Teachers nationwide show strong support for mental health, SEL focus to improve school safety

As the nation’s schools begin a new academic year, a survey finds that most teachers say the majority of their students do not feel very safe at school. And to have the biggest impact on improving school safety, educators surveyed by the Education Week Research […]

New study finds high-need students see both benefits and pitfalls from LCFF

Six years after California policymakers enacted the Local Control Funding Formula for K-12 public schools, the goal of providing additional resources to high-need districts is being met. A new study, however, suggests several hurdles still need to be addressed to ensure all students receive the […]

Concerns about bias, anti-Semitism dominate Ethnic Studies Model Curriculum feedback

After myriad advocacy organizations sounded their opposition to the first draft of California’s Ethnic Studies Model Curriculum, the State Board of Education indicated in a statement that the curriculum will be “substantially redesigned.” The statement, from State Board President Linda Darling-Hammond, board Vice President Ilene […]

Update: SB 328 placed on Assembly Appropriations suspense file

Senate Bill 328 (Portantino, D-La Cañada Flintridge) was placed on the Assembly Appropriations Committee suspense file during the committee’s hearing this morning. The Assembly and Senate Appropriations Committees will both hear their respective suspense files the last week of August, determining whether SB 328 (along […]

Nationwide poll sees school funding’s importance rise in the eyes of parents, teachers

Awareness and frustration with the continued underfunding of the nation’s public schools has reached a point at which 58 percent of teachers say they would vote to strike for higher funding for school programs. And for the 18th consecutive year, Americans said the lack of […]

President’s Message: Welcome all students back to school — and plan to keep them there

We cling to the last days of summer, but the passage of time is relentless and unsentimental. Vacation has already ended for some school districts and county offices of education; others will open their doors in the coming weeks. This is a critical time as […]

New report finds fewer complaints by LGBTQ students are investigated under Trump administration

A new Center for American Progress report finds that unresolved complaints to the U.S. Department of Education Office of Civil Rights related to sexual orientation or gender identity have increased by 20 percent since the repeal of Obama-era guidance that protected transgender students. The guidance […]

Professional development institute with spotlight on whole child draws 3,000 educators

From counseling services to chronic absenteeism to disciplinary alternatives, more than 3,000 education professionals converged in Long Beach from July 28–31 to home in on equitably supporting every student with a whole-child approach. Those topics were among the many covered at the third annual California […]