In a flurry of activity on Friday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the California Department of Public Health held a series of press conferences on school reopening and issued new tools and guidance meant to support the return to in-person instruction. Although […]
Author: Kimberly Sellery
Past chronic absence data can help identify students most in danger of falling behind during pandemic
Prior to the coronavirus pandemic, one out of six children — or 8 million U.S. students — experienced some level of chronic absenteeism, according to an analysis of the most recent federal data. Those with the most absences are also in the groups hardest hit […]
March 15 layoff notices: What boards should know
For any member of a school board governance team, few situations are more sensitive than a district delivering March 15 layoff notices. It is essential for governing board members to be familiar with information about the March 15 notice, its implementation process and the strict […]
Litigation and school districts: Providing FAPE amid the COVID-19 pandemic
Despite the remarkable efforts school districts have made to meet the legal and practical requirements of educating all students during the COVID-19 pandemic, lawsuits related to distance learning and school closures were inevitable, including lawsuits related to educating students receiving special education services. For some […]
Governor’s school reopening plan misses first deadline
While the proposed Feb. 1 deadline for districts to apply for Gov. Gavin Newsom’s Safe Schools for All plan has passed, conversations around school reopening continue to dominate the education policy landscape. The Governor’s plan has faced significant pushback from school officials, labor unions and […]
2021 Black History Month honors the African American family
First celebrated in 1926, February has marked a time to commemorate and celebrate the contributions of Black Americans for nearly a century. The Black History Month 2021 theme, “Black Family: Representation, Identity and Diversity,” explores the African diaspora, and the spread of Black families across […]
CSBA and other education management organizations offer critique on Safe Schools for All plan
A Jan. 19 letter to Gov. Gavin Newsom from CSBA and four other education management organizations acknowledged the shared goal behind the state’s Safe Schools for All plan of returning students to in-person instruction, but pointed out several areas that should be adjusted to make […]
Thurmond announces Coalition for School Well-Being
Formed in the wake of the pandemic and wide-spread recognition of racial and social injustices, the Coalition for School Well-Being serves to amplify the message of State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond that hate has no place in the classroom. Thurmond will serve as […]
The Great Kindness Challenge Week: January 25–29, 2021
The California Department of Education in partnership with the Great Kindness Challenge encourages the teachers, staff and students of all schools to participate in the GKC the week of January 25–29, 2021. The GKC, presented by Kids for Peace, is a global, proactive bullying-prevention initiative […]
CSBA and other education groups advocate for vaccine priority for educators
In response to recent guidance from the state allowing all people age 65 and older to receive a COVID-19 vaccination, CSBA CEO & Executive Director Vernon M. Billy co-signed a letter to Gov. Gavin Newsom urging the state to ensure that the education workforce is […]