Local educational agencies in Sonoma County have been awarded more than $9 million in Golden State Pathways Program dollars to help students prepare for and pursue college and career opportunities post-high school. The Sonoma County Office of Education, which acted as a lead agency in pursuit of a consortium grant, played a major role in encouraging and assisting school districts throughout the application process.
Year: 2024
CSBA joins CDE to amplify education workforce housing development efforts
On July 30, CSBA joined State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond, school system leaders and University of California researchers at the California Department of Education’s headquarters in Sacramento to help launch a statewide initiative that aims to create millions of housing units on land owned by local educational agencies.
New report details rise in number of school districts combatting misinformation
Nearly all members of the National School Public Relations Association (NSPRA) — 96 percent — consider the spread of false information a problem for school districts, up from 81 percent in 2020. The latest NSPRA survey compiled responses from 364 school communication professionals in January […]
Tips to improve school connectedness
Implementing proven strategies for building connections and engaging students can help foster deeper ties between students and their schools and, ultimately, increase student achievement, according to a recent brief from EdResearch for Action. Researchers highlight five proven strategies school leaders can use to help students […]
National, state data on children’s well-being highlighted in report
California ranked in the bottom third of states in measures of children’s well-being, according to the 2024 Kids County Data Book, which details state trends on the topic. The annual report from the Annie E. Casey Foundation compares data from 2019, before the pandemic, to 2022 as COVID restrictions were easing. By presenting 15 indicators related to well-being, education, health and family and community, the organization aims to ensure all students have what they need to meet academic milestones.
Survey finds expanded learning opportunities are reaching the students most in need
New survey findings show 97 percent of California local educational agencies and 88 percent of community-based organizations (CBOs) used Expanded Learning Opportunities Program (ELO-P) funds to serve more students either by opening new programs or expanding existing ones. Based on more than 100 surveys and […]
New resource for governance teams: The Safe Schools Toolkit
By CSBA Principal Research Manager, Angela Asch School safety is an important and complex issue. From the physical infrastructure of school facilities to student well-being and mental health, safety issues run the gamut. Governance teams play a unique role in leading the way in fostering […]
LEAs serving high-need students utilized federal Emergency Connectivity Fund but need more support
While too early to fully gauge the impact of the Emergency Connectivity Fund (ECF) on some of the state’s highest-need students, a June 20 brief from the Public Policy Institute of California found that there was an “impressive response from districts serving high-needs students” in […]
Report provides recommendations, resources to better school environments
Drawing upon a mix of qualitative and quantitative data, the 2024 Student Voice Report by Challenge Success, a nonprofit organization affiliated with Standford University’s Graduate School of Education, provides insight into a generation of high school students’ emotional and physical well-being, sense of belonging and engagement.
New CSBA resources on reporting requirements and late start
CSBA’s Research and Education Policy Development (REPD) team has contributed to the creation of new resources to inform local educational agency leaders on critical topics including state and federal reporting requirements and late start implementation. “The REPD team is committed to providing CSBA members with timely and relevant resources,” said Senior Director Mary Gardner Briggs. “This overview of the reporting requirements is a visual way of communicating concerns our members have been raising, and we already have reports of this document’s use in local and statewide advocacy with legislators.”