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 […]

School Boards in Action: 5 Questions with Marie Freitas, Manteca USD

Marie Freitas, school board president, Manteca Unified School District What does your district have planned for the 2022–23 school year to foster learning recovery and educational advancements? Manteca Unified School District continues to foster learning recovery and education advancements during the 2022–23 school year. We […]

California debuts free literacy platform focused on young learners

State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond on Aug. 31 announced the California Bilingual Early Literacy Initiative, a $27 million digital literacy partnership that will provide free bilingual early literacy assistance to California children and families through interactive eBooks, songs and games in English and […]

NGSS implementation is stagnant, though some districts making strides

Rural districts across the state are utilizing partnerships to forge ahead in implementing the California Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS), according to panelists who presented during an Aug. 16 webinar hosted by the Public Policy Institute of California. Science education was widely put on the […]

Educators share ways to address student behavioral issues, support teachers

As the new academic year begins, EdSource held a roundtable on Aug. 18 on how teachers and administrators can best handle students’ behavioral issues after experiencing isolation and other disruptions brought on by the pandemic. Panelists recalled behaviors they observed during 2021–22 and how they’re […]

Appeals court issues preliminary injunction in FCA v. San Jose Unified School District

On Aug. 29, a three-judge panel from the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals issued a preliminary injunction and ruled in a 2-1 decision that San Jose Unified School District must reinstate the Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) as an Associated Student Body-recognized club at Pioneer […]

Department of Health Care Services launches initiative to support student mental health

The California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) announced on Aug. 23 the launch of the CalHOPE Schools Initiative, featuring transformational films that speak directly to the heart of students’ social-emotional and mental health needs and customized curriculum and guides to help teachers, students and […]

Webinar offers tips for SEL curriculum implementation

During an Aug. 9 webinar, “When SEL curriculum is not enough: Integrating social-emotional behavior supports in MTSS,” hosted by Education Week and Illuminate Education, presenters offered tips for advocating for investments in social-emotional and behavioral (SEB) supports, strategies for implementation, how data can guide implementation […]

NAEP long-term trends assessment reveals first-ever decline in math for 9-year-olds

The National Assessment of Education Progress (NAEP) conducted a special administration of the NAEP long-term trend (LTT) reading and mathematics assessment for 9-year-old students to examine student achievement during the COVID-19 pandemic. The results, released Sept. 1, showed declines in both reading and math compared […]