District leaders want deadline extension to spend federal COVID funds

Without an extension to the deadline by which districts must spend American Rescue Plan (ARP) funds, officials say they will have to scale back pandemic investments while students are still in desperate need of additional academic and social-emotional supports. A majority of school superintendents surveyed […]

School leaders share the inside scoop on COVID-19 relief aid in new report

The state and federal government have provided local educational agencies in California with historic sums of funding to help address the most critical challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. This money continues to be essential for school districts and county offices of education to address health […]

National data emphasizes need for sustained mental health supports and training

Many students are not receiving adequate health education and services needed for healthy development, despite widespread desire expressed among education officials to address these issues, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s latest School Health Profiles. For instance, nationwide, 90 percent schools worked […]

Supporting homeless students during back-to-school season

“Back to School for Homeless Children and Youth,” a webinar hosted by the California Department of Education on Aug. 24, served as a reminder for local educational agency leaders on requirements and tips for best serving students experiencing homelessness. “This is a really important time […]

New report details how to decrease hesitancy in school threat reporting

Building trust, transparency and awareness that reports are taken seriously are among the steps local educational agencies must take to boost the rate at which threats to school safety are reported, according to new research from the U.S. Homeland Security Operational Analysis Center. Supporting Individual […]

State Board takes deep dive into assessments and the Dashboard

Accountability and assessments were key topics of the State Board of Education’s Sept. 14–15 meeting, which Board President Linda Darling-Hammond opened by applauding educators and district leaders for successfully reopening for a new school year amid significant change. Months of planning go into successful fall […]

Forty-year-old program continues boosting college-going rates

National Hispanic Heritage Month presents an opportunity for local educational agencies to evaluate how they engage Hispanic and Latino students and families and, as a result, improve graduation rates and college enrollment Since its inception at Chabot Community College in Hayward, California, in 1981, the […]

District leaders from across country seek answers on possible ARP relief spending extension

In a letter to U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona sent Aug. 29, 683 school district leaders from around the country, including 32 from California, asked for a reply to a previous letter requesting more time to spend American Rescue Plan funds. In the prior […]