States and K-12 and university systems must work together to bolster preparation efforts to address the teacher shortage, officials said during an April 7 webinar hosted by the U.S. Department of Education (Education Department), which emphasized ways in which federal funding can be leveraged to […]
Month: April 2022
California pauses COVID-19 student vaccine mandate
Following news on April 14 that a bill requiring student vaccinations against COVID-19 has been shelved, the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) announced that evening that it will postpone the regulatory process used to require COVID vaccinations for public and private school attendance. The […]
Experts say lack of screenings during pandemic left children with undiagnosed disabilities
With schools throughout the country back to in-person learning, the lack of screening to diagnose and provide supports for students with disabilities has become acutely apparent, according to an April 5 panel discussion hosted by Easterseals, a nonprofit that advocates for equity, inclusion and access […]
School connectedness can lessen student depression, support student well-being
Recently released survey data of the nation’s high school students found that teens’ mental health continued a decline that began before the pandemic, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The survey was administered from January through June 2021. More than one-third, or […]
School staff report wanting to leave profession, citing violence from students and parents
Nearly half of teachers and a third of administrators said they are planning or want to quit or transfer jobs due to concerns about school climate and safety, according to a recent report from the American Psychological Association’s task force on violence against educators and […]
New teacher credentials increase for the 10th year; ECE Specialist Credential prep moves forward
In its first in-person meeting since March 2020, the Commission on Teacher Credentialing approved sending to Gov. Gavin Newsom and the Legislature the report, “Teacher Supply in California, 2020–21,” and conducted a review of four key foundational components for establishing a PK-3 Early Childhood Education […]
CSBA examines UTK implementation considerations, insights in new policy brief and webinar
With local educational agencies preparing to create or expand transitional kindergarten offerings in the coming years, CSBA has developed a variety of resources to support these efforts. A new research and policy brief, “Advancing Universal Transitional Kindergarten — Questions for School Board Members,” a corresponding […]
School facilities funding distribution is inequitable despite significant need
California’s K–12 school facilities require significant new and ongoing investments, but current funding streams are neither consistent nor equitable in ensuring all students have access to safe and effective learning environments, according to a new report from the Public Policy Institute of California. The report […]
Strategies for handling public communications for LEAs
Education law firm Dannis Woliver Kelley (DWK), CSBA Gold level Business Affiliate, on March 24 hosted a webinar spotlighting strategies for handling public communications from both legal and public relations perspectives. Local educational agencies and the individuals who run them, such as school board members […]
Schools play a big role in child abuse prevention
National Child Abuse Prevention Month recognizes the importance of families and communities working together to prevent child abuse and neglect. In California, there were 391,470 reports of child abuse in 2020 with nearly 60,000 of those verified child abuse cases. Katie Albright, CEO and president […]