This Weekly Update provides members with the latest news from the association as well as important education-related developments.
CSBA was recently the subject of a malicious cyberattack resulting in outages to some internal systems, including the primary CSBA website, training registration and email marketing systems. We are working expeditiously to remedy the situation. Re-establishing access for the benefit of CSBA members is our highest priority, and all possible resources are being directed toward this purpose. In the meantime, thank you for your patience.
State assessment scores show little improvement
Students’ results on the 2025–26 California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP) were released on Oct. 15. Overall, more than half of the state’s students are not meeting proficiency in English language arts (ELA) or math, and only incremental improvements have been made over last year’s scores. In ELA, 49.26 percent of students met proficiency, up from 48.82 percent 2024–25. In math, 38.35 percent met proficiency in 2025–26, compared to 37.3 percent in 2024–25.
Black and Latino students made larger gains than their white and Asian peers, but wide achievement gaps persist, as do gaps between socioeconomically disadvantaged students and those who are not.
In a statement responding to the latest test scores, CSBA CEO & Executive Director Vernon M, Billy said,
“California’s students, educators and school leaders deserve recognition for the gains reflected in this year’s test scores, particularly the progress demonstrated by students who have historically been underserved by our education system. But we cannot confuse modest improvement with meaningful, sustained and impactful progress. When the rise in graduation rates far exceeds growth in student performance, it suggests more and more graduates have paper credentials without the level of knowledge, we, as a state, have deemed optimal to prepare them for success after high school.
Once again, the latest test score results demonstrate the need for the state to get serious about how California organizes state-level policy, funding and agencies to support the hard work being done at school districts and county offices of education. For years, the state has subjected local school districts and county offices of education to extensive scrutiny while failing to hold itself to comparable standards. We measure local performance relentlessly, but where is the equally rigorous assessment of whether the state’s own policies, investments, agencies and programs are working together effectively to help local educational agencies accelerate student achievement? Where is the accountability for the state government’s performance?”
Read Billy’s entire statement here.
Read more details about the test score release in the EdSource article »
For the first time this year, the California School Dashboard update was released at the same time as the test scores and contains statewide and district-level information on chronic absenteeism, graduation rates, suspension rates and college and career preparedness. View the Dashboard »
Legislative update: Legislature fails to address fiscal impacts of AB 218
Over the past six years CSBA — alongside fellow statewide educational advocacy organizations, school districts, county offices of education, city and county organizations and other local government advocacy groups — has been advocating for needed reforms to Assembly Bill 218 (2019). AB 218 made permanent and lasting changes to existing law expanding the ability of claimants to file suit. As a result, local public agency costs have tripled and are estimated to exceed $7 billion statewide in known liability exposure, according to the California Association of Joint Powers Authorities.
CSBA and the broader local government coalition recognizes the importance of ensuring that survivors of these atrocious criminal actions receive justice and have access to meaningful restitution. To that end, efforts were made to institute meaningful tort reform for future claims that balance the need for justice for victims while ensuring that local agencies, including school districts and COEs can provide for the public good. In response, the Legislature considered Senate Bill 577(Laird, D-Santa Cruz). Unfortunately, the bill was significantly amended with just three days remaining in the last year of the two-year 2025–26 legislative session — leaving no time for additional negotiations on needed tort reforms.
Recognizing this, in his signing message, the Governor stated that SB 577 “represents an important and necessary first step toward reform that simultaneously addresses the wrongs of the past while providing public institutions relief from certain plaintiffs and attorneys who may engage in unscrupulous conduct to exploit existing law and deprive actual victims of compensation, but I implore the Legislature to continue to make changes to further address this untenable situation.
CSBA appreciates the Governor’s signing message; however with no significant advancements in needed reforms as called for by CSBA and others, it is expected that this issue will extend into the next legislative session.
Registration temporarily postponed for upcoming conferences and events
For members who were expecting to sign up for an upcoming CSBA conference or event, registration has been temporarily postponed. CSBA will send a follow-up communication with information when the registration process has resumed or with revised launch dates for new offerings. Members who are registered for upcoming trainings and need information such as Zoom access or material links are encouraged to reach out to the Trainings team at trainings@csba.org.
For those wanting to register for CSBA’s 2026 Annual Education Conference and Trade Show (AEC), members with an existing CSBA member ID can do so at aec.csba.org. New members without an existing ID cannot register at this time. Contact aec@csba.org to find out more about registering for AEC.
