On Sept. 17, 2021, CSBA sent out an email blast containing a summary of recently signed legislation, Assembly Bill 361. Since then, CSBA has received questions from members regarding AB 361’s revisions to the Brown Act regarding teleconferenced meetings held during a proclaimed state of […]
Mental health investments paving new paths forward
A Sept. 15 webinar, “Investing in Mental Health,” hosted by the California Department of Education, covered topics including how interagency collaboration can help schools with mental health services, building a school-based metal health workforce, measuring the impact of current investments, and initiatives that are taking […]
CSBA President’s Message: Eyes on the prize: Keeping students first in a time of turmoil
By CSBA President Dr. Susan Heredia Back-to-school season is always a major undertaking, but this year’s version is especially momentous. For the first time in 18 months, every California school district is open for full-time, in-person instruction. While that’s cause for relief in many respects, […]
California launches student reading initiative
State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond was joined by various California education leaders on Sept. 21 to announce a literacy initiative for the state: By 2026, every child will learn to read by third grade. “We already know that when students learn to read, […]
CDE releases first set of growth model data
The California Department of Education on Sept. 22 released the initial set of historical student growth data on student achievement for English language arts and math on its Growth Model webpage. The new model aggregates and reports data by local educational agency and student group, […]
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 […]
State launches new COVID-related tracking tools for LEAs
On Sept. 15, a day after defeating a recall election, Gov. Gavin Newsom made his way to a TK-8 campus in Oakland — mingling with young learners and announcing that most school districts are reporting that 95 to 100 percent of students are once again […]
Webinar examines details around school worker vaccination verification
As local educational agencies work to comply with the state’s vaccination verification order for school workers by Oct. 15, the California Association of School Business Officials and law firm Lozano Smith hosted a webinar on hot topics surrounding the situation. Clarification on the order itself […]
CDE prepares stakeholders for long-awaited growth model release
The California Department of Education on Sept. 22 will release the initial set of historical student growth data on student achievement for English language arts and math on its Growth Model webpage, officials announced in a Sept. 13 webinar. The “residual gain” model calculates differences […]
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. […]