The California Office of Emergency Services has a number of tools available to help local educational agencies and schools keep staff and students safe should an earthquake occur. Earthquake Warning California is the first statewide warning system available in the nation that can give residents […]
Year: 2021
New report considers California’s homework gap
More than 1.6 million children across California did not have high-speed internet access at home prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a new report. “Closing the Homework Gap in California” — released in June by the Alliance for Excellent Education, the Small School Districts’ […]
CSBA statement on masking and independent study
California’s school districts and county offices of education are eager to welcome students back to the classroom and support efforts to return students to in-person instruction safely. CSBA recognizes that the state’s attempt to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 includes a multi-layered approach requiring that masks […]
Federal judge blocks new DACA applicants
On July 16, 2021, a federal district court judge in Texas ruled against the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, finding that President Obama exceeded his authority when he created the program by executive action in 2012. The decision creates uncertainty for undocumented students […]
FAQs: Critical race theory
Once an obscure academic concept, the term critical race theory (CRT) has become a regular fixture in mainstream media and social media as well as local school board meetings. Many California school board trustees have asked CSBA for information on critical race theory to help […]
FAQs: Ethnic studies
Responding to requests from school board members statewide, CSBA has produced a pair of FAQs on two pressing topics: critical race theory and ethnic studies. As interest in ethnic studies and critical race theory builds, it is increasingly important for school trustees to have a […]
State Board Report: SBE approves state plan for remaining ARP funds
State Board of Education President Linda Darling-Hammond opened the board’s July 14 meeting by outlining historic state and federal spending to support expanded early learning, fortify the state’s teacher pipeline, address overall student well-being and academics, improve special education, implement full-service community schools and more […]
Suicide prevention: Stakeholder engagement, strategies and best practices
In addition to planning for learning recovery as students return to in-person instruction, it is important to address the emotional toll that the pandemic has had on students. Boards can support strategies for emotional recovery and ensure that board policy on suicide prevention is current, […]
Independent study provisions for the 2021–22 school year
On July 9, 2021, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed the Education Budget Trailer bill, Assembly Bill 130, which contains several revisions to the Education Code provisions regarding independent study. Because it is a trailer bill, AB 130 became effective immediately. CSBA will issue an update to […]
New poll shows support for schools, with partisan divisions
Policy Analysis for California Education and the USC Rossier School of Education released their ninth annual poll on education on July 8. Findings show record-high support for schools and teachers after more than a year of learning during a pandemic, and that Californians are concerned […]