OCDE Education in the News

Thursday, May 18, 2023

OCDE NEWSROOM

Twice in three years: OC math teacher is again a finalist in presidential awards program

An Irvine math teacher has, for the second time in three years, been named a finalist in the prestigious Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching program. Kristie Donavan from Woodbridge High School in the Irvine Unified School District is among seven educators from California to earn what’s considered the highest honor bestowed by the U.S. government for science, mathematics, engineering and computer science teaching in kindergarten through grade 12. Along with an invitation to a ceremony in Washington, D.C., each Presidential Award recipient receives $10,000 from the National Science Foundation.

https://newsroom.ocde.us/oc-teacher-is-once-again-a-finalist-in-presidential-awards-program-honoring-stem-educators/

ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

Graduation 2023 schedule: Dates, times for Orange County high schools, universities

It’s graduation time again. From high schools to universities, 2023 graduates are donning caps and gowns for joyous commencement ceremonies. This list includes graduations for traditional high schools, community colleges and universities across Orange County.

https://www.ocregister.com/2023/05/17/graduation-2023-schedule-dates-times-for-orange-county-high-schools-universities/

VOICE OF OC

Will Santa Ana Kids Go Without Crossing Guards Over A Funding Spat?

A bitter funding dispute between Santa Ana City Council members and school district officials could leave thousands of kids without crossing guards this year in a town where drivers treat the streets like freeways. “Come the next school year, in August, we would not have any crossing guards assisting students” without some kind of agreement, said Public Works Director Nabil Saba in response to council questions on Tuesday.

https://voiceofoc.org/2023/05/will-santa-ana-kids-go-without-crossing-guards-over-a-bitter-funding-spat/

VOICE OF SAN DIEGO

San Diego Unified Abruptly Closes Virtual School iHigh to Middle and High Schoolers

The district on Friday announced that iHigh, the virtual school that had swelled in size over the pandemic, would no longer serve students in grades 6-12 starting next year.

https://voiceofsandiego.org/2023/05/18/san-diego-unified-abruptly-closes-virtual-school-ihigh-to-middle-and-high-schoolers/

SAN JOSE MERCURY NEWS

Can Bay Area kitchens keep up with demand for state's free school meals?

For years, federal and state funding has buoyed schools like Lincoln, helping them manage the growing costs of nearly everything in their kitchens, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. But next month, a national policy to offset inflation for school cafeterias is set to expire — and in California, that’s happening right when demand has risen the most.

https://www.mercurynews.com/2023/05/18/demand-has-surged-for-californias-free-school-meals-but-with-a-drop-in-extra-federal-funding-can-bay-area-kitch

Could Oakland teacher strike cost district millions for lost instruction time?

The Oakland Unified School District has settled a week-long strike with its teachers union — a deal that will boost pay a total of $70 million. But as the administration figures out how to pay for those raises, could it also face stiff fines for the time its 34,000 students went without teachers?

https://www.mercurynews.com/2023/05/18/could-oakland-teacher-strike-cost-district-for-lost-instruction-time/

CONTRA COSTA TIMES

California mom objects to teen daughter reading sexually explicit ‘Angels in America’ at school

A Temecula mother has complained that her 15-year-old daughter was made to read a sexually explicit play in drama class and is calling for a policy to prevent such instances in the future. Tracy Nolasco said her daughter, a Temecula Valley High School sophomore, had to read “Angels in America,” a Tony Award- and Pulitzer Prize-winning play by Tony Kushner. The play, set in New York City in 1985, explores the AIDS epidemic as well as religion, race, politics, and homosexuality.

https://www.eastbaytimes.com/2023/05/18/temecula-parent-says-daughter-15-had-to-read-sexually-explicit-play-at-school/

EDSOURCE

Proposed state budget could make becoming a teacher easier

California’s proposed state budget revision could make a dent in the state’s ongoing teacher shortage by reducing obstacles to earning teaching credentials, such as making it easier for members of the military and their spouses to earn teaching credentials, requiring that teacher residents are paid and preparing more bilingual teachers.

https://edsource.org/2023/proposed-state-budget-could-make-becoming-a-teacher-easier/690789

Vast majority of parents support federal child care programs, survey shows

Amid the federal budget debate, roughly 90% of parents with small children view family issues as a top priority, one report finds. Conducted by the advocacy group Zero to Three, the survey also showed great concern over possible cuts to child care, education, and housing programs. Almost two-thirds of parents reported struggling to find affordable high-quality child care.

https://edsource.org/updates/vast-majority-of-parents-support-federal-child-care-programs-survey-shows

KPBS

CA wants majority of students to be bilingual. How is San Diego Unified doing?

San Diego Unified has a lot of work to do to help meet the state’s goal of making the majority of California students bilingual. State officials want half of California’s K-12 students to be working toward proficiency in at least two languages by 2030, and for every three out of four graduates to be considered bilingual by 2040.

https://www.kpbs.org/news/education/2023/05/17/how-san-diego-unified-measures-up-to-cas-bilingual-student-goal

OTHER NEWS OUTLETS

Vietnamese refugees are claiming space in Orange County’s school system

At a virtual listening session hosted by Southeast Asia Resource Action Center (SEARAC) in March, Vietnamese residents from all over California responded to the question, “What do you want out of the model curriculum?” The screen was covered in sticky notes—participants wanted “access to resources—archives, artifacts,” “to better underst[and] my family’s past,” to learn about “lived experiences, especially [of] women and youth,” and to teach future generations about “the effects of refugeeism on so many aspects of life, public health (exposure to chemical agents and bombings), lower education outcomes.”

https://prismreports.org/2023/05/17/southeast-asian-ethnic-studies-california-orange-county/

Emotional health, empathy and the healing power of play

Children have a lot of feelings, but they don’t always have the words to describe them. When asked what it feels like to be excited, seven-year-old Vachi quickly switched from a verbal answer to acting it out with her hands and facial expressions.

https://spectrumnews1.com/ca/orange-county/news/2023/05/17/emotional-health--empathy--and-the-healing-power-of-play

Black parents among highest percentage pulling students from public school

Public schools are seeing a steep decline in student enrollment across the country and just last school year, LAUSD saw a drop in over 20,000 students. In the recent decline, Black parents make up the highest percentage of those opting to homeschool their children instead of keeping them enrolled in traditional public school.

https://spectrumnews1.com/ca/orange-county/education/2023/05/17/black-parents-among-highest-percentage-pulling-students-from-public-school

RH Dana Spanish Immersion Instructor Recognized as Teacher of the Year

After leading the Dana Point City Council and members of the public in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance in Spanish on Tuesday, May 16, RH Dana Elementary School third-grade teacher Maria Arbelo received recognition from city officials as a Teacher of the Year. Twelve years into her teaching career including two years of teaching at RH Dana, Arbelo was recently honored by the Capistrano Unified School District as one of its top teachers for elementary schools.

https://www.danapointtimes.com/rh-dana-spanish-immersion-instructor-recognized-as-teacher-of-the-year/

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