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 […]

Homeless students require long-term support from schools to improve outcomes

Homelessness is rising among public school students in large cities across the country, and the impacts of homelessness on a student’s educational outcomes persist even after they are sheltered, according to a recent working paper from University of Southern California researchers. Using nine years of […]

Labor trafficking is overlooked, needs immediate attention new study finds

More than 14,000 Californians received state help between 2016 and 2019 to recover from human trafficking — 26 percent of whom were under the age of 18, according to a new report from the Little Hoover Commission. California must prioritize victim services for labor trafficking […]

Surgeon General’s report highlights need for cross-sector cooperation to support children and families

California Surgeon General Nadine Burke Harris released a report Dec. 9 to help support communities to recognize and effectively address Adverse Childhood Experiences — experiences that can include neglect, homelessness and witnessing violence in the home or community. In a press conference the following day, […]

Sacramento COE outlines extensive efforts to support student mental health

The California Mental Health Services Oversight and Accountability Commission released a report in November urging Gov. Gavin Newsom and the Legislature to expand and strengthen school-based partnerships that serve children and their families — including those too young to yet enroll in school — to better […]

State audit of local suicide prevention policies finds lack of stakeholder engagement

State law mandates that all school districts, county offices of education and charter schools adopt policy on student suicide prevention, intervention and post-vention after consulting with specified stakeholders. Beginning in the 2020–21 school year, the policy must apply to all grades K–12. A report issued […]

New report reveals an alarming state of crisis for California homeless students

By Geneva Sum State of Crisis, Dismantling Student Homelessness in California, a new report from the UCLA Center for the Transformation of Schools, reveals that even prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, student homelessness was already on the rise and is estimated to worsen. More than […]

Federal audit of disaster recovery funds finds LEA issues exacerbated by COVID-19

A new audit report from the U.S Government Accountability Office addressed to Congress examines how federal disaster recovery funds are being used in districts that received them, and how the COVID-19 pandemic has complicated fund implementation and exacerbated issues connected to natural disasters. In a […]