Livingston Union School District (LUSD), a small, high-need district in California’s Central Valley, invested in a collaborative, equity-driven counseling model that has helped to boost student outcomes across several crucial metrics, according to a case study from the UCLA Center for the Transformation of Schools. Through sustained funding, strong leadership and clearly defined counselor roles, researchers found that the district can serve as a model for how comprehensive, equity-centered school counseling can drive meaningful outcomes for diverse student populations.
Category: Spotlight
Students at Ukiah High help to revive dormant Native language
Four seniors in the Ukiah Unified School District completed four years of study in Northern Pomo Language and Culture, marking a major milestone for Indigenous language revitalization and for public education. Two of the seniors were awarded the State Seal of Biliteracy at graduation — […]
Teen court program seeks to provide young people a path forward
Del Norte County is in the early stages of bringing back an initiative dissolved decades ago that will allow local teens who commit a first-time, non-violent offense, such as fighting, shoplifting or graffiti, to take accountability and repair harm without getting involved in the justice […]
Pasadena USD’s Wildfire Recovery Framework
The PUSD Superintendent’s Leadership Team shared its Wildfire Recovery Framework, which may serve as a helpful reference to LEA leaders looking for a starting point for their own plans.
Spotlight: Improving higher education access in the Inland Empire starts with early awareness
In a follow-up report to two recently released fact sheets detailing college access and readiness throughout the state, the Public Policy Institute of California (PPIC) homed in on pathways to college completion in the Inland Empire. While the region has a higher share of children […]
County spotlight: Supporting students and communities through traumatic moments
The Orange County Department of Education’s (OCDE) Crisis Response Network (CSN) has proven critical in recent months in providing students with real-time support during some of the most challenging moments in their lives. A winner of CSBA’s 2023 Golden Bell Award honoring excellence in education […]
AAPI Heritage Month spotlight: The importance of strong advocacy
Garvey School District trustee Andrew Yam may only be 25 years old, but his experience in policy and advocacy is extensive. Prior to his appointment to the school board, Yam was the youngest city commissioner appointed to the Monterey Park Library Board of Trustees in […]
Fresno USD’s dedicated office for African American student success focuses on academic acceleration
The California Collaborative for Educational Excellence’s (CCEE) African American Student Success Network, conducted in partnership with the California Association of African American Superintendents and Administrators, convenes four districts and three county offices of education to identify the inequities experienced by African American students in California […]
Preparing underserved students for lucrative, exciting careers
Following the success of its 2024 Cybersecurity Bootcamp Program, the San Diego County Office of Education (SDCOE) is expanding this year’s spring break program to open pathways to thriving cybersecurity careers for even more of its underserved students. The program — supported by InfraGard San […]
Black History Month spotlight: Resources to support Black student achievement
At a November webinar hosted by the California Department of Education (CDE) focused on supporting academic achievement among Black students, attendees heard from state and district-level leaders about successful initiatives and available resources.










