OCDE Education in the News

Monday, May 10, 2021

OCDE NEWSROOM

OCDE students reflect on sacrifice, gratitude in Memorial Day essay contestOCDE students reflect on sacrifice, gratitude in Memorial Day essay contest

When he was younger, Vincent Wilson would spend Memorial Day listening to stories from his great-grandfather and his great-uncle about their World War II service. Years later, the day would be spent in remembrance of them. Wilson, who penned a personal reflection on the holiday dedicated to those who made the ultimate sacrifice for their country, earned top honors in the seventh annual Jack R. Hammett Memorial Day Essay Contest, which is organized annually by the Orange County Board of Education for students enrolled in OCDE’s alternative education program, or ACCESS.

https://newsroom.ocde.us/ocde-students-reflect-on-sacrifice-gratitude-in-memorial-day-essay-contest/

Foothill High students create posters to celebrate Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month

A student group from Foothill High School has created a series of ten stylized posters in honor of Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, each commemorating an important historical figure with an inspirational quote. Designed by members of Foothill High’s Student Activists Club, the posters are being displayed on campuses throughout the Tustin Unified School District “to celebrate the diversity within the TUSD community and encourage students to reach their fullest potential, especially academically,” the district said.

https://newsroom.ocde.us/foothill-students-create-posters-to-celebrate-asian-american-and-pacific-islander-heritage-month/

COVID-19 update: State updates guidance for vaccinated workers, school buses, field trips and more

New guidance from the California Department of Public Health clarifies that fully-vaccinated workers in non-healthcare settings — including teachers and other school staff — who have been exposed to COVID-19 but remain asymptomatic do not need to be quarantined or otherwise be excluded from the workplace. Based on an executive order from last year, the CDPH guidance supersedes standards previously set by Cal/OSHA.

https://newsroom.ocde.us/coronavirus-update/

LOS ANGELES TIMES

DAILY PILOT

Estancia High engineering team builds a better car, wins Energy Invitational

In their first Vital Link Energy Invitational Engineering Design Competition, seniors built an electric car that based on initial testing will travel 30 mph for over an hour on $1 of fuel.

https://www.latimes.com/socal/daily-pilot/news/story/2021-05-07/estancia-high-engineering-team-builds-a-better-car-wins-energy-invitational

California high schoolers are saying no thanks to reopened campuses and are staying home

The ‘Zoom in a room’ option for in-person schooling — the format for high schools in Los Angeles and San Francisco — has failed to draw back the vast majority of students. Although official attendance data have not yet been released, a survey of L.A. Unified parents indicated that about 17% of high school students would come back to campus.

https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2021-05-09/no-show-high-school-students-reject-covid-reopening-rules

SACRAMENTO BEE

Sacramento parents have a new school option: Virtual academies

The pandemic sent thousands of public school students in the Sacramento region home. And some will choose to stay there in the fall, even as schools prepare for more robust in-person instruction.

https://www.sacbee.com/article250950649.html

SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE

S.F. high school seniors can return to campus for final few weeks, teachers union says

Seniors in San Francisco public high schools can head back to campus for classes in the final few weeks of the school year before graduation, teachers union officials announced over the weekend.

https://www.sfchronicle.com/local/article/S-F-high-school-seniors-can-return-to-campus-for-16163947.php

NEW YORK TIMES

Schools Are Open, but Many Families Remain Hesitant to Return

Even as fears of the coronavirus abate, many students are continuing to opt out of in-person learning. Some school leaders are trying to woo — or push — them back.

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/05/09/us/covid-school-reopening-virtual-learning.html

SAN JOSE MERCURY NEWS

Will Bay Area schools be back or still have ‘distance learning’ this fall?

Gilroy Unified and other districts want to keep a partial online “hybrid” teaching format on tap should virus cases erupt again, and have distance learning as an option for families who want it.

https://www.mercurynews.com/2021/05/08/covid-will-schools-be-back-or-still-have-distance-learning-this-fall/

FRESNO BEE

As debate over police in Fresno schools nears critical vote, critics slam FUSD surveys

Most Fresno Unified parents and staff want police officers on campuses and say they have had positive experiences with armed officers, according to the results of a recent survey on campus policing in the city’s public schools.

https://www.fresnobee.com/news/local/education-lab/article251226534.html

EDSOURCE

What happens when California students in special education return to the classroom?

For students with disabilities, the pandemic has been a landscape of extremes. Some have thrived with distance learning and want to continue in the fall, while many have languished without the in-person support of therapists and teachers and have lost ground academically, socially and emotionally. But staffing shortages, a lack of data and a backlog of evaluations mean it could be months before schools get a clear picture of students’ needs.

https://edsource.org/2021/what-happens-when-california-students-in-special-education-return-to-the-classroom/654309

Students, community organizations ask judge to order mental health services, internet access

Arguing that appropriating billions of dollars alone will not ensure action, community organizations and parents from Los Angeles and Oakland are asking an Alameda County Superior Court judge to order the state to immediately provide computers and internet access and address the mental health needs of children who have borne the brunt of the pandemic.

https://edsource.org/2021/students-community-organizations-ask-judge-to-order-mental-health-services-internet-access/654300

DAILY BREEZE

LAUSD agrees to work day flexibility for teachers with child care issues

Teachers with child care issues could be getting some relief, as Los Angeles Unified issued districtwide guidance to administrators this week on providing flexibility to those who are, or should be, back to working in person but are seeking accommodations.

https://www.dailybreeze.com/2021/05/08/lausd-agrees-to-work-day-flexibility-for-teachers-with-child-care-issues/

KPCC

More Evidence That Environment Shapes Childrens’ Brains

New research provides more evidence to support the idea that where children grow up affects how they grow up. A nationwide study of kids' brain development found that family poverty, low education rates and unemployment can affect children's performance on attention and memory tests, and even the size of their brains. Megan Herting, a senior author of the study and an assistant professor of preventive medicine at USC, said that the research could have broad implications.

https://laist.com/news/health/more-evidence-that-environment-shapes-childrens-brains

OTHER NEWS OUTLETS

Research shows teachers have racial biases when grading students’ work

A recent study shows teachers often exhibit inherent racial biases when evaluating student assignments. David Quinn, an assistant professor at the USC Rossier School of Education, conducted the experiment after he was inspired by his experiences as a classroom teacher in an elementary school. His study had teachers evaluate identical writing samples with the same words, spellings, and handwriting, the only difference was each essay had a racially distinct name.

https://spectrumnews1.com/ca/orange-county/inside-the-issues/2021/05/07/research-shows-teachers-have-racial-biases-when-grading-students--work

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