School counselor recruitment efforts now underway

The California Department of Education is kickstarting efforts to recruit 10,000 new school-based mental health clinicians, State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond announced during an Aug. 4 press conference. The latest state budget provides for new and expanded grant opportunities for aspiring mental health […]

National study of juvenile justice education programs finds need for alignment, improvement

A June 2022 report evaluating juvenile justice education programs in the U.S. found that, with rare exceptions, fragmented implementation and accountability measures virtually guarantee that incarcerated students do not receive a high-quality education. In Double Punished: Locked Out of Opportunity, Bellwether Education Partners reviewed juvenile […]

Report calls for state support of schools in combating climate change

Climate change will have “increasingly severe impacts on early childhood and K‑12 education” — particularly from more frequent wildfires and extreme heat waves, according to a report from the Legislative Analyst’s Office (LAO). “More frequent wildfires and extreme heat waves will increase the likelihood that […]

Student homelessness subject of new policy brief

An already increasing number of K-12 students in California experiencing homelessness paired with a global pandemic that rocked the financial foundation of countless families is reason for concern, according to a policy brief from the UCLA Center for the Transformation of Schools. “State of Crisis: Understanding […]

County offices play a vital role in supporting community schools

With California forging ahead in the establishment and expansion of community schools statewide, county offices of education are poised to play a major role in the support of local educational agencies making these challenging but crucial shifts. Included in the state’s California Community Schools Partnership […]

Biden signs executive order with protections for LGBTQ young people

In honor of Pride Month, President Joe Biden on June 15 signed an executive order advancing equality for members of the LGBTQ community, including many protections for young people. Aspects of the executive order include addressing discriminatory legislative attacks against LGBTQ children and families by […]

Schools must consider student identities in addressing mental health challenges

With local educational agencies working to address youth mental health challenges exacerbated by the pandemic, it is important that officials understand the role students’ identities play in their school experiences and mental well-being. During a June 9 panel discussion hosted by the California Department of […]

Addressing the needs of students living in deep poverty

With more than 5 million children living in deep poverty across America, the Learning Policy Institute’s recent report “Building School Communities for Students Living in Deep Poverty” highlights three strategies to help schools address these students’ learning and social-emotional needs. The federal government establishes poverty […]