Students as young as 7 years old are helping to keep endangered species safe and provide conditions for them to thrive in a handful of Bay Area school districts through engaging hands-on science coursework. High schoolers in Petaluma City Schools District’s Casa Grande High School […]
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SB 270’s significant penalties explained
On Sept. 27, 2021, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed SB 270, which becomes effective on July 1, 2022. SB 270 modifies California Government Code Section 3558, by placing significant penalties on public agencies, including school districts and county offices of education, that violate the requirement to […]
Clarity on piggyback contracting
On July 7, California’s Office of Public School Construction (OPSC) sent an email blast to school districts and county offices of education regarding the use of “piggyback contracting” in school construction projects. The email reportedly caused confusion, but members should be aware that there has […]
Engaging students starts with embracing families
National Hispanic Heritage Month presents an opportunity for local educational agencies to evaluate how they engage Hispanic and Latino families and, as a result, boost student achievement. “In our schools, we must celebrate that families, too, have the power to spread the joy of learning. […]
Schools must address the youth mental health crisis
A public health crisis in and of itself, the precarious mental health of young people in the United States has only been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a July report by Mental Health America, Addressing The Youth Mental Health Crisis: The Urgent Need […]
Commission on State Mandates finalizes decision completing CSBA’s legal challenge to protect school funding and autonomy
The Commission on State Mandates adopted its Decision and Parameters and Guidelines Amendment regarding Graduation Requirements on July 23, 2021, partially approving the Department of Finance’s request to use existing funding as offsetting revenue to pay for state mandates on local educational agencies. The commission’s […]
Budget trailer bill creates new programs and requirements
2021–22 Education Budget Trailer Bill Summary On Monday, July 5, the Legislature introduced this year’s education omnibus budget trailer bill (Assembly Bill/Senate Bill 130), containing greater detail on what California’s schools can expect from the 2021–22 Budget Act. Budget trailer bills address remaining points of […]
State budget agreement pays down all deferrals in a win for education advocates
The final state budget agreement between the Legislature and Gov. Gavin Newsom, Senate Bill 129, includes the full elimination of all funding deferrals — a major win for schools — and addresses areas of great need for California’s students, though concerns remain about funding for program […]
After CSBA lawsuits, State includes a rebenching of the Proposition 98 guarantee in May Revision
As CSBA detailed recently in its summary of the May Revision of the Governor’s budget, the plan proposes to expand transitional kindergarten to provide a minimum of three hours of instructional time for all 4-year-olds in the state, beginning with an investment of $900 million […]
Governor and Legislature respond to advocacy with new school reopening deal
Gov. Gavin Newsom and legislative leaders on March 1 announced an agreement that provides a path to the reopening of schools statewide while retaining local discretion over the return of in-person instruction. Although the bill is not perfect, it addresses many of the concerns CSBA […]