The California Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CTC) on Feb. 12-13 discussed the extension of substitute teaching time limits; revised Teacher Performance Assessment (TPA) standards and the new TPA Pass Rate Identification Framework; supplementary and subject matter authorizations; and received presentations on two annual reports. CTC […]
Parents keep asking schools for help. Here’s what belongs at home
Commentary by Melanie Waffle I serve on a school board, and I’m also a mom. That means I live in two parallel worlds: the public one, where policy is debated under the lights and eyes of a public meeting and the private one, where someone […]
2026 children’s report card finds California earns a C average in education
The 2026 California Children’s Report Card, developed by Children Now, is a comprehensive report on children’s well-being in the state. It grades the state on its ability to support better outcomes for kids, from prenatal to age 26, across 30 key children’s issues, including health, […]
CDE webinar spotlights important considerations for closing literacy gaps among Black students
The California Department of Education (CDE) hosted a webinar in January to equip local educational agency leaders, educators and other stakeholders with best practices and actionable strategies to improve literacy outcomes for Black students. With Black History Month in full swing, now is a perfect time for administrators and governance teams to revisit the discussion.
CDE webinar shares district strategies for dealing with immigration enforcement activities
A webinar hosted by the California Department of Education (CDE) on Feb. 4 highlighted how some districts are working with community partners and families to create a culture of safety and belonging for immigrant students and families. “Including Immigrant Students and Families: Cultivating Community Partnership […]
One school’s effort to get kids moving has improved student behavior and climate
The Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) team and leadership at Avalon Elementary in the Val Verde Unified School District adopted a simple change to the school’s morning routine that has led to positive shifts in student behavior and campus culture.
CSBA Counties Governance Workshop preview: Q&A with André V. Chapman, Fostering Promise president and CEO
André V. Chapman, CEO and president of Fostering Promise, a nonprofit that aims to ensure every young person aging out of foster care has access to a successful future, will participate in a panel at the 2026 CSBA Counties Governance Workshop, March 11-12 in San Diego, on supporting foster youth.
Making summer school more effective
Because of its growth potential and consistent impact across local educational agencies, a recent NWEA brief, “School’s in for summer: A scalable and effective post-pandemic academic intervention,” concluded that summer school is “a reliable intervention for supporting district-wide math recovery.”
Report finds need for more coherence within the Statewide System of Support
A December report summarizes the findings of a working group convened last year by the California Collaborative for Educational Excellence to determine how effectively the Statewide System of Support’s current structure — including the layers of technical assistance embedded in it, such as differentiated assistance and direct technical assistance — is supporting local educational agencies.
Disproportionate discipline remains an issue in California schools, but LEAs can turn things around
Despite the passage of legislation banning willful defiance suspensions, research from the UCLA Center for the Transformation of Schools found that racial disparities in suspension rates have remained mostly unchanged.











