For the three in 10 California children ages 12-17 who report symptoms that meet the criteria for serious psychological distress, the Children and Youth Behavioral Health Initiative and the California Community Schools Partnership Program are crucial lifelines. The two programs invest a combined $8 billion in the mental health of children and teens, including school-based services.
Policy considerations related to César Chávez holiday and renaming facilities
In light of recent allegations against César Chávez, local educational agencies (LEAs) have received numerous questions regarding whether to celebrate the upcoming César Chávez state holiday on March 31, 2026, and how to rename schools and other facilities named after Chávez. César Chávez holiday LEAs are not mandated to observe the César Chávez holiday and CSBA sample Board Policy/Administrative Regulation (BP/AR) 6115 – Ceremonies and Observances does not list it as a mandatory holiday. Nevertheless, many LEAs observe the César Chávez holiday because Education Code Section […]
Report highlights importance of guaranteed paid parental leave for teachers
The U.S. is the sole high-income country that lacks guaranteed paid parental leave, according to the National Council on Teacher Quality’s (NCTQ) January report State of the States: Investing in Teachers and Families Through Paid Parental Leave. This leaves teachers, a woman-dominated field, without needed support and causes many to exit the profession or never enter it at all.
California students’ chronic absenteeism rates remain above pre-pandemic levels
Rates of chronic absenteeism in California still haven’t returned to pre-pandemic levels, according to a March fact sheet by the Public Policy Institute of California that gives an overview of the topic.
Legislators and CSBA announce SOS for Student Achievement legislative package at Capitol press event
On March 17, Assemblymembers Darshana Patel (D-San Diego), Rhodesia Ransom (D-Tracy) and Al Muratsuchi (D-Torrance) joined CSBA CEO & Executive Director Vernon M. Billy, CSBA President Dr. Debra Schade and Hope Elementary School District Superintendent Melanie Matta at the Capitol to unveil the SOS for Student Achievement: Close the state accountability gap campaign and related legislation to improve overall student performance, close achievement gaps and establish comprehensive state-level support for local school districts and county offices of education.
Teen survey results show the majority of teens support cellphone restriction policies, but flout the rules anyway
The majority of both teens and adults support cellphone restrictions in schools, despite reporting no major positive impacts from this shift in policy, according to recent research from the Brookings Institution.
CalKIDS scholarships support California students
The California Kids Investment and Development Savings Program (CalKIDS) provides young people with a jumpstart in affording to pursue college and career training by automatically offering scholarships of up to $1,5000 to eligible public school students and all Californians born on or after July 1, 2022.
SBE study sessions cover Portrait of a Graduate and accountability while the board takes action on Dashboard indicators
The California State Board of Education’s (SBE) March 11-12 meeting included two study sessions on topics related to the developing state Portrait of a Graduate/Learner and the role of differentiated assistance (DA) in the Statewide System of Support, as well as the adoption of a Personal Finance Curriculum Guide and changes to several indicators and other factors on the California School Dashboard.
Time is running out to secure federal energy incentives
By Thomas Jackson and Bruce Dickinson Across California, public agencies have invested in energy modernization projects, including solar, battery storage and energy efficiency, to cut operating costs and protect their budgets against rising utility rates. The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) provides substantial tax credits in […]
California improves ranking in all measures of school finance
Education Law Center’s Making the Grade report is an annual overview of school finance in the United States. The current report presents a picture of school funding in the 2022–23 school year, the most recent data available. The report provides a comparative analysis of the […]











