How Centralia ESD turned around its chronic absenteeism rates

Attendance rates plummeted among Centralia Elementary School District children during the COVID-19 pandemic just as they had in local educational agencies throughout the country. Prior to the pandemic, the district boasted just a 5 percent chronic absenteeism rate, which spiked to 22 percent. Preliminary data from the last school year shows the district’s chronic absenteeism rate is down to 8 percent, with every school site reporting declines. 

Report highlights experiences of military-connected teens

In the past six months, 29 percent of military-connected teenagers and young adults who participated in a recent survey reported thoughts of self-harm and 16 percent harmed themselves at least once, according to The Military Teen Experience in 2026: A Data-Driven Understanding of Our Military-Connected Teens and How We Can Help. Seventeen percent reported some level of suicidal ideation.

Four CSBA-sponsored bills head to the Governor at the conclusion of the 2025–26 legislative session

In an unorthodox end to the two-year 2025–26 legislative session, the Legislature extended the session past midnight on Aug. 31 and conducted business Sept. 1. The end of the legislative session typically runs for two weeks and consists of daily convenings of the Assembly and […]

Suicide Prevention Month: Safe and supportive peer relationships can help struggling students to open up

As Suicide Prevention Month is observed in September, programs like Laguna Beach High School’s Student Support Collective, a peer-led network aimed at promoting overall student well-being, highlight the importance that safe and supportive relationships can make for young people year-round.  

Small Schools, Big Ideas: Maple SD is Rooted in Family, Community, and Education

All 285 students enrolled in Maple School District participate in the TK-8 local educational agency’s program, Rooted in Family, Community, and Education. Launched in August 2025, the initiative aims to strengthen student outcomes by empowering families first.

Commission on Teacher Credentialing considers new exam options

At the Aug. 26-27 meeting of the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CTC), commissioners acted to approve some actions related to exploring new foundational exams, and were provided updates on ongoing projects related to teacher apprenticeships and dual credentialing in general and special education. Commission-approved […]

Study finds school districts spend more on high-poverty districts on average

A June report from Brookings Institute reviews how school funding has changed through the decades using school district level data from1976 to 2021. Researchers aimed to answer two key questions: Do high-poverty and predominantly non-white districts spend less than their lower-poverty or predominantly white counterparts? […]

Where California districts stand on adopting and implementing K-8 math instructional materials

Eighty-one percent of California-based school districts were engaged in an adoption process of K-8 math instructional materials or expected to begin that process before the end of the 2027–28 academic year, according to a report published by the Glen Price Group in May. Of those districts, 64 percent were considered in the early phases of the process — developing a vision and plan, understanding of their needs and identifying evaluation options.

Popularity of girls’ flag football has skyrocketed. More effort needed to ensure future opportunities don’t stall out

When the California Interscholastic Federation’s (CIF) Federated Council voted unanimously to add girls flag football as a statewide sanctioned sport for the 2023–24 school year, there had already been a boost in interest among young people in recreational leagues as well as burgeoning financial and material support from the NFL, which advocated for the sport to be added to the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles. According to the latest CIF Sports Participation Survey released Aug. 3, flag football is now the sixth most popular sport among girls by participation.