CTC makes headway on early childhood education initiatives

In its first meeting of the year, the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing on Feb. 10–11 took on a packed agenda that contained updates on work relating to early childhood education, rich discussions about the use of Teacher Performance Assessments (TPAs), and early steps in creating […]

California provides timeline for re-evaluating the school masking mandate

In a wide-ranging press briefing that glanced back at the historical trends of the pandemic and looked ahead to the future of California’s fight against COVID-19, the California Department of Public Health unveiled a timeline for potentially changing the state’s school masking requirement. California Health […]

It’s all about the base: CSBA urges Legislature and Governor to increase the LCFF base

Budget hearings continue in the Legislature as the 2022 budget cycle moves forward. For schools, a recommitment to the Local Control Funding Formula) through an increase in LCFF base funding beyond the statutorily required cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) is paramount and will continue to be a […]

Thurmond shows support for SB 830 and enrollment-based funding for LEAs

“The time has come to make a change,” State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond said during a Feb. 10 press conference in support of Senate Bill 830. The bill, authored by Senator Anthony Portantino (D-La Cañada Flintridge), would move California’s education funding base away […]

Building a pipeline of Black school counselors

This Black History Month, CSBA spotlights programs helping to close opportunity and achievement gaps. This week (Feb. 7–11) also marks National School Counseling Week. Recognizing the benefits of a diverse teacher workforce, local educational agencies throughout the state have developed career pathways and partnerships with […]

California school board members don’t have surety bonds: a new CPRA request explained

Multiple school districts and county offices of education have recently received California Public Records Act or Freedom of Information Act requests for copies of board members’ “surety bonds.” The request may claim that all public officials, including elected board members, are required to obtain a […]

CCEE discusses transformative systems center and its initiatives

The California Collaborative for Educational Excellence convened on Feb. 3 to delve into the agency’s new structure with a spotlight on transformative systems. CCEE’s new organizational structures were highlighted by Executive Director Matt Navo, who was appointed to the position in summer 2021. While Navo […]

School Facilities Program audit finds underfunding and inequity

To help ensure that the state’s approximately 10,500 schools have safe facilities in which to learn, California provides funding to school districts for facility construction, modernization and alteration through the School Facilities Program. The California State Auditor on Jan. 27 released an audit of the […]

Federal office finds high-need schools require more disaster recovery support

School districts that serve more students of color, economically disadvantaged youth and other vulnerable groups are more likely to have relied on emergency aid to recover from natural disasters like floods, fires and storms, according to new research from the federal Government Accountability Office. Of […]

Turn on the tap! School drinking water access in COVID and beyond

By Wasan Kumar, Anisha Patel, and Christina Hecht Should drinking fountains be turned off because of the COVID-19 pandemic? Public health experts say, “no.” Despite perceived concerns by some, the virus causing COVID-19 has not been found to transmit through drinking water. Moreover, the risk […]