COVID-19 has chilling effect on vaccination rates for other diseases

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, vaccination dose orders declined from mid-March, the beginning of the emergency declaration due to the COVID-19 pandemic, to mid-April by 2.5 million compared to previous years. In a report issued May 18, the agency wrote, “The […]

U.S. Department of Homeland Security memo limits DACA program again after Supreme Court decision

On June 18, 2020, the U.S. Supreme Court held in a 5-4 decision in University of California v. U.S. Department of Homeland Security that the Trump administration may not immediately proceed with its plan to end the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. The […]

USDA announces extension of summer meal program waivers, ensuring free meals for kids through Dec. 31, 2020

In a win for local educational agencies and students throughout California, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue announced Aug. 31 that the U.S. Department of Agriculture will extend several flexibilities that allow summer meal program operators to continue serving free meals to all children through […]

New tools available to center equity for English learners in Learning Continuity and Attendance Plan

A new collaboration to support the needs of English learners in California by Californians Together, Sobrato Early Language Academy and Loyola Marymount University’s Center for Equity for English Learners is teaming up with county offices of education to aid in the implementation of the English Learner Roadmap […]

New sex education standards provide educators support on more well-rounded conversations with students on sensitive topics

The National Sex Education Standards were recently updated to include advancements in research regarding sexual orientation, gender identity and the long-term consequences of stigma and discrimination — all topics that experts say are essential to keeping young people safe when covered effectively. The standards were […]

California should prepare to address long-term impacts of COVID-19 on kids’ mental health, experts say

Communities and families have been hit hard by the pandemic, and are likely facing increased stress due to the changes, fear and uncertainty caused by illness, isolation, impending homelessness, job and healthcare loss, California Surgeon General Dr. Nadine Burke-Harris said during an Aug. 20 webinar […]

New guidance outlines conditions for small cohorts of students in schools still on county monitoring list

According to new guidance released by the California Department of Public Health on Aug. 25,  local educational agencies in counties on the state’s COVID-19 monitoring list can offer in-person, targeted, specialized support and services to small groups of students as outlined below. The guidance allows […]

Judge blocks U.S. Department of Education from enforcing CARES Act private school funding rule

On Aug. 21, 2020, a federal judge ruled against the U.S. Department of Education in Washington v. DeVos, a lawsuit over how much coronavirus aid public schools must set aside for private school students. The U.S. Department of Education’s interim final rule issued earlier this […]

California Census Challenge launches to improve poor response rate

California Secretary of State Alex Padilla recently announced the California Census Challenge, a statewide competition with the goal of increasing the census self-response rates of the state’s cities and counties while decreasing the need for at-home visits during the COVID-19 pandemic. If the current lack […]