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Megan Burks
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Megan Burks is the education reporter at KPBS. She reports on teaching and learning from infancy into adulthood, the achievement gap, and school governance.
Before tackling the education beat, Megan helped launch Speak City Heights, a media collaborative covering community health in the City Heights neighborhood of San Diego. As Speak City Heights reporter for KPBS and Voice of San Diego, Megan's work pushed reform in the San Diego Police Department and taxi industry. She was awarded the San Diego County Taxpayers Association's 2015 Media Watchdog Award for her look at dangerous housing conditions for low-income tenants. Megan has also been recognized by the San Diego Human Relations Commission and Society of Professional Journalists San Diego Pro Chapter for bringing underrepresented voices to radio and television.
Megan was born and raised in El Cajon, and graduated from San Diego State University, where she studied journalism and sociology. Her thesis looked at the media’s effects on attitudes toward immigrants. She interned with San Diego CityBeat and KPBS’ Envision San Diego.
Recent Stories by Megan Burks

San Diego Unified Holds Off On Plan That Would Increase Special Education Caseloads
- Feb. 4, 2019
- By Megan Burks
The district plans to give some teachers new job classifications that would boost their caseload from 20 to 24 students. But teachers say they’re already maxed out.

San Diego Workforce Partnership Developing Student Loan Alternative To Boost Job Training
- Jan. 25, 2019
- By Megan Burks
The region's workforce development board plans to launch an income share program to help San Diegans finance job training in technology fields.

Report Gives San Diego Preschools Bronze Medal For Quality
- Jan. 23, 2019
- By Megan Burks
The report looked at the quality of preschool offerings in the nation’s 40 largest cities, and dings San Diego for its class sizes.

Second In Charge Of State Schools Was Born In Tijuana, Educated In Poway
- Jan. 15, 2019
- By Megan Burks
Lupita Cortez Alcalá is also the first Latina to serve as the state’s chief deputy superintendent.

Governor’s Budget A Boon For Early Education, But Help Is Already Coming To San Diego Parents
- Jan. 11, 2019
- By Megan Burks
A pilot program run out of the San Diego County Office of Education aims to increase the number of parents who utilize state preschool subsidies.

San Diego Schools Get Boost In Federal Funds For Disadvantaged Kids
- Jan. 9, 2019
- By Megan Burks
The San Diego Unified School Board has voted to give principals and parents more control over federal dollars traditionally spent by the central office.

Gov. Newsom Wants Free Community College; San Diego Colleges Want To Make It Truly Free
- Jan. 9, 2019
- By Megan Burks
Gov. Gavin Newsom is expected to include free community college tuition in his budget proposal Thursday. Local community colleges say they'll work to cover remaining costs such as textbooks if his plan passes.

Looking Through The Lens At Life After 55: Baby Boomers Not Done Learning
- Jan. 4, 2019
- By Megan Burks
A class offered by the Museum of Photographic Arts helps adults find fresh perspectives in their later years.

County Superintendent Appointee Can Now Override Sweetwater Board Decisions
- Dec. 21, 2018
- By Megan Burks
A fiscal monitor can now override Sweetwater Union High School District School Board decisions he believes will further damage the district’s financial health.

County Office Of Ed Strengthening Budget Oversight After Scathing Sweetwater Report
- Dec. 20, 2018
- By Megan Burks
A report this week showed the Sweetwater Union High School District careening toward insolvency, and alleges possible fraud.