Year: 2024

Addressing the needs of teacher education deserts to attract and retain educators

Drawing on findings from its newly released report, California’s Teacher Education Deserts: An Overlooked & Growing Equity Challenge, the UCLA Center for the Transformation of Schools held a webinar on April 23 to discuss the obstacles that some regions face in attracting and retaining highly qualified educators. As staffing shortages continue to impact local educational agencies across the U.S., teacher education deserts, defined as a county that does not have a preparation program within 60 miles of its county office of education, are most common in California’s rural border counties (those that border other states and/or Mexico).

Experts tout prevention as a crucial part of bolstering school safety efforts

The first of a four-part webinar series on preventing and addressing gun violence in schools hosted by the National Center on Safe Supportive Learning Environments (NCSSLE) on April 10 explored how schools can build foundations and utilize systems to promote school safety and prevent or […]

Coachella Valley districts partner with local newspaper to amplify student voices

A unique initiative is taking place in the Coachella Valley, bringing a fresh stream of student ideas to the arid desert climate. A partnership between three local districts — Coachella Valley Unified School District, Desert Sands USD and Palm Springs USD — and the Desert […]

Survey shows adults support public education, divided on current issues facing the field

The results of a survey conducted between September and October 2023 by University of Southern California’s Center for Applied Research in Education on current issues including what educators teach, what books are available and assigned to students, and parental control are covered in the report Searching for Common Ground: Widespread Support for Public Schools but Substantial Partisan Divides About Teaching Contested Topics.

One district’s effort to build confidence through knowledge and food

Sylvia Leong, Cupertino Union School District trustee and CSBA Director-at-Large, Asian Pacific Islander, is one of many leaders in education working to build confidence among Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) students in California to become leaders themselves. “There are so many things that go […]

Fast facts on the state of California’s digital divide

Digital access has reached an all-time high in the state, according to the Public Policy Institute of California’s (PPIC) April fact sheet on the digital divide. Offering an updated look at the rate and makeup of residents able to connect to the internet at home, PPIC found that 95 percent of Californian’s had internet access, including satellite in 2022 compared to 93 percent in 2019. Access increased most significantly among those in historically marginalized communities including members of Black, Latino, low-income and rural households and those headed by non-college graduates.

President’s message: Supporting California’s students on the Coast2Coast Federal Advocacy Trip

There’s no place like home and as a California native and lifelong resident, I firmly believe the West Coast is the best coast. However, there’s no denying the political center of gravity in the United States rests in the East, specifically in Washington, D.C. So, I was happy to once again participate in the ACSA-CSBA Coast2Coast Federal Advocacy Trip where I joined about 250 other education leaders in making the case for the legislation and resources California students need.

LEAs play an important role in preventing child trafficking and exploitation

As policymakers work to prevent child exploitation, how can schools play a role in identifying and helping vulnerable students in need of support? There are no perfect answers, according to experts, but there are myriad strategies, tips and tools educators can use — many of […]