By CSBA President Dr. Emma Turner In education circles in California and nationally, the fundamental question is this: How do we ensure all public schools are high quality? In Sacramento, much of the debate focuses on charter schools, as the Legislature considers several related bills […]
Category: Effective Governance
Effective Governance
Districts encouraged to step up to the plate for summer meals
Only 14 percent of children eligible for subsidized summer lunches receive one, according to new analysis from California Food Policy Advocates. Further, one in five low-income schools have no open summer meal site within one mile and more than 800 public schools have no open […]
Commentary: Opportunity knocks for school funding
by Emma Turner The funding challenges facing California public schools are many and varied, and so are the ways in which CSBA is addressing them. By now, you’re aware of CSBA’s initiative to secure Full and Fair Funding for K-12 public schools by raising per-pupil […]
Record number of board members advocate for education on Legislative Action Day
More than 260 board members and superintendents representing more than 150 school districts and county offices of education across California met at the Capitol on March 12 to advocate for the state’s K-12 public schools and its more than 6 million students — with Full […]
Charter school transparency bill signed into law by Gov. Gavin Newsom
In a decision that validated years of CSBA advocacy on the issue of charter school transparency, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed Senate Bill 126 (Leyva and O’Donnell) into law on March 5. The CSBA-supported legislation echoes many of the recommendations found in CSBA’s Charter School Task […]
Board members can make a difference in education at the state level
As elected representatives on matters related to public schools, it is essential that the board member perspective be reflected in major education initiatives. For this reason, CSBA encourages its members to apply for positions on the various committees that influence and craft California education policy. […]
Legislative Update: SB 126 passes Assembly Education Committee, heads to floor
On Tuesday, Feb. 26, Senate Bill 126 (Leyva and O’Donnell), a charter school transparency bill, passed the Assembly Education Committee with a 5-1 vote and was sent to the Assembly Floor, where it is likely to be taken up for a vote this week. SB […]
Budget battles hit schools as Oakland Unified teachers go on strike
Oakland Unified School District teachers walked out of their classes Thursday, Feb. 21. As part of the strike, the Oakland Education Association, a union representing teachers, is asking for a 12 percent raise over three years, smaller class sizes and the hiring of more counselors […]
Governance team role, effectiveness cited as critical at CCEE meeting
The important role of governance teams and their ties to district success was highlighted at the Feb. 7 California Collaborative for Educational Excellence board meeting in downtown Sacramento. In addition to its main role working with the California Department of Education and county offices of […]
Hard-hit educators testify on wildfire response and recovery at state hearing
Educators from across California provided emotional testimony at a Feb. 6 hearing about the impact of recent wildfires on schools and communities. In what several speakers called the “new normal” due to climate change and a now year-round fire season, firestorms have caused unprecedented damage […]









