Cybersecurity is in flux across the public sector, with traditional processes and tools proving inadequate for today’s global threats. Some school districts and county offices of education are at particular risk since they currently lack the internal resources, capacity or expertise to mount an effective […]
Legal update: State officials weigh in on removal of library books and instructional materials from school settings
On June 1, 2023, Gov. Gavin Newsom, Attorney General Rob Bonta and State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond issued a joint letter related to book bans and the legal standards that guide decisions related to limiting instructional materials and resources available in school libraries. […]
CSBA-sponsored bills pass first house deadline
CSBA-sponsored legislation made it through the most recent legislative gauntlet as the Senate and Assembly raced to finish their work last week before the June 2 deadline to pass bills out of their house of origin. The house of origin deadline marks the halfway point […]
Students must be familiar with AI to be future ready, experts say
How schools can equip students with conceptual knowledge about artificial intelligence (AI) was discussed by experts and education leaders during a May 24 webinar hosted by the California Department of Education. AI literacy will be important in order to help young people contribute to an […]
President signs debt ceiling legislation
By Erika Hoffman On June 3, President Joe Biden signed into law House Resolution 3746, the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023, which suspends the U.S. government’s $31.4 trillion debt ceiling until 2025, thereby averting a default on the country’s debts. The House passed the legislation […]
California leads the way in electric school buses
More California schools are switching to electric-powered school buses than any other state, according to a new report from CALSTART, a nonprofit consortium that advocates for efficient and clean high-tech transportation. A combination of federal, state and local funding opportunities has led to a significant […]
Governor, AG and SPI weigh in on book bans with a joint letter
On June 1, 2023, Gov. Gavin Newsom, Attorney General Rob Bonta and Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond sent a joint letter to California superintendents and school principals under the heading, “Educational Rights and Requests to Remove Instructional Materials Statewide.” The joint letter advised county and […]
Pride Month resources for LEAs: How districts are supporting LGBTQ+ students
Local educational agencies across California have been working for years to ensure that members of the LGBTQ community feel safe and heard on their campuses. For Pride Month, CSBA is highlighting the efforts of LEAs, organizations and experts throughout June on its blog and social […]
New report recommends state and federal spending changes to better support homeless youth
Identifying and supporting homeless youth can be as difficult as it is crucial to ensuring equitable outcomes among some of a local educational agency’s most vulnerable students. Approximately 1.3 million students in the United States were identified as experiencing some form of homelessness in 2019–20 […]
U.S. surgeon general issues advisory on social media and youth mental health
By Bode Oyowele On May 23, 2023, U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy released a new advisory on the impact of social media use on youth mental health. “The most common question parents ask me is, ‘is social media safe for my kids?’ The answer […]