Author: Alisha Kirby

Small Schools, Big Ideas: Nuview Union SD Beyond the Bell

Nuview Union School District (NUSD) is a small local educational agency in Nuevo, an unincorporated area in Riverside County nestled between the City of Riverside, Palm Springs and Temecula. According to district leaders, NUSD serves about 2,200 students — 90 percent of whom are English learners, foster youth or are eligible for free or reduced-price meals. As the largest employer in Nuevo — a town of under 7,00 people — NUSD’s emphasis on its Beyond the Bell programming is even more valuable, as the district prioritizes hiring from within the community, thereby allowing it to invest back into the community it serves.

Research provides recommendations to improve outcomes for youth served in alternative education settings

California’s alternative education system — particularly its Dashboard Alternative School Status (DASS) schools — is a vital but often overlooked pathway for historically marginalized and vulnerable students. A recent report from the UCLA Center for the Transformation of Schools analyzes 2022–23 data from 894 DASS schools, representing 150,009 students, to evaluate the effectiveness of these settings.

New report details challenges in reclassifying English learners and recommendations to streamline the process

Reclassification of students designated as English learners (ELs) is a critical process governed by state policies that mandate using multiple criteria to ensure fairness and accuracy. However, while these policies aim to create equitable pathways for reclassification, discrepancies in local implementation can present barriers for students, according to a report released in March by Policy Analysis for California Education (PACE).

Survey results show where adults see positives and negatives in California public education

About half of adults think their local public schools are doing an excellent or good job in preparing students for jobs and the workforce, according to a recent survey of Californian’s views on education conducted between March 26 and April 3 by the Public Policy Institute of California.

New research finds cellphone bans are only the first step in promoting digital literacy among students

A new white paper from Learning.com and Whiteboard Advisors found that at least 39 states have passed legislation restricting student cellphone use since 2023, but interviews with superintendents, state education technology directors, researchers and practitioners suggest banning or limiting the use of these devices on school grounds should be a first step.

Small Schools, Big Ideas: STEAM in action at Cinnabar Elementary 

Cinnabar Elementary School District (CESD), located in Petaluma, serves just 220 students. What sets the one-school district apart from many of its similarly sized local educational agency peers is its dedication to science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics (STEAM) programming.

New fact sheet on chronic absenteeism in California highlights critical trends

Using the latest data from the California Department of Education, a fact sheet recently released by Policy Analysis for California Education (PACE) examines trends in chronic absenteeism statewide through the 2024–25 school year. According to researchers, while rates of chronic absence have continued to decrease since their peak in 2021–22, they remain alarmingly high, with only a slight decrease over the past year. Without rapid intervention, academic recovery since the onset of the pandemic will likely get more challenging.

States should focus on foundational data and information as they expand CTE, according to new research

A new report from Insightful Education Solutions examines whether states have the foundational conditions — well-structured pathways, reliable data, workforce alignment and public transparency — needed to credibly assess and improve their career technical education (CTE) programs.