Better oversight of support and improvement plans is needed at all levels, GAO finds

Oversight of comprehensive support and improvement (CSI) plans meant to serve as a guide for underperforming schools’ improvement processes is lacking, according to a Jan. 30 study released by the federal Government Accountability Office (GAO). Just 42 percent of CSI plans were found to be […]

State Board looks ahead on Dashboard and accountability; adopts revised instructional materials guidance

During a jampacked meeting of the California State Board of Education (SBE) on March 6, the board reviewed the 2024 Accountability Workplan, approved a revised document providing guidance for reviewing and piloting instructional materials, and more. Dashboard and accountability The board reviewed the 2023 California […]

Community building is necessary to establishing healthy school cultures

Creating school cultures that support young people and minimize violence and bullying requires ongoing work — a topic explored by experts in a Feb. 14 webinar hosted by the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Elementary and Secondary Education’s Office of Safe and Supportive Schools, […]

CSBA seeks fixes to address persistent problems encountered by local charter school authorizers

By CSBA Legislative Advocate Carlos Machado Recent developments at the state and local levels have highlighted a few troubling deficiencies in current law related to the charter school authorization process. These issues exacerbate the difficulties that both school districts and county boards of education experience […]

Education leaders discuss troubling international test results; look to other systems for answers

Released in December, the 2022 Program for International Student Assessment (PISA) scores plummeted overall. The 2022 exam showed an unprecedented drop in math scores from 2018 to 2022, which is three times worse than any other year. Around 690,000 students took the PISA in 2022, […]

New look at federal attendance data shows need for increased state support

Every state is experiencing a significant increase in high and extreme levels of chronic absenteeism across schools and districts, according to a nationwide analysis of 2021–22 federal data released Jan. 31 by Attendance Works and Johns Hopkins’ Everyone Graduates Center. About two-thirds of students attended […]

CDE covers the basics of Prop 28 as funding begins to reach schools

Ahead of Arts Education Month in March, the California Department of Education hosted a webinar on how local educational agencies can put Proposition 28 funds into practice. Referred to as the Arts and Music in Schools (AMS) Funding Guarantee and Accountability Act, the legislation was […]

CCEE meeting highlights Statewide System of Support Resource Hub, other tools

During the California Collaborative for Educational Excellence’s first board meeting of the year on Feb. 29, staff presented the Statewide System of Support Resource Hub, which provides information on state-funded initiatives meant to boost student outcomes and support educators, and other tools available to local […]

President’s message: Advocating at the state and federal level to improve California public education

By CSBA President Albert Gonzalez Serving as a board of education member is a process of constant learning. Even in my 16 years as a trustee, I am still refining my practice and expanding the toolkit I use in this job. One area where I’ve […]