The research is clear — much of the nation’s lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and questioning (LGBTQ) youth are in trouble, struggling with suicidal thoughts, low self-esteem and a lack of social-emotional support. According to The Trevor Project, suicide is the second leading cause of […]
Month: June 2023
President’s message: Policy and practice over partisanship
By Susan Markarian, CSBA President This month, newly minted graduates across California donned caps and gowns and walked the stage for commencement. The ceremonies closed the book on one chapter of life and signaled new horizons for thousands of our students. I’m sure we all […]
School segregation exacerbates opportunity and achievement gaps
A May report from the U.S. Department of Education on school diversity cites a body of research that links achievement and opportunity gaps between student groups to how racially isolated a school is. The State of School Diversity in the United States examines the benefits […]
CSBA advocacy yields wins in a tough budget year
After a long standoff, the Legislature and Gov. Gavin Newsom reached a final agreement on the 2023–24 state budget late on June 26. The final budget, executed in two follow-up bills known as “Budget Bill Jr.” and numerous budget trailer bills, will retain most of […]
CSBA press conference calls for support for AB 1023 to boost schools’ cybersecurity resources
“Schools have access to more sensitive information and fulfill a more essential purpose than virtually any other local government agency and deserve robust, focused support to prepare for ransomware attacks,” said CSBA President Susan Markarian during a June 26 press conference held in support of […]
COVD-19’s impact on education further highlighted in new report
The 2023 Report on Condition of Education released May 24 by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) found that nearly every aspect of preK-12 education has been impacted by COVID-19: School and teacher preparation program enrollment both declined, teaching positions remain vacant, student mental […]
CDE webinar highlights school programs attracting enrollment
School districts across the state are experiencing a high level of declining enrollment, as evidenced by California Department of Education data released in April. Even before the pandemic, many California communities were observing population drops and corresponding enrollment declines in K-12. The pandemic exacerbated declines […]
Profile of a graduate: Isai Perez
Under normal circumstances, Isai Perez’s achievements would be considered laudable. This year, he graduated a valedictorian from Sunnyside High School in Fresno Unified School District with a 4.22 GPA as well as the State Seal of Biliteracy. Perez, like all students, also dealt with the […]
New taskforce aims to address diversity in curriculum and more
Representatives from four textbook publishers committed June 21 before the special Taskforce on Inclusive Education to protect and provide student access to information free from discrimination and inclusive of the diverse narratives that reflect the student body of California. The new taskforce was convened following […]
Excessive amounts of lead found in water of California child care centers
Results of lead tests released in May by the Environmental Working Group (EWG) show one in four California child care centers have alarming levels of lead in drinking water, putting children at risk for serious long-term complications that could impact their education and health outcomes. […]