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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
No Speeches In Front Of Big Crowds, These High School Valedictorians Still Have Something To Say
- May 27
- By Joe Hong
The coronavirus pandemic has laid waste to end-of-the-year events for high school seniors. So valedictorians will have to impart their wisdom online.
Sweetwater School District Librarians’ Jobs Are On The Line When Students Need Them Most
- May 20
- By Joe Hong
A spokesman for the Sweetwater Union High School District said the administration is still finalizing any eliminations. The teachers union president says it’s possible to save some librarians.
Community Colleges Getting Less Funding But Likely More Students In Coming Year
- May 19
- By Joe Hong
The revised budget Gov. Gavin Newsom unveiled last week includes $1 billion in funding cuts to the state community college system due to the coronavirus pandemic. Meanwhile, colleges are expecting an influx of newly unemployed students.
With Grim Projections In Revised State Budget, Local School Officials Call For Federal Help
- May 15
- By Joe Hong
Gov. Gavin Newsom’s revised budget projects nearly $19 billion in cuts to education funding. San Diego Unified leaders say their plan for reopening hinges on more federal stimulus money.
SDSU Students Deflated By News Of An Online-Only Fall Semester
- May 14
- By Joe Hong
Fearing a second wave of the pandemic, the CSU system made the announcement Tuesday to keep nearly all classes virtual in the fall.
San Diego’s High School Seniors Consider Alternative Ways To Celebrate Graduations And Proms
- May 13
- By Joe Hong
Student leaders on Tuesday proposed postponing the ceremonies to July and August.
Even With Mass Coronavirus Testing, UC San Diego Officials Are Cautious About Fall Opening
- May 7
- By Joe Hong
The university this week claimed to be the first in the nation to announce a plan to test all students, teachers and staff. But the expert in charge of the program emphasized that a return to normal campus life is still a long ways off.
College-Bound Students Jumped For Joy When They Got In. Now They’re Weighing Grim Options
- May 1
- By Joe Hong
With the pandemic making online learning a distinct possibility for colleges and universities this fall, some students might defer admission to their dream schools.
As State Mulls Early Start To New School Year, Local Districts Struggle To Balance Budgets
- April 30
- By Joe Hong
Gov. Gavin Newsom said the new school year might have to start as early as July because of the pandemic. Meanwhile, San Diego Unified is facing immediate budget cuts.
As Formal Distance Learning Begins, One San Diego Unified Student Finds His Rhythm
- April 29
- By Joe Hong
A Serra High student, who is on the autism spectrum, said the transition was tricky at first but now he's getting the hang of it. The change was not as easy for other special needs students.
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.
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AMERICAN EXPERIENCE: Woodstock: Three Days That Defined A Generation
Airs Saturday, May 30, 2020 at Noon & 9 p.m., Sunday, May 31 at 2:30 p.m. & 11 p.m. on KPBS TV + PBS Video App
