OCDE Education in the News

Wednesday, June 3, 2020

OCDE NEWSROOM

OCDE forms youth council to tackle substance abuse and promote mental health

OCDE’s Friday Night Live program has launched a student advisory group to help drive countywide substance abuse prevention efforts and mental health initiatives from a youth perspective. The Orange County Youth Council includes students from across the county who are part of FNL chapters at their high schools — or are members of the statewide FNL California Youth Council. Aided by technologies that have become ubiquitous during social distancing, the group is already developing virtual campaigns to connect with young people and parents.

https://newsroom.ocde.us/ocde-forms-youth-council-to-tackle-substance-abuse-and-promote-mental-health/

ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

Stonecliffe community in Trabuco Canyon holds a ‘pop-up’ graduation ceremony

Nearly two dozen residents of the Stonecliffe gated community in Trabuco Canyon had their own graduation ceremony on Friday, May 29, despite the coronavirus pandemic. A row of cars paraded around the neighborhood, with people holding up signs to celebrate the occasion. Parents handed out “diplomas” to their kids, and resident and Anaheim Ducks play-by-play announcer John Ahlers shared words of encouragement for the graduates.

https://www.ocregister.com/2020/06/02/stonecliffe-community-in-trabuco-canyon-holds-a-pop-up-graduation-ceremony/

More than 100 people gather in Los Alamitos to protest police brutality

In the small bedroom community of Los Alamitos, more than 100 protesters gathered Tuesday, June 2, to add to the millions of voices nationwide decrying police brutality. Organized by teenagers, the event was held outside Los Alamitos High. Superintendent Andrew Pulver said the school district did not play a role in the protest or know who coordinated it.

https://www.ocregister.com/2020/06/02/more-than-100-people-gather-in-los-alamitos-to-protest-police-brutality/

LOS ANGELES TIMES

UC is dropping the SAT. But competitive students are still taking it

The University of California made headlines by dropping SAT and ACT requirements. But students should still take them, many high school counselors say.

https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2020-06-03/uc-is-dropping-the-sat-and-act-but-high-school-counselors-say-students-should-take-the-test

SACRAMENTO BEE

Sports canceled? Students in masks? Sacramento health officials urge big changes for schools

Schools in Sacramento County will likely stagger class schedules in the fall and many sports, large gatherings and music activities could be canceled for the 2020-21 academic year as districts respond to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

https://www.sacbee.com/news/local/education/article243047876.html

VOICE OF SAN DIEGO

An Enrollment Crisis Is Coming for School Districts

If even a small number of parents choose not to send their kids back to traditional schools in the fall, it could trigger a massive funding crisis and sever the longtime link between neighborhoods and schools.

https://www.voiceofsandiego.org/topics/education/an-enrollment-crisis-is-coming-for-school-districts/

SAN JOSE MERCURY NEWS

How to talk to your children about protests and racism

As cities and social media explode with anger over the killing of yet another black man at the hands of police, worried parents struggle with how to protect their children from seeing the worst of the violence while simultaneously explaining the ravages of racism. It couldn’t have come at a worse time. Sheltering at home for months to avoid the deadly coronavirus, many parents stressed by juggling work and child care from home had eased their restrictions on screen time for their children.

https://www.mercurynews.com/2020/06/01/how-to-talk-to-your-children-about-protests-and-racism/

EDSOURCE

Most California districts would get more in federal aid than they’d lose in budget cuts

State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond and coalitions of labor and school district groups are asserting that California schools won’t be able to open safely if Congress doesn’t provide more aid to cope with the coronavirus pandemic. Yet by one measure, school districts collectively would get nearly as much in already promised federal aid as their proposed state funding would be cut in 2020-21. And many districts may get more than they’ll lose in state aid.

https://edsource.org/2020/most-california-districts-would-get-more-in-federal-aid-than-theyd-lose-in-budget-cuts-why-they-say-thats-not-the-full-story

DATABASE: Federal aid helps some California schools more than others under governor's plan

Federal stimulus funding is coming to the aid of California’s school districts. The federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act that Congress passed in March allocated some aid directly to K-12 schools. The CARES Act also includes education funding for each state. The combination of Congress’ allocation and Gov. Gavin Newsom’s plan to distribute money would cover more than 90 percent of the proposed $6.4 billion cut to K-12 education funding Newsom is proposing for 2020-21 year due to a massive loss of tax revenue.

https://edsource.org/2020/database-federal-aid-helps-some-california-schools-more-than-others-under-governors-plan/632948

NPR

Hundreds of Sacramento Kids Stopped Schooling Due To COVID-19

More than 500 Sacramento kids have lost touch with the Sacramento City Unified School District since schools closed their doors in mid-March to prevent the spread of COVID-19. The number of kids who hadn’t started the distance-learning process was initially higher — 1,636 students — but school district employees have whittled the number of kids down by calling, texting and emailing families over the past few weeks. Now, school officials are trying to reconnect with the kids who are hardest to reach, by visiting children’s homes one-by-one.

https://www.capradio.org/articles/2020/06/02/hundreds-of-sacramento-kids-stopped-schooling-due-to-covid-19/

HuffPost

Amid Uprisings, Schools Consider Terminating Their Contracts With Police

The number of cops in schools has exploded in the last two decades. Now, some districts are starting to take a second look.

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/police-in-schools_n_5ed6803ec5b68a110026cd58

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