California will change its school masking policy from “required” to “strongly recommended” beginning March 12, according to a joint release in which Gov. Gavin Newsom joined the governors of Oregon and Washington in announcing new masking policies. The decision to sunset the statewide mask mandate was accompanied by […]
As of November 2021, district leaders were more concerned about the mental health of students, teachers and principals, in that order, than student engagement, student discipline, student and teacher attendance and declined enrollment, according to a RAND Corporation poll, “District Leaders’ Concerns About Mental Health […]
Senate Bill 328 (2019), also known as the late start bill goes into effect July 1, 2022. The bill, which was codified in Education Code 46148, mandates that the school day cannot begin before 8 a.m. for middle schools, and 8:30 a.m. for high schools. […]
In a press conference today, Gov. Gavin Newsom announced a “more sensible and sustainable health care approach based on lessons learned to prepare for the unknown.” The SMARTER Plan addresses: Shots – Vaccines are the most powerful weapon against hospitalization and serious illness Masks – […]
In its first meeting of the year, the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing on Feb. 10–11 took on a packed agenda that contained updates on work relating to early childhood education, rich discussions about the use of Teacher Performance Assessments (TPAs), and early steps in creating […]
Multiple school districts and county offices of education have recently received California Public Records Act or Freedom of Information Act requests for copies of board members’ “surety bonds.” The request may claim that all public officials, including elected board members, are required to obtain a […]
To help ensure that the state’s approximately 10,500 schools have safe facilities in which to learn, California provides funding to school districts for facility construction, modernization and alteration through the School Facilities Program. The California State Auditor on Jan. 27 released an audit of the […]
By Wasan Kumar, Anisha Patel, and Christina Hecht Should drinking fountains be turned off because of the COVID-19 pandemic? Public health experts say, “no.” Despite perceived concerns by some, the virus causing COVID-19 has not been found to transmit through drinking water. Moreover, the risk […]
As the COVID-19 pandemic drags on, schools are struggling to fill teaching positions — and not only due to exposure to the virus. A new report by the Learning Policy Institute, Teacher Shortages During the Pandemic: How California Districts Are Responding, shares the results of […]
This Black History Month, CSBA spotlights programs helping to close opportunity and achievement gaps. In Bakersfield City School District, a program for African American students is empowering young people to challenge common notions and media portrayals of what it is to be a Black youth […]
