In an Aug. 18 informational hearing, the Senate Education Committee heard from state and local education leaders and advocates about the importance of centering mental wellness and social-emotional learning as students return to the classroom for the 2021–22 school year and a need to connect […]
Author: Kimberly Sellery
Gov. Newsom announces vaccination and testing mandate for TK-12 schools
On Wednesday, Aug. 11, California became the first state to require a COVID-19 vaccination or regular testing for school staff when Gov. Gavin Newsom unveiled a new public health order during a press conference at Oakland USD’s Carl B. Munck Elementary School. The mandate requires […]
National FAFSA completion rates decline for second year
A July report by the National College Attainment Network (NCAN) warned of a steep drop in Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) completion in 2020 and 2021. Students must complete the FAFSA to access federal grants and loans, as well as many types of […]
Guidance on CDPH vaccination order
As noted in CSBA’s Aug. 11 e-blast, the California Department of Public Health issued a public officer health order entitled “Vaccine Verification for Workers in Schools.” Noting that California is committed to safe, full, in-person learning for all students, the Aug. 11 order adds another […]
Commission on State Mandates finalizes decision completing CSBA’s legal challenge to protect school funding and autonomy
The Commission on State Mandates adopted its Decision and Parameters and Guidelines Amendment regarding Graduation Requirements on July 23, 2021, partially approving the Department of Finance’s request to use existing funding as offsetting revenue to pay for state mandates on local educational agencies. The commission’s […]
American Association of Pediatrics recommends universal masking in schools
Much like school-related guidance released in recent weeks from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the California Department of Public Health, updated guidance from the American Association of Pediatrics focuses on returning all students to in-person instruction safely in the 2021–22 school year. […]
Schools play an important role in immunization awareness
As students around the country begin to return to in-person instruction during National Immunization Awareness Month, the Biden Administration kicked off new efforts to encourage COVID-19 vaccinations among youth ages 12 and older — one of the surest mitigation strategies to battle the virus and […]
Orange County Board of Education forum denounces critical race theory, discusses ethnic studies
The Orange County Board of Education on July 27 hosted a forum exploring critical race theory, ethnic studies and concerns from the community about the topics. The forum featured five panelists who generally spoke against implementing specific ethnic studies courses in schools and denounced critical […]
CDC recommends universal masking in schools in latest guidance update
As the delta variant of COVID-19 sweeps through areas of the United States with alarming speed, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on July 27 released updated guidance recommending universal masking indoors in K-12 schools — regardless of vaccination status. In addition, the CDC […]
CSBA files objection to Proposition 98 certification
CSBA has long been at the forefront of protecting the Proposition 98 funding guarantee for public schools. To that end, CSBA has taken another step to ensure that school districts receive the full funding to which they are entitled by filing a letter with the […]