Years of research have shown that a diverse teacher workforce helps to close achievement gaps for students of color while providing educational benefits to all students. Yet nationally, while almost 50 percent of students identify as people of color, more than 80 percent of public […]
California school mask mandate ends March 11
California will change its school masking policy from “required” to “strongly recommended” beginning March 12, according to a joint release in which Gov. Gavin Newsom joined the governors of Oregon and Washington in announcing new masking policies. The decision to sunset the statewide mask mandate was accompanied by […]
CDE task force, youth panel webinar aim to support Black students
This Black History Month, CSBA spotlights programs helping to close opportunity and achievement gaps. Efforts to support Black students and community members shouldn’t be exclusive to the month of February. Recognizing the systemic and institutional racism that has impacted the education and lives of Black […]
State assessments grant incentivizes competency-based models
The U.S. Department of Education opened the application process for the Competitive Grants for State Assessments program, which this year will prioritize plans that use multiple measures of academic achievement and follow a competency-based model. The CGSA program provides states an opportunity to enhance the […]
Tackling child poverty
California’s poverty rate, already the highest in the nation before the pandemic, is likely to have increased in 2021, impacting children statewide. However, according to the Urban Institute, reviving one strategy alone could reduce child poverty by 50 percent or more in 11 states and […]
Funding opportunities to diversify the teacher workforce
Research has demonstrated time and time again that all students thrive when exposed to teachers with more diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds. A recent guidebook from the UCLA Center for the Transformation of Schools aims to support local educational agencies in their efforts to recruit […]
District leaders identify mental health of students and staff as top concern
As of November 2021, district leaders were more concerned about the mental health of students, teachers and principals, in that order, than student engagement, student discipline, student and teacher attendance and declined enrollment, according to a RAND Corporation poll, “District Leaders’ Concerns About Mental Health […]
Late start goes into effect July 1. Are you ready?
Senate Bill 328 (2019), also known as the late start bill goes into effect July 1, 2022. The bill, which was codified in Education Code 46148, mandates that the school day cannot begin before 8 a.m. for middle schools, and 8:30 a.m. for high schools. […]
Gov. Newsom announces next phase in pandemic response
In a press conference today, Gov. Gavin Newsom announced a “more sensible and sustainable health care approach based on lessons learned to prepare for the unknown.” The SMARTER Plan addresses: Shots – Vaccines are the most powerful weapon against hospitalization and serious illness Masks – […]
COE collaborative working to address wellness and mental health
What began as a collaboration with the California Department of Education to roll out an online suicide prevention training to county offices of education across the state has morphed into an ongoing group effort to address the mental health and wellness needs of K-12 students […]











