Statewide enrollment in public schools saw a slight dip in 2023–24, according to annual data released May 16 by the California Department of Education — continuing a pattern the field has become all too familiar with.
Author: Heather Kemp
By the numbers: Average pay in nation, state for teachers and support staff
The average teacher salary in 2022–23 was $69,544, but even with record investments in some states, pay has not kept up with inflation, according to the National Education Association’s latest report on educator pay in the U.S.
Experts share advice on instructional materials adoption at CSBA webinar
CSBA’s May 30 webinar featured expert panelists providing an overview of the state’s instructional materials adoption process, requirements and guidance for local educational agencies, information on understanding current context and minimizing conflict during the selection period, and trustee perspectives as well as a Q&A. Instructional materials can include textbooks, technology-based materials and other educational tools and tests.
Improving mental health supports could help prevent school shootings, teachers believe
Most K-12 public school teachers live in fear that a shooting will happen at their workplace, according to a survey from the Pew Research Center.
IQC discusses plans for future framework and instructional materials adoption projects
Media literacy resources and Model School Library Standards as they relate to curriculum framework revisions were among the topics discussed at the May 16 Instructional Quality Commission meeting. Commissioners also received an update on California Arts Education Framework implementation and information on the California Department […]
Asian American Pacific Islander Leaders Network offers support, community to Bay Area educators
Launched in 2022–23 to provide Bay Area educators professional development opportunities in a space that fosters inclusion and belonging, the Asian American Pacific Islander Leaders Network at Berkeley School of Education provides a supportive environment for those in the field while also addressing pandemic-related challenges and a national surge in anti-Asian hate.
Reports provide LEAs with strategies for family engagement
A trio of recently released reports from The Education Trust aim to promote positive ways to involve families in their children’s education during a time when parental rights advocates looking to control the curriculum and books available in schools are negatively impacting some student groups. […]
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).
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.
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.