In a major victory for public schools and the millions of students they serve, the United States Department of Agriculture on Oct. 9 announced that it is extending flexibilities to allow free meals to continue to be available to all children throughout the entire 2020–21 […]
Month: October 2020
Updated CDC guidance provides testing protocol recommendations for schools, including shift in broad testing strategies
With COVID-19 tests becoming more widely available, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released updated guidance Oct. 13 on what K-12 school administrators and public health officials should consider when testing students or staff. “Interim Considerations for Testing for K-12 School Administrators and Public […]
National study finds text messages to parents can reduce chronic absence
Targeted text messages sent to parents reduces chronic absence in elementary school, particularly for students with a history of missing class, according to a first-of-its-kind study from the National Center for Education Evaluation at the Institute of Education Sciences. Researchers also found that most parents […]
Incoming California State University chancellor Joseph Castro on the value of higher education, ethnic studies and equity
Hispanic Heritage Month is recognized nationwide from Sept. 15–Oct. 15 as a time to honor the cultures and contributions of Hispanic and Latino Americans. Gov. Gavin Newsom, in a proclamation issued on Sept. 15, 2020, recognized Latino Heritage Month to honor and recognize the contributions […]
CDE updates arts education guidance for 2020–21
The California Department of Education recently updated its Arts Education Guidance for the 2020–21 school year to supplement California Department of Public Health regulations with details around how to safely provide arts education when schools reopen. The document provides suggestions that may assist arts programs in […]
Report dives deep into California’s special education funding system
A new report from WestEd finds that while more than half of California’s special education students spend 80 percent or more of the school day in a general education classroom, a more inclusive funding system is needed to promote these inclusive practices. The publication, California […]
Report examines how well schools served English learners during spring closures
Californians Together released a report in September examining the quality of instruction provided to English learners in the state’s schools during the spring when schools were suddenly shuttered due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The organization reviewed 79 school districts’ COVID-19 Operation Written Reports to help […]
Guest view: Getting back to school, safely
By Emma Tudor Getting students back on campus is a priority for all schools this fall. Not only for high-need students who require extra support for their well-being, but for all students who are missing that crucial in-person interaction with their peers and teachers. While […]
Whittier elementary school uplifts Latino students, raises college-going expectations
Hispanic Heritage Month is recognized nationwide from Sept. 15–Oct. 15 as a time to honor the cultures and contributions of Hispanic and Latino Americans. Gov. Gavin Newsom, in a proclamation issued on Sept. 15, 2020, recognized Latino Heritage Month to honor and recognize the contributions […]
Nationally representative survey finds low teacher morale, concerns about student progress and increasing support for in-person instruction
As the 2020–21 school year begins, a new survey from EdWeek Research Center found that both teacher morale and school enrollment are hitting new lows, while concerns about student academic progress is high. The nationally representative survey, conducted online from Aug. 26–28, was taken by […]