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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
Applying For College: Another Ritual Upended By Pandemic
- Dec. 4
- By Joe Hong
Students say there's even more uncertainty in the already stressful process. And with in-person tours and campus visits cancelled, university officials must rely on virtual experiences to recruit students.
San Diego Unified Delays In-Person Learning Due To COVID-19 Surge
- Dec. 2
- By Joe Hong
Planned campus reopenings are on indefinite hold, but the district will continue offering in-person instruction to a small group of struggling students.
Virus Keeps Black Friday Crowds Thin, Shoppers Shift Online
- Nov. 27
- By Joe Hong and Anne D'Innocenzio, Josehp Pisani and Alexandra Olson / Associated Press
After months of slumping sales and businesses toppling into bankruptcy, Black Friday is offering a small beacon of hope. But a spike in coronavirus cases is threatening the economy’s recovery from the sudden plunge in the spring.
For Teachers, Taking A Day Off During Distance Learning Comes With Big Challenges
- Nov. 25
- By Joe Hong
Right now, as the pandemic rages, districts are barely meeting the need for substitute teachers. The shortage could get worse if more schools open for in-person instruction.
San Diego Unified Distributes Extra Meals To Students Ahead Of Holiday
- Nov. 24
- By Joe Hong
Since the start of the pandemic, the district has distributed more than 8 million meals to needy students.
San Diego Private, Public Schools Have Differing Rules On In-Person Teaching
- Nov. 17
- By Joe Hong
Students described the policy requiring teachers with immunocompromised family members to teach in-person as “immoral,” but experts say it’s technically legal.
After Sitting Idle For Months, School Buses Are Slowly Getting Back On The Road
- Nov. 11
- By Joe Hong
In Poway Unified, the transportation department has taken cleanliness to a new level as it promises students safe rides to and from school.
Local Education Funding Hangs In The Balance As State And National Vote Counts Continue
- Nov. 5
- By Joe Hong
The outcome for California’s Proposition 15 and U.S. Senate races could determine whether San Diego schools can fully reopen amid the pandemic and avoid a budget deficit next year.
Six Candidates Face Off To Fill Three Seats On San Diego Unified School Board
- Nov. 3
- By Joe Hong
The candidates have different priorities and ideas for navigating the district through the pandemic and the reckoning in racial justice.
Mara Elliott Defeats Cory Briggs For San Diego City Attorney
- Nov. 3
- By Joe Hong
City Attorney Mara Elliott says she has the bipartisan support to serve the city in this time of crisis.
Stories featuring work by Joe Hong
Santa Ana Winds, Warmer Temperatures Expected In San Diego County
- Jan. 6
- 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
- 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
The Old Globe Production Of 'Dr. Seuss’s How The Grinch Stole Christmas! On The Radio'
Multiple dates from Nov 26 - Dec 24, 2020
ABBA Forever – A Celebration
Stream now or tune in Saturday, Dec.5, 2020 at 9 p.m. on KPBS TV + Sunday, Dec. 6 at 6:30 p.m. on KPBS 2
