OCDE Education in the News

Monday, January 23, 2023

OCDE NEWSROOM

Weekly roundup: Seven OC schools earn College Board’s Female Diversity Award, career technical education opportunities, and more

Seven schools in Orange County were recognized by the College Board for their work toward equal gender representation by engaging more female students in computer science. Troy High School in the Fullerton Joint Union High School District, Cypress High School and Oxford Academy in the Anaheim Union High School District, Ocean View High School and Huntington Beach High School in the Huntington Beach Union High School District, Foothill High School in the Tustin Unified School District and the Orange County High School of the Arts were recognized with the 2022 AP Computer Science Female Diversity Award on Tuesday, Jan. 17.

https://newsroom.ocde.us/weekly-roundup-seven-oc-schools-earn-college-boards-female-diversity-award-career-technical-education-opportunities-and-more/

LOS ANGELES TIMES

DAILY PILOT

Newport Harbor junior looks to create ‘Impact’ with her peers in 2022 Congressional App Challenge

Planning for the app took some four months, but once Joyce De Quiros came up with the idea, she finished it in two weeks.

https://bit.ly/3wmwBpc

Hackers penetrated LAUSD computers much earlier than previously known

An intrusion into the computer systems of the Los Angeles school district began more than a month earlier than previously disclosed and likely exposed confidential information, including Social Security numbers, of more than 500 people who worked for district contractors, according to information filed with the state.

https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2023-01-21/hackers-penetrated-l-a-unified-computer-systems-earlier-than-previously-disclosed

VOICE OF SAN DIEGO

Teachers Say TK Program for 4-Year-Olds Has Been Rushed

The teachers union at San Diego Unified School District during a hearing this month told district officials the launch of its universal kindergarten program included a virtually nonexistent curriculum, inadequate supplies, insufficient training and had been understaffed.

https://voiceofsandiego.org/2023/01/23/teachers-say-tk-program-for-4-year-olds-has-been-rushed/

USA TODAY

Sexist, racist and classist: Why the feds are getting involved in school dress codes

Students, advocates, researchers and now a congressional watchdog agency are urging public schools to rethink their dress codes, which some argue are sexist, racist and classist, foster a culture of inequity and can interfere with some kids' access to an education. One high-profile case at a North Carolina charter school – where girls were once required to wear skirts, skorts or dresses until a federal court intervened – could be heard by the U.S. Supreme Court.

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/education/2023/01/23/government-report-claims-student-uniforms-civil-rights-concern/11069539002/

SAN JOSE MERCURY NEWS

When students change gender identity, and parents don’t know Educators are facing wrenching new tensions over whether they should tell parents when students socially transition at school.

Educators are facing wrenching new tensions over whether they should tell parents when students socially transition at school.

https://www.mercurynews.com/2023/01/22/when-students-change-gender-identity-and-parents-dont-know-2/

PRESS-TELEGRAM LONG BEACH

LBUSD college-credit program successful but has low enrollment, officials say

The Long Beach school district’s dual-enrollment program, through which 11th- and 12th-graders can take college courses, has proven highly successful, officials say – but not all that popular.

https://www.presstelegram.com/2023/01/22/lbusd-college-credit-program-successful-but-has-low-enrollment-officials-say/

FRESNO BEE

Dispute over size of independent-study classes in Valley district reaches arbitration

When is an independent-study class overcrowded? That’s the gist of an ongoing dispute in Selma, where the teachers association is accusing the school district of exceeding class-size maximums — up to 50 students in one independent-study class at one time.

https://www.fresnobee.com/news/local/education-lab/article271292657.html

EDSOURCE

Los Angeles Unified cafeterias to be equipped with air conditioning

Los Angeles Unified will provide air conditioning systems to school cafeterias across the district after the school board approved a $30 million bond-funded program Tuesday. The update will reach up to 682 schools, with the goal of completing implementation at as many sites as possible before the start of the next school year.

https://edsource.org/news-updates#los-angeles-unified-cafeterias-to-be-equipped-with-air-conditioning

MODESTO BEE

Latino teens in Valley deputized as health educators where COVID vaccine fears linger

In Fresno, teens are hired as junior health promoters to conduct community outreach to boost COVID-19 vaccination rates.

https://www.modbee.com/news/coronavirus/article271467237.html

VENTURA COUNTY STAR

Ojai district approves draft plan to close 2 schools

Ojai Unified School District trustees approved a last-minute draft plan Friday night to save $3.8 million over three years by laying off more than a dozen employees and closing two schools. Last week, César Morales, Ventura County education superintendent, said in a letter that an analysis by his office showed Ojai Unified would "deplete all cash" by July 2024.

https://www.vcstar.com/story/news/2023/01/21/ojai-school-district-approves-draft-plan-to-close-2-schools/69819841007/

WHITTIER DAILY NEWS

Monterey Park schools prepare to support students in wake of mass shooting

As the Monterey Park community grapples with the raw pain and trauma caused by Saturday night’s mass shooting, local schools are upping their security and readying mental health support services.

https://www.whittierdailynews.com/2023/01/22/monterey-park-schools-prepare-to-support-students-in-wake-of-mass-shooting/

CALmatters

School funding proposal aims to achieve equity, but does it go far enough?

Black students’ standardized test scores and graduation rates have long trailed those of their white and Asian peers. For decades, educators and legislators have tried to close that achievement gap, and a school funding proposal in Gov. Gavin Newsom’s new budget illustrates just how difficult it is to do .

https://calmatters.org/education/k-12-education/2023/01/school-funding-proposal-aims-to-achieve-equity-but-does-it-go-far-enough/

OTHER NEWS OUTLETS

Santa Rosa school board to study ‘full unification’ of its 10 districts

Sweeping consolidation entails financial risk and would first appear on a ballot measure for voters to decide.

https://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/news/targeting-segregation-santa-rosa-school-board-oks-full-unification-of-it/

Anger & fear: New poll shows school-level impact of anti-LGBTQ political debate

A new poll released today by The Trevor Project finds that recent debate over state laws restricting the rights of LGBTQ young people is having a huge negative impact on their mental health, their ability to seek health care and their exposure to in-school discrimination. In the survey, conducted in October and November by Morning Consult, 71% of 716 LGBTQ respondents ages 13 to 24 said rhetoric surrounding the legislation has had a negative or very negative affect on their mental health, as did 86% of transgender and nonbinary young people.

https://www.laschoolreport.com/anger-fear-new-poll-shows-school-level-impact-of-anti-lgbtq-political-debate/

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