Joe Hong
Education ReporterJoe Hong covered education stories across KPBS platforms. Prior to joining the KPBS newsroom, he covered three school districts for The Desert Sun in Palm Springs. He has written about school finance, negligence in special education, and school board misconduct. Previously, he covered equity issues and historically black colleges and universities for Diverse: Issues in Higher Education magazine based in Fairfax, Virginia. Before a career in journalism, he was pursuing a doctorate in comparative literature at Rutgers University. He pivoted to journalism in 2016 and earned a master's degree from Columbia Journalism School in 2017, specializing in investigative reporting. In September 2019, he completed The Data Institute, a two-week workshop for journalists of color taught by ProPublica in collaboration with the Ida B. Wells Society.
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KPBS Midday EditionBlack and Latinx students as well as English learners and students with disabilities were more likely to be chronically absent or receive a failing grade during the 2020-21 school year. -
Librarians hope this year’s program can boost reading skills, especially in those students who have fallen behind this year. -
Protesters spoke out against a nearly $19 million increase to the police department’s budget, saying the money should go to homelessness services, better parks and supports for youth. -
The California Legislature is unlikely to require vaccines and state officials have yet to say whether masking and physical distancing rules will remain in place. -
The initiative would divert youth arrested for misdemeanors and nonviolent felonies away from the criminal justice system and into counseling and mentorship programs. -
Following a statewide trend, San Diego City College’s enrollment declined by about 15% this year.
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KPBS Midday EditionThree San Diego Unified educators will be honored Tuesday as the school district's 2021 Teachers of the Year following a school year filled with unprecedented challenges. -
KPBS Midday EditionProtesters gathered outside the San Diego Police Department headquarters Wednesday night after video surfaced that appears to show an officer pointing his gun at a young boy during a traffic stop in Hillcrest this week. -
KPBS Midday EditionCalifornia’s public schools could get $6.6 billion from the state Legislature if they return to in-person instruction by the end of March, according to a new agreement announced Monday between Gov. Gavin Newsom and the state’s legislative leaders.
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