Spike in chronic absenteeism can overwhelm schools; fixes require collaborative approach

Nearly 30 percent of K-12 students were chronically absent in the 2021–22 academic year, according to a review of federal data released Oct. 12 by Attendance Works and the Everyone Graduates Center at Johns Hopkins University. U.S. Department of Education data showed 66 percent of […]

Reducing disparities in early intervention access will require more data collection

Sharing federal data about infants and toddlers who are referred, evaluated and found eligible for early intervention services under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act would assist states in identifying and solving disparities in services, according to a report released Oct. 5 by the U.S. […]

Staffing increased to support academic recovery in 2022–23 school year

An estimated 187,000 more adults provided high-intensity tutoring, mentoring, college and career advising or wraparound supports during the 2022–23 school year through the National Partnership for Student Success — a public-private partnership spearheading the White House tutoring initiative — according to a report from the […]

County Superintendents offers support for pre-K math instruction

With the expansion of Universal Prekindergarten (UPK) underway in schools and districts across the state, the California County Superintendents have released First Steps to Math Success: Guidance for Teaching Mathematics in Transitional Kindergarten, guidance that describes the components conditions necessary to support joyful, robust foundational […]

CDE launches paid internships initiative for youth, plans to improve student performance

An initiative to offer paid internships to California teens and young adults in an attempt to prepare the next generation for the workforce and curb a spike in crime was announced by the California Department of Education on Oct. 10. Days later on Oct. 16, […]

Expert tips on how to better engage non-English-speaking families 

Each year from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15, local educational agencies observe National Hispanic Heritage Month by celebrating the histories, cultures and contributions of those whose ancestors came from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean and Central and South America. In California, about 56 percent of students […]

A look at A-G course completion and strategies for improvement

A trio of resources recently published by Policy Analysis for California Education (PACE) — a policy brief “Addressing Inequities in College Preparatory Course-Taking,” a report Inequality in Academic Preparation for College and a resource guide Insights and Strategies from Exemplar School Districts — provide local […]