Back to School: Education Policy, Rim Fire Restoration, Remembering Robin Williams

Back to School: Education Policy
It's not just kids who are getting ready to hit the books. California schools will be put to the test this year as well, with two major policy changes. First, California's new funding formula, devised by Gov. Jerry Brown puts local districts in control of how they spend education funding and provides more money for low income students and English learners. Also, the national Common Core curriculum takes full effect this school year, changing how students are taught and tested.

Guests:
• Michael Kirst, California State School Board President
• Jill Tucker, San Francisco Chronicle Education Reporter

Rim Fire Restoration
It's been a year since the rim fire scorched 400 square miles in Yosemite and surrounding areas. It was the largest fire to ever burn in the Sierra Nevada. This week, a hunter pleaded not guilty to charges that he started it with an illegal campfire. KQED Science Reporter Lauren Sommer recently visited the area to see first-hand. KQED Newsroom's Thuy Vu sat down with her to discuss the lingering impact and current restoration efforts.

Guests:
• Lauren Sommer, KQED Science Reporter

Further Reporting:
Yosemite Opens Areas Closed After Last Summer's Huge Rim Fire
Drought Could Hamper Forest Recovery After Rim Fire

Remembering Robin Williams: Interview with Frank Zamacona
As the world struggles to come to grips with the death of Robin Williams, here in the Bay Area we mourn the loss of one of our own. Williams helped to establish and support San Francisco as a comedy capitol in the 1980's with a thriving club scene that included the Holy City Zoo, The Other Café and The Punch Line. During the 1980s and 90s, KQED produced 10 seasons of a popular comedy series called "Comedy Tonight." It featured performances by up and comers Dana Carvey, Whoopi Goldberg, Ellen Degeneres and others. KQED Newsroom's Scott Shafer sat down with former "Comedy Tonight" Producer Frank Zamacona to reminisce about Robin Williams and that golden era of comedy in the city.

Further Reporting:
Robin Williams Suffered From Parkinson's Disease, Wife Says