Newsom sets tentative reopening date; resources for ventilation upgrades discussed at CDE webinar

With hospitalizations on the decline and more than 20 million vaccine doses administered, Gov. Gavin Newsom announced California’s next steps in recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic on April 6. If vaccine supply is sufficient for all residents 16 and older who wish to be inoculated […]

Facilities planning during a pandemic means more cooks in the kitchen, experts say

At no time before have the more mundane, day-to-day aspects of school facilities been discussed with such contention, panelists said during a Feb. 10 webinar hosted by the California Association of School Business Officials. “Facilities and our operations have never been in the limelight like […]

New report highlights need for more, stable funding to upgrade school facilities amid pandemic concerns

Though the majority of districts in California are beginning the 2020–21 academic year through distance learning, campuses will eventually reopen for in-person instruction, and many students and staff are likely to return to facilities desperately in need of repair, according to a new report from […]

More than half of California school districts report lead in drinking water

More than 2,100 drinking fountains tested positive for lead at 1,300 California schools over the past three years, according to new analysis by the CALPIRG Education Fund, with the health problem encompassing more than half (53 percent) of the state’s school districts. The independent group […]

State, local bond measures see newfound struggles in primary election

The March 3 primary election results have thus far delivered disappointing results as California districts work to provide students with healthy, safe and modern schools and classrooms. The campaign for Proposition 13 — the largest school facilities bond measure in state history at $15 billion […]

Career technical education a growing priority for states, study shows

State policymakers across the country continue to make career technical education a priority, according to new research from Advance CTE, the Association for Career and Technical Education and the Education Commission of the States. The research found that roughly 60 more policies related to CTE […]

Strong interest in $250M for CTE; State Allocation Board hears other program updates

California schools continue to show strong interest in offering career technical education opportunities to students, with 282 local educational agencies applying for a piece of $250 million in dedicated facilities funding. The development was shared at the Jan. 22 meeting of the State Allocation Board, […]

School facilities bond measure gains steam; boards can show support with resolution

With less than two months until the March 3 primary election, new polling shows that 53 percent of likely voters support a critical state bond measure that would provide $15 billion for facilities at California’s preschools, K-12 schools, community colleges and four-year colleges and universities. […]