Californians unsatisfied with distance learning, worried schools won’t reopen by fall

Sixty-five percent of Californian adults approve of the way their local school district handled closures caused by the COVID-19 crisis, according to April’s Public Policy Institute of California statewide survey. The 17th annual survey, conducted online in multiple languages between April 1 and 14 of […]

Reading losses during the pandemic examined in new brief

Reading losses that have occurred during the COVID-19 pandemic are disproportionately affecting young Black and Hispanic students, according to a new research brief by K–12 curriculum and assessment company Amplify. “COVID-19 Means More Students Not Learning To Read” includes middle-of-school-year data from Amplify early literacy […]

Arts Education Month gives LEAs chance to reflect on how they use art to strengthen student connections

Scroll through El Monte City School District’s Facebook page and you’ll find students have recently visited the Getty Museum, put on choir performances, danced together and even learned how to pluck an entire song on the violin in complete unison.   March is Arts Education Month and while […]

School boards in action: 5 questions with Jeremy L. Gerson, Torrance USD

In the midst of a global pandemic, local educational agency boards have continued working to support programs and initiatives that offer students the academic and social-emotional opportunities they need — no matter which mode of instruction they are in. CSBA’s 5 questions series gives board […]

Experts give tips on spotting signs of child abuse during distance learning

Cases of child abuse rose significantly during the COVID-19 pandemic while reports decreased, but there are strategies teachers and school officials can use to identify the signs even in virtual learning, according to a Feb. 16 webinar hosted by CSBA Business Affiliate Keenan & Associates. […]

Updated parent poll shows more parents dissatisfied with distance learning than in the spring

Parents are more dissatisfied with their child’s current distance learning experience than in the spring, according to a new parent poll released Oct. 15 by the Education Trust–West. Compared to a similar poll conducted by the organization in March, parents are far less likely to […]

Ongoing digital divide concerns, possible solutions highlight Assembly hearing

A joint Assembly committee hearing on Oct. 14 offered an array of perspectives on the digital divide, which has long plagued California but is now being considered with new urgency due to the COVID-19 pandemic and widespread distance learning. New Reality: Students’ Access to the […]

Report examines how well schools served English learners during spring closures

Californians Together released a report in September examining the quality of instruction provided to English learners in the state’s schools during the spring when schools were suddenly shuttered due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The organization reviewed 79 school districts’ COVID-19 Operation Written Reports to help […]

Surge in COVID-19 cases causes superintendents to rethink reopening plans

Just when it looked like a hybrid learning model would best position their districts to strike a balance between educational needs and safety, several Inland Empire superintendents say a continued surge in COVID-19 cases in their communities has them leaning back toward a full distance […]

CCEE webinar offers distance learning needs, strategies for small districts

Weighing the digital divide and its particular challenges in rural areas lacking needed infrastructure, experts say a blend of analog and digital learning opportunities is one practical solution to engage students as the school year ends and summer offerings begin. Also strongly encouraged during a […]