The majority of both teens and adults support cellphone restrictions in schools, despite reporting no major positive impacts from this shift in policy, according to recent research from the Brookings Institution.
Author: Alisha Kirby
SBE study sessions cover Portrait of a Graduate and accountability while the board takes action on Dashboard indicators
The California State Board of Education’s (SBE) March 11-12 meeting included two study sessions on topics related to the developing state Portrait of a Graduate/Learner and the role of differentiated assistance (DA) in the Statewide System of Support, as well as the adoption of a Personal Finance Curriculum Guide and changes to several indicators and other factors on the California School Dashboard.
Highly mobile students need state and local leaders to work together to ensure cohesive support
A new case study from WestEd and the UCLA Center for the Transformation of Schools examines how state and local policymakers can work together to better support migrant students, those experiencing homelessness, or children involved in the foster care or juvenile justice systems — groups known as “highly mobile youth.”
New report details high rates of adolescent gambling among boys and what schools can do to reduce it
More than a third of boys take up gambling before they turn 18, according to a new report from Common Sense Media that explores the concerning and explosive growth into adolescent boys’ gambling habits.
U.S. school facilities need vastly increased state and federal funding
Despite local educational agency efforts to ramp up investments in school facilities, the U.S. now faces an annual $90 billion shortfall in school facility funding after years of massive, chronic underinvestment, according to a recent report from the 21st Century School Fund, International WELL Building Institute (IWBI) and the National Council on School Facilities.
New school safety resource aims to support California’s most marginalized young people
A new toolkit from the Children’s Partnership’s All In For Safe Schools — a California-based campaign bringing together TK-12 nonprofit leaders to support educators in creating safe, welcoming and inclusive learning environments — offers a comprehensive hub designed to help educators implement safe, inclusive practices, with clear “Know Your Rights” guidance.
Celebrating California Arts Education Month
California Arts Education Month, recognized each March, is a time to celebrate, promote and advocate for high-quality arts education. The 2025 Golden Bell Award-winning Huntington Beach Academy for the Performing Arts provides pre-professional training in nine arts disciplines such as costume design, dance, various forms of music, media and theater tech to more than 700 students annually. By combining academic rigor with industry-based instruction, the magnet program prepares students for futures in the arts with A-G coursework, career technical education pathways, portfolios and real-world experience, all while fostering personal growth and well-being.
New report outlines current early education and child care policy and spending by state
The National Women’s Law Center on Jan. 9 published the report, Progress and Setbacks: State Child Care and Early Education Updates 2025, which examined depleting federal support for the child care sector and how it has impacted state spending.
Addressing trauma among young children and families is vital to long-term success
Mi Escuelita Preschool, founded in 2006, has made headlines over the last few years due to the trauma-informed learning environment it provides for students and their families, and the educational results it’s been producing.
School climate’s impact on attendance
Attendance rates improve when a school develops meaningful family engagement, and when students feel safe and have positive relationships with peers and teachers. According to new research from the University of Chicago Consortium on School Research, these positive factors of school climate have become especially impactful since the pandemic.