Engage in discussions, gain valuable insights and hear from inspiring speakers at AEC’s meal functions, including the Dec. 3 Trending Topics: Declining Enrollment luncheon and the Dec. 4 Small School Districts luncheon focusing on special education. If you haven’t yet registered for AEC, you may add a meal function as part of your registration options. To add a meal function to your existing AEC registration, email csba@maritz.com or call 864-641-6838.
CSBA and UCLA partner up for superintendent evaluation research
CSBA is leading a statewide study of superintendent evaluation practices in partnership with the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). As part of this effort, all district superintendent and board presidents received a statewide survey of current superintendent evaluation practices on Oct. 9.
Superintendent evaluation is one of a board’s most consequential governance responsibilities, yet there is no current statewide picture of how California boards approach it. Findings from this survey will inform updated CSBA guidance and resources that reflect what is working in the field and where more support is needed. The survey closes Oct. 30.
State update: Community school grant funding applications close Nov. 1
The 2026–27 State Budget provides $1 billion in ongoing Proposition 98 funding to sustain and expand the community school model to additional school sites serving high-need student populations. This new, ongoing funding will provide continued resources to current grantees while expanding access to the community school model to additional eligible school sites through the California Community Schools Partnership Program (CCSPP). Under the new CCSPP, a school site is eligible if, based on the previous year’s fall census data, it has more than 65 percent unduplicated pupils and 10 or more enrolled students. Eligible school sites may receive annual funding ranging from $75,000 to $400,000 based on enrollment and must commit to implementing the community school model aligned with the California Community Schools Framework. For the 2026–27 school year, LEAs must apply by opting in no later than Nov. 1 for eligible school sites. Email questions to CCSPP@cde.ca.gov. Learn more »
In other state news:
- Five exceptional educators have been awarded as 2027 California Teachers of the Year, recognizing their outstanding commitment to students, schools and communities across the state. The winners are: Katie Andan, a fifth-grade teacher at La Costa Heights Elementary School in Encinitas Union School District; Gagik Galfayan, a middle school history teacher at Woodrow Wilson Middle School in Glendale Unified School District; Edmund Maino, a high school Advanced Placement government, macroeconomics, economy and history teacher at Tehachapi High School in Tehachapi USD; Wendy Saldivar, a fifth-grade multiple-subject Spanish dual immersion teacher at Loara Elementary School in Anaheim Elementary School District; and Ashley Uraine, a high school clinical medical assistant teacher at Yucaipa High School in the Colton-Redlands-Yucaipa Regional Occupational Program District.
Small Schools, Big Ideas: Larkspur-Corte Madera SD takes a holistic approach to edtech
A recent CSBA blog is shining a light on the thoughtful technology policies being implemented in the Larkspur-Corte Madera School District (LCMSD). The start to the school year looked different in 2026–27, with the first two weeks being device free in the K-8 district, which serves about 1,200 students in the Bay Area. Each grade level received six lessons focused on digital citizenship and wellness created by Common Sense Media. Educators focused on creating a positive classroom climate and culture, setting expectations for technology use and how to work and engage with one another. “It’s been a multi-year process that involves stakeholder voice and input and meaningful participation, as well as taking a look at research,” said LCMSD Superintendent Brett Geithman. Read more on the CSBA blog »
Business Affiliate spotlight: National Demographics Corporation
A recent research paper by the National Demographics Corporation, a CSBA Business Affiliate, outlines best practices for closing schools in response to factors like declining enrollment, underused facilities, staffing challenges, aging campuses and tight budgets. “Closing Schools Without Breaking Trust: Best Practices for California School Districts Facing Declining Enrollment” acknowledges how hard school closure decisions are for school boards, especially due to families that may experience the closure as a “loss, threat or betrayal.”
The paper argues that California districts should treat school closure not as a last-minute budget maneuver, but as a long-term educational redesign process. “The best processes begin long before a district is in crisis, before specific schools are named, and before trust has collapsed. They start with developing an educational vision, establishing public criteria, publishing data before recommendations, evaluating multiple scenarios, conducting equity analyses early, engaging labor and community partners, and providing detailed transition guarantees before any final vote,” according to the paper. Read a summary on the CSBA blog »
