California debuts free literacy platform focused on young learners

State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond on Aug. 31 announced the California Bilingual Early Literacy Initiative, a $27 million digital literacy partnership that will provide free bilingual early literacy assistance to California children and families through interactive eBooks, songs and games in English and […]

Community schools can improve relationships and reduce achievement gaps, research shows

The U.S. Department of Education and the Learning Policy Institute on May 26 hosted a webinar, “Community Schools: An Evidence-based Whole Child Approach to Education,” with practitioners and researchers taking an in-depth look at how community schools can transform student learning and outcomes. Department of […]

Policy brief lays out resources for rural schools in wake of COVID, wildfire disruptions

The digital divide, COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy, lack of community health supports, school staffing shortages and increasingly frequent and destructive wildfires are some of the most prevalent challenges facing rural school districts in California. The policy brief “Out of Sight, Not Out of Mind: How New Funds […]

California schools awarded federal Green Ribbon status

The U.S. Department of Education on Earth Day (April 22) announced the 2022 U.S. DOE Green Ribbon Schools, District Sustainability awardees, and Postsecondary Sustainability awardees. Across the country, 27 schools, five districts and four postsecondary institutions were honored for their innovative efforts to reduce environmental […]

Equity-oriented restorative justice resource library available

UCLA’s Center for the Transformation of Schools (the Center) in early April hosted the webinar, “Equity-Oriented Restorative Justice Tools for Schools,” which aimed to show how restorative justice practices can change the relationship students have with their school community while addressing racial disparities in disciplinary […]

CSBA examines UTK implementation considerations, insights in new policy brief and webinar

With local educational agencies preparing to create or expand transitional kindergarten offerings in the coming years, CSBA has developed a variety of resources to support these efforts. A new research and policy brief, “Advancing Universal Transitional Kindergarten — Questions for School Board Members,” a corresponding […]