As the impacts of climate change continue to impact school communities, the physical health of children and their quality of life, it is critical that county offices of education take steps to promote education in environmental literacy, resiliency and sustainability, according to a report from […]
Author: Alisha Kirby
Addressing short- and long-term student mental health needs
What impact has two years of living through a pandemic had on the mental health of our youth? And what can be done to help mitigate the effects? Answering these two questions was central to a June 1 roundtable discussion hosted by the Public Policy […]
School Boards in Action: 5 Questions with Hope Bjerke
Hope Bjerke, board member, Junction Elementary School District What did your district do to foster learning recovery and educational advancements during the 2021–22 school year? What do you have planned for the 2022–23 school year to continue this progress? During June 2021, we invited our […]
School funding report cites pension costs, declining enrollment and more as pressing challenges
Several years of sustained spending increases improved student outcomes, but cost pressures in schools affect the efficiency of funding, according to new research from the Public Policy Institute of California. “Understanding the Effects of School Funding” highlights how test scores, graduation rates, college attendance and […]
Federal hearing focuses on teacher shortage solutions
Teacher shortages are making it increasingly difficult for schools to address the academic needs of students, which have only become deeper as educators work to help children overcome preexisting gaps that were exacerbated by extended pandemic-driven campus closures. Recognizing how widespread the issue is, the […]
Rural schools are banding together to tackle chronic absenteeism
Attendance is critical to student success, yet it can be difficult for individual schools to ensure children are in their seats, needs met and ready to learn on a daily basis, especially in highly rural areas — which is why several districts in Shasta County, […]
State Board Report: Community schools grants approved
The California State Board of Education convened May 18 for its first in-person session in two years to discuss items on community schools grant allocations, physical education flexibilities and more. Gov. Gavin Newsom included in the May Budget Revision an additional $1.5 billion in one-time […]
CSBA supports efforts to give rural and frontier schools a bigger voice
Former school board member turned Assemblymember Megan Dahle (R-Bieber) is using her past experience as a trustee of Big Valley Joint Unified School District, a small school district in Lassen County, to author key bills aiming to address the specific needs of rural and frontier […]
Brain scans show impacts of childhood poverty
Children living in states with stronger social safety nets protecting youth from the impacts of poverty have fewer mental health and behavioral problems and, according to recent research from Harvard University’s psychology department, larger brains. An examination of brain images from 11,000 children in 17 […]
Surveys show families largely support school boards and several key priorities
Several new and recent polls conducted by Lake Research Partners (LRP), the Public Policy Institute of California and other research groups found that voters nationwide believe that their local school board does the best job addressing issues in public education, and would like to see […]