Survey shows school shooter drills do not make teachers feel safe or prepared for a real incident

One in six teachers nationwide works in a district impacted by gun violence since the 2019–20 school year, according to a Rand Corp. report released Sept. 18. Additionally, teachers were more concerned about being victims of gun violence in the 2023–24 school year than in […]

Teachers’ awareness of available open education resources is expanding

About one-third of K-12 teachers in the U.S. are aware of open educational resources (OER) — teaching and learning materials that are free to use and adapt as needed — according to an annual survey conducted by Bay View Analytics, an Oakland-based statistical research firm. […]

California rated one of the best states for teacher compensation and conditions

A state-by-state analysis of the factors influencing teacher shortages, teaching conditions that may impact supply and demand, and equitable access to well-qualified teachers was released by the Learning Policy Institute (LPI) in late July. California’s overall attractiveness for teachers based on indicators considered was 3.7 out of 5.

Grow-your-own programs can aid in teacher recruitment, but LEAs must be realistic about limitations

Grow-your-own (GYO) programs have the potential to solve multiple teacher workforce challenges by increasing local teacher supply, reducing teacher shortages, promoting teacher diversity and improving teacher retention and effectiveness, according to a recent analysis from the Brookings Institution. However, researchers noted, these programs may not […]

CSBA joins CDE to amplify education workforce housing development efforts

On July 30, CSBA joined State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond, school system leaders and University of California researchers at the California Department of Education’s headquarters in Sacramento to help launch a statewide initiative that aims to create millions of housing units on land owned by local educational agencies. 

Barriers remain to diversify California’s teacher workforce

Despite efforts over the years to recruit an educator workforce as racially and ethnically diverse as the students served throughout California, systemic barriers to diversifying the teacher workforce are hindering progress, according to new research from the UCLA Center for the Transformation of Schools (CTS) […]

Experts share advice on instructional materials adoption at CSBA webinar

CSBA’s May 30 webinar featured expert panelists providing an overview of the state’s instructional materials adoption process, requirements and guidance for local educational agencies, information on understanding current context and minimizing conflict during the selection period, and trustee perspectives as well as a Q&A. Instructional materials can include textbooks, technology-based materials and other educational tools and tests.