A day after Gov. Gavin Newsom provided his State of the State address to a joint session of the State Legislature, which included several significant sneak peeks of major educational proposals that are a part of his overall proposed budget, the Department of Finance presented the Governor’s proposed budget for the coming 2026–27 fiscal year on Jan. 9. Notably, it includes another manipulation of Proposition 98 that foretells serious concerns about how the state may continue to approach public education funding.
Insights on building family engagement
Strong family engagement at schools can support student achievement and help combat chronic absence. Yet, too often, parents are sidelined in their student’s education, according to Centering Families in the Future of Education: Insights and Perspectives from 10 Years of Research, a recent report from Learning Heroes.
Governor’s proposal to reform CDE echoes CSBA’s call for greater state alignment and accountability
Proposal correctly diagnoses lack of state-level coherence as major issue and opens door to more comprehensive solution that supports local school districts in driving student performance and closing achievement gaps The logic behind Gov. Gavin Newsom’s proposal to unite the State Board of Education with […]
Sustainable funding needed to continue reducing youth homelessness
Recent gains made across California to reduce the number of homeless youth and provide support to children may see a reversal due to proposed funding cuts for safety net programs that support aging foster youth and other young people facing housing instability, according to a […]
Legal update: Parental notification of students’ gender identity
In a decision granting a motion for summary judgment issued on Dec, 22 in the case Mirabelli v. Olson, a federal district court judge in San Diego ruled that parents have the constitutional right to be notified when their child requests to change their gender presentation at school and that school districts cannot prohibit teachers from sharing information about a student’s gender with parents.
President signs Secure Rural Schools Act into law
The Secure Rural Schools Act provides payments to counties and public schools on federal forest land, sustaining services and school programs and preventing the closure of numerous isolated rural schools. Nationally, more than 4,400 rural schools across 41 states receive SRS funds.
Resources for School Board Recognition Month
School Board Recognition Month is observed annually in January and serves as a time to celebrate California’s more than 5,000 school district and county office of education trustees.
Demand for after-school programming is vast and unmet
Afterschool Alliance’s latest report in its America After 3PM series, Lost Opportunity: Afterschool in Demand, But Out of Reach for Many, offers information on the experiences and needs of children and families between 3 and 6 p.m. when the school day is done but many parents are still finishing their work day.
CCEE holds final meeting of 2025
The Dec. 18 California Collaborative for Educational Excellence (CCEE) board meeting largely focused on data.
California’s mission to reduce chronic absenteeism by 50 percent
A recent evaluation by EdTrust provides insights on how 23 states, including California, are addressing chronic absenteeism.











