Full-day kindergarten facilities applications greatly outpace available funds

School district interest is overwhelming the funds available for projects through the state’s new full-day kindergarten facilities program. Seventy districts filed 261 project applications totaling $324.3 million in the first filing round ending Jan. 31, staff told State Allocation Board members at their Feb. 27 […]

Report: K-12 cybersecurity incidents, risks growing across the country

K-12 local educational agencies nationwide experienced both more frequent and more significant cybersecurity incidents in 2018, according to a new report from The K-12 Cybersecurity Resource Center. Data suggests the incidents did not discriminate by district type, location or size. There were 122 publicly reported […]

Dollars for scholars: Awards available for school district programs

With school districts statewide cutting budgets due to rising expenses, funding to pay for public school equipment and programs essential to a well-rounded education can often be in short supply. To help offset some of these expenses, the Scholar Dollars program is awarding more than […]

Hard-hit educators testify on wildfire response and recovery at state hearing

Educators from across California provided emotional testimony at a Feb. 6 hearing about the impact of recent wildfires on schools and communities. In what several speakers called the “new normal” due to climate change and a now year-round fire season, firestorms have caused unprecedented damage […]

Chronic absenteeism, stakeholder engagement practices shared at PACE conference

Two timely and important issues facing districts and school boards, chronic absenteeism and stakeholder engagement, shared the spotlight at this year’s Policy Analysis for California Education annual conference. The Feb. 1 event in downtown Sacramento, with a theme of “Putting Evidence into Action to Advance […]

Toolkit offers guidance and resources for English learner, immigrant parents

The U.S. Department of Education has released a new guide to help schools better support English learner students, immigrant students and their families. Dubbed The English Learner Family Toolkit, the publication should be of particular interest in California, home to more than 1.3 million English […]

State Allocation Board hears good news on Governor’s proposed budget

With a lengthy backlog of school facilities projects statewide due to the previous administration’s reluctance to release Proposition 51 bonds, State Allocation Board Executive Director Lisa Silverman told members at their Jan. 23 meeting that Gov. Gavin’s Newsom’s budget proposal is “great news for our […]

Brief illustrates alarming health and well-being data for LGB youths in California

Lesbian, gay and bisexual youths in California experience negative behaviors and consequences at about twice the rate of their straight peers, according to a new Kidsdata issue brief. Those behaviors and outcomes for LGB youths include higher alcohol and drug use, more common feelings of […]