One of CSBA’s priority policy areas, and a focal point of the upcoming Coast2Coast federal advocacy event, received a significant boost when the Secure Rural Schools (SRS) Reauthorization Act was introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives on Feb. 14. This was welcome news after […]
In keeping with the requirements of statute, the Governor’s Department of Finance released their budget trailer bills. Providing greater clarity on Gov. Gavin Newsom’s January Budget Proposal, the trailer bills provide the details where specific statutory amendments are proposed on how specific programs and proposals are intended to operate. As part of that release, the education trailer bill helps to shed light on significant proposals made last month.
The Trump Administration continued its flurry of executive orders on Jan. 29, issuing three declarations with significant implications for public education. The new executive orders seek to end what the Administration describes as “indoctrination” in K-12 schools, launch a federal school choice initiative and facilitate […]
After a whirlwind news cycle, TK-12 schools have been assured the most significant sources of federal funding for public education are not included in a “pause” to financial grants or assistance declared by the Trump Administration. On Jan. 27, the White House Office of Management […]
On Jan. 6, Gov. Gavin Newsom provided a topline preview of his proposed 2025–26 budget. Highlighting the main themes of the budget, he deferred much of the detail typically included in the January Budget Proposal announcement to Friday, Jan. 10, when the state’s Director of […]
In the midst of a busy holiday season, glancing ahead to 2025 can seem daunting, but it’s necessary to properly support students, staff and community. January 2025 will be filled with significant developments for California public schools as well as related CSBA events, trainings and […]
The California Department of Education (CDE) unveiled the latest edition of the California School Dashboard on Nov. 21, touting “continued progress in academic achievement and graduation rates” and a “decline in chronic absenteeism.” While some growth was evident, a look at the underlying data reveals a more complicated picture of student performance — one that demands greater scrutiny of the status quo, increased investment in public schools, and wider replication of local strategies that have accelerated student achievement and well-being.
Slightly higher state revenues driven by continued stock market growth means the LAO’s assessment offers a brighter picture than last year’s dismal forecast, but storm clouds remain on the horizon due to weakness in the overall state economy, the unpredictability of future tax revenues, and fiscal pressures that are problematic for local educational agencies.
School board members, superintendents and school communications staff should be ready to communicate what the loss of ESSER funding for their LEAs. There are no easy answers, but CSBA is providing tips for communication around this difficult topic.
The California Department of Education recently released the results of the 2023–24 California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP). This is the fourth release since the state lifted testing requirements during the pandemic. CDE celebrated these results because some student groups saw positive progress that outpaced statewide averages in math and English language arts. There was notable improvement in some areas, particularly for some groups of historically disadvantaged students in certain assessments. However, the statewide improvement was exceptionally modest, and achievement gaps across student groups remain consistent.
