","/_next/static/chunks/0a~e7k..h6jfc.js","/_next/static/chunks/0d1e9m2ig9v3v.js","/_next/static/chunks/0dzini03ngxm2.js","/_next/static/chunks/0rizq9ux3s1w3.js","/_next/static/chunks/139o5utivfajl.js","/_next/static/chunks/0i-f~c821e7uk.js","/_next/static/chunks/0z7avafhgjcyr.js"],"SignupCTA"] 49:I[56939,["/_next/static/chunks/0e29vbidvogc6.js","/_next/static/chunks/09md0.811p4qk.js","/_next/static/chunks/0jjo8hz~ewue4.js","/_next/static/chunks/084k0pvimg.lq.js","/_next/static/chunks/0a~e7k..h6jfc.js","/_next/static/chunks/0d1e9m2ig9v3v.js","/_next/static/chunks/0dzini03ngxm2.js","/_next/static/chunks/0rizq9ux3s1w3.js","/_next/static/chunks/139o5utivfajl.js","/_next/static/chunks/0i-f~c821e7uk.js","/_next/static/chunks/0z7avafhgjcyr.js"],"EpisodeTranscript"] 3c:["$","svg",null,{"className":"w-4 h-4","fill":"none","stroke":"currentColor","viewBox":"0 0 24 24","children":["$","path",null,{"strokeLinecap":"round","strokeLinejoin":"round","strokeWidth":2,"d":"M8 7V3m8 4V3m-9 8h10M5 21h14a2 2 0 002-2V7a2 2 0 00-2-2H5a2 2 0 00-2 2v12a2 2 0 002 2z"}]}] 3d:["$","time",null,{"dateTime":"2026-03-31T19:09:00.000Z","children":"Tue Mar 31 2026"}] 3e:["$","p",null,{"className":"text-base text-foreground/80 leading-relaxed","children":"We examine what’s driving these challenges, what it’ll take to stabilize the system, and what this all means for Bay Area communities."}] 45:T516,

Education funding for California’s public schools is one of the largest parts of the state budget. Yet districts across the state, and here in the Bay Area, are struggling to stay afloat. Santa Rosa’s school district is considering laying off hundreds of teachers and closing a quarter of its campuses in response to a severe financial crisis and Oakland schools, just a year after emerging from more than 20 years under state receivership, are also facing possible financial insolvency. Declining enrollment, resistance to school closures, and pressure to raise staff salaries are just a few of the many factors contributing to the strain. We’ll examine what’s driving these challenges, what it’ll take to stabilize the system, and what this all means for Bay Area communities.

Guests:

Katie DeBenedetti, reporter, KQED

Iwunze Ugo, research fellow, Public Policy Institute of California; focuses on education from preschool through grade 12 and further on into postsecondary institutions

Adriana Gutierrez, education and child welfare reporter, The Press Democrat

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Campus Closures and Teacher Layoffs: Bay Area Public Schools In Crisis