School board members, superintendents and school communications staff should be ready to communicate what the loss of ESSER funding for their LEAs. There are no easy answers, but CSBA is providing tips for communication around this difficult topic.
Month: November 2024
Prioritizing outdoor learning in state-funded preschool programs
The National Institute for Early Education Research’s (NIEER) policy brief “State Policies and Guidance Relating to Outdoor and Nature-Based Experiences in Preschool” explores the potential academic, developmental and health benefits that outdoor and nature-based experiences can have for preschoolers.
School Boards in Action: 5 Questions with Madonna M. Gerrell, Palm Springs USD
Madonna M. Gerrell, board president, Palm Springs Unified School District How long have you been on the school board and why are you passionate about your work? For the past eight years, I have actively served as a member of the Palm Springs Unified School […]
Bringing Native history closer to the source
Irene Kearns recalls what it was like to learn California history that didn’t align with what she’s learned from her parents as a child — including the field trips to Gold Rush territory and local missions — only to turn around and be expected to […]
State Board delays changes to student assessment reports, finalizes LCAP template
During its final meeting of 2024, the California State Board of Education (SBE) pushed back updates to student assessment reporting, adopted revisions to the Local Control and Accountability Plan (LCAP) template, and heard ideas from student leaders throughout the state to improve their outcomes and […]
Survey shows school shooter drills do not make teachers feel safe or prepared for a real incident
One in six teachers nationwide works in a district impacted by gun violence since the 2019–20 school year, according to a Rand Corp. report released Sept. 18. Additionally, teachers were more concerned about being victims of gun violence in the 2023–24 school year than in […]
Braiding funds to support community schools
To effectively support students across the United States, public schools need to pull and coordinate funding from federal, state and local sources. Partnerships between agencies across sectors and with community-based organizations can be challenging but necessary; schools alone cannot address all the needs of young […]
New report details reasons for charter school closures, recommendations for improvement
More than a quarter of charter schools close within the first five years of operation, according to a recent report by the National Center for Charter School Accountability that examined charter school closures from 1998 to 2022. By year 20, the rate reaches 55 percent. […]
Pediatricians recommend a trauma-informed approach to reduce suspensions, expulsions
To avoid the potential long-term negative impacts suspensions and expulsions can have on youth, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) is advocating that schools implement a multidisciplinary, trauma-informed approach to support students and reduce the use of exclusionary discipline.
Experiences of transgender students detailed in CDC report
Transgender high school students face more severe challenges to their mental and physical health than their cisgender peers, according to an October report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).