The U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR) on Nov. 15 released new civil rights data from the 2020–21 school year, the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic. This is the first Civil Rights Data Collection (CRDC) since the 2017–18 school year. Accompanying the data are […]
Author: Kimberly Sellery
CSBA Member Services Chief featured on state education panel
On Nov. 7, Capitol Weekly hosted a conference on education policy featuring a panel on the role of school boards. CSBA Member Services Chief Amy Christianson shared the stage with Marshall Tuck, CEO of EdVoice; Richard Zeiger, founder of Zeiger Strategies and former California Chief […]
CSBA’s ELA submits amicus letter in support of blocking proposed tax measure
On Nov. 9, CSBA’s Education Legal Alliance (ELA) filed an amicus letter urging the California Supreme Court to hear the case of Legislature of the State of California et al v. Weber (Hiltachk). In a unique procedural process, the petitioners in the case, the state […]
Legal update: Pregnant Workers Fairness Act
Under federal and state law, discrimination in employment, including sex discrimination, which is defined to include pregnancy, childbirth and related medical conditions, has long been unlawful. Specifically, federal Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, as amended by the Pregnancy Discrimination Act, and California Government […]
First cohort evaluation: 21st Century California School Leadership
The 21st Century California School Leadership Academy (21CSLA) was established by Senate Bill 75 in 2019 as part of the Statewide System of Support (SSOS). The purpose of 21CSLA is to provide high-quality, equity-centered professional learning for school and district leaders in California. The initiative […]
Commission on Teacher Credentialing evaluates its assessments
The Oct. 12-13 meeting of the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CTC) primarily focused on the state’s teaching performance assessments (TPAs), with commission staff presenting an analysis of TPA passing scores between 2018–23. While just an information item, the robust discussion between commissioners and a […]
Free violence prevention trainings available through Project Cal-STOP
Project Cal-STOP is a violence prevention and mental health training program for students and staff in California schools. Launched by the California Department of Education in 2019 with funding from the STOP (Student, Teachers and Officers Preventing) School Violence grants from the U.S. Department of […]
Judge denies dismissal of case involving teachers’ objection to student privacy rights
On Sept. 14, 2023, Judge Roger Benitez of the United States District Court of the Southern District of California issued an order granting two teachers’ motion for preliminary injunction and denying the motions of the Escondido Union School District, the members of the California State […]
CSBA webinar addresses AB 1078 and its immediate impacts
CSBA hosted a webinar, “AB 1078 is more than meets the eye: What governing boards need to know,” on Sept. 28, just three days after Gov. Gavin Newsom signed the bill into law, which went into effect immediately. The webinar featured experts from CSBA’s Governmental […]
California education leaders work to combat rising antisemitism through education and state initiatives
The California Department of Education on Aug. 23 hosted a roundtable discussion, Education to End Hate: Countering Antisemitism, with influential community and legislative leaders who are working to counter the current rise in antisemitism and hate-related crimes. According to the Federal Bureau of Investigation, while […]










