Results from a recent survey of 200 National School Public Relations Association (NSPRA) members from K-12 districts nationwide found that artificial intelligence (AI) tools are rapidly transforming how school districts connect with their communities, and details how these tools are being used and what policies, […]
San Mateo COE plants seeds to further environmental literacy
This spring, the San Mateo County Office of Education and nonprofit Ten Strands announced the launch of Seeds to Solutions — high-quality and free age-appropriate curriculum materials that educators can access to teach K-12 students about environmental literacy.
California student immunization requirements
For many families, August is for frenzied back-to-school shopping and reestablishing morning routines to get children to class on time. However, August is also National Immunization Awareness Month — the perfect opportunity for schools, as well as parents and guardians, to review student vaccination records, […]
Report explains how and why teens are using AI companions
A recent national representative survey of 13- to 17-year-olds found that 72 percent of teens have interacted with artificial intelligence (AI) companions, with 52 percent deemed as regular users who access the platforms “a few times a month or more,” 21 percent using it a few times per week and 13 percent utilizing it daily.
Digital access is at an all-time high in California, but disparities remain
A new fact sheet from the Pubic Policy Institute of California (PPIC) found that a record-high 96 percent of Californians had access to internet, including satellite, at home in 2023 — up from 92 percent in 2019. Increases were especially strong among groups that, prior […]
Navigating opt-out requests in light of Mahmoud v. Taylor
In response to learning that some school districts and county offices of education (COEs) expect a high volume of opt-out requests based on the recent Supreme Court decision, CSBA offers some key considerations for creating opt-out procedures and forms. On July 7, CSBA issued “Policy implications of […]
Research identifies the good, bad and ugly factors associated with smartphone ownership among youth
A recent study of young people’s digital media revealed some unsurprising results (e.g. experiencing cyberbullying is connected to depression) as well as a few surprising findings, including evidence that smartphone ownership may actually benefit children. The survey — which was conducted by researchers from seven […]
Early literacy assessment outcomes show promising progress
A new report from Amplify, a curriculum and assessment company, provided a mixed bag of good and bad news surrounding early literacy. First, the good news: more young students are on track to learn to read and fewer are behind than during the pandemic. End-of-year […]
New report provides recommendations for supporting Native American youth experiencing homelessness
California has one of the highest rates of homelessness among Native American students, according to a new report from Schoolhouse Connection, a national homeless youth advocacy group. During the 2022–23 school year, approximately 450,000 Native American students were enrolled in public schools across the U.S., […]
CSBA-sponsored legislation continues to see success
July 18 marked the second house policy committee deadline where, predominantly, the Assembly policy committees heard Senate bills, and the Senate policy committees heard Assembly bills. Typically, the houses apply greater scrutiny to the opposing house’s legislation. The Legislature has begun its four-week summer recess […]










