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Joe Hong
Education Reporter
Joe Hong has spent the past two years covering education for national and local publications. Most recently, 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.
Recent Stories by Joe Hong
Experts Say Arts Education Should Be Emphasized As Students Return To Classrooms
- May 14
- By Joe Hong
Although learning loss is a concern, parents and teachers shouldn’t hyper-focus on it given the anxiety many students have about going back to in-person school.
San Diego Unified Outlines Efforts To Diversify Its Teacher And Administrator Ranks
- May 12
- By Joe Hong
The district hopes to close a yawning gap between the number of students who identify as people of color and the number of teachers who do the same.
Questions Raised Over Proposed Increase In San Diego Police Budget
- May 7
- By Joe Hong
Some councilmembers and residents say money should be diverted from police to fund community health initiatives. Others point to increased violent crime as justification for a higher budget.
San Diego County Sees Big Drop In English Learner Enrollment
- April 30
- By Joe Hong
Educators attribute the decline, which is also happening statewide, to economic factors and challenges in communication during the pandemic.
San Diego County Public Schools Saw Big Enrollment Drops Due To Pandemic
- April 23
- By Joe Hong
Countywide enrollment dropped by 17,000, according to state data. Local officials attribute the decline to parents who sought alternatives to distancing learning.
San Diego Unified Searching For Solutions To Handle Increased Demand For In-Person Learning
- April 22
- By Joe Hong
In some schools, students are being put in overflow rooms because class sizes are limited due to distancing requirements agreed upon by the district and teachers union.
UC San Diego Planning Full Fall Reopening With Hopes Of Required Vaccinations
- April 20
- By Joe Hong
The University of California Regents have yet to decide on whether to require vaccinations of returning students and staff on UC campuses in the fall. UC San Diego Chancellor Pradeep Khosla hopes the answer is yes.
Cathedral Catholic High Officials Apologize For Racist Images Targeting Lincoln High
- April 15
- By Joe Hong
The images were circulated by members of the Cathedral Catholic football team.
First Day Back At School A ‘Little Weird’ For Many San Diego Unified Students
- April 12
- By Joe Hong
About half of the district’s approximately 100,000 students returned to campuses Monday for part-time, in-person learning.
San Diego School Officials Say Few COVID-19 Cases Coming From Sports
- April 9
- By Joe Hong
Both San Diego Unified and Poway Unified School Districts have seen a small number of COVID-19 cases among student athletes, but one expert warns against complacency.
Stories featuring work by Joe Hong
Santa Ana Winds, Warmer Temperatures Expected In San Diego County
- Jan. 6, 2020
- By City News Service
Gusty winds are expected in San Diego County Monday and could prove hazardous for high-profile vehicles traveling through mountains passes, according to the National Weather Service.
County Requires Face Covers By May 1, Concerns Rise About Mexico and COVID-19
- April 24, 2020
- By City News Service
The first order will allow ocean access from city beaches for the above-mentioned activities. Piers, boardwalks and parking lots are still closed to the public, and the order does not include boat ramps or watercraft. It also does not apply to state parks and beaches. It also leaves the decision of beach closures to the cities.
Latest on kpbs.org
GI Film Festival San Diego 2021: 'Sky Blossom: Diaries Of The Next Greatest Generation'
Wednesday, May 19, 2021 at 5 p.m.
AMERICAN EXPERIENCE: Billy Graham
Stream or tune in Monday, May 17, 2021 at 9 p.m. on KPBS TV + Sunday, May 23 at 9 p.m. on KPBS 2
