Last week, Gov. Gavin Newsom announced a notable shift from his predecessors’ policies pertaining to school facilities. When the voters of California approved Proposition 51 in 2016, which provided $7 billion for K-12 school facilities construction and modernization projects, then-Gov. Jerry Brown was less than […]
Author: Kimberly Sellery
State Board adopts new requirements for districts in LCAP process
Interim changes are coming to the Local Control Accountability Plan template, but a much larger revision is likely still a few years out. As part of that process, the State Board of Education approved a new LCAP section at its January meeting. The revision is […]
What the $3 billion CalSTRS proposal in the 2019-20 budget means for local schools
About 20 minutes into last week’s marathon budget press conference, Gov. Gavin Newsom began discussing the issue of pension cost increases – and was kind enough to name-drop California school board members and CSBA in the process. Watch a clip of Gov. Newsom discussing pension […]
Brief illustrates alarming health and well-being data for LGB youths in California
Lesbian, gay and bisexual youths in California experience negative behaviors and consequences at about twice the rate of their straight peers, according to a new Kidsdata issue brief. Those behaviors and outcomes for LGB youths include higher alcohol and drug use, more common feelings of […]
CSBA institute helps new board members answer ‘what’s next?’
From the Redwood Coast to the Coachella Valley, about 80 newly elected district and county board members gathered Jan. 3-4 in Sacramento to focus on “what’s next.” With their campaigns finished and a largely procedural first board meeting under their belts, attendees learned about effective […]
Attorney General echoes CSBA’s call for greater charter school transparency
On Dec. 26, when Californians were more focused on holiday celebrations than legal matters, the state’s Attorney General published a report with enormous implications for charter schools and their authorizers. The 23-page opinion assessed issues of transparency, accountability and conflict of interest and concluded that […]
Students who engage in civic life are healthier, aim higher — but gaps exist
Higher rates of teenage civic engagement are tied to being healthier, missing fewer days of school, receiving better grades and having higher aspirations of attending college, according to a new study by the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research. Researchers also found vast differences in […]
Issues with impact: Highlights from CSBA publications in 2018
In 2018, CSBA’s staff, members and partners explored some of the most pressing subjects facing California’s schools and our 6.2 million students. We had a lot to choose from – the issues schools grapple with have never been more numerous, more varied or more complex. […]
Federal commission releases school safety report; sparks debate about student discipline
Recommendation to roll back Obama-era guidance largely moot in light of California state law A wide-ranging report has intensified the debate over appropriate methods of discipline in a time of increasing concern about student safety. On Tuesday, Dec. 18, the Federal Commission on School Safety […]
Bolstering your district’s LCAP stakeholder engagement might not involve the term ‘LCAP’
When it comes to promoting meaningful community and student engagement and input, schools and districts might want to consider a jolting principle: Why even use the acronym “LCAP” when initially communicating with the audience? Do they know what it is and will using the term […]











