OCDE Education in the News

Thursday, June 20, 2024

OCDE NEWSROOM

Dr. Stefan Bean selected as next Orange County superintendent of schools

Longtime educator Dr. Stefan Bean, who currently serves as executive director of the Irvine International Academy, has been selected to be the next Orange County superintendent of schools.

https://newsroom.ocde.us/dr-stefan-bean-selected-as-next-orange-county-superintendent-of-schools/

Former Fullerton student overcomes odds to promote from Nicolas Junior High

On May 31, Fullerton School District eighth-graders walked across an outdoor stage on the Fullerton Union High School campus to receive their certificates of promotion from administrators and board trustees while loved ones cheered them on from the stands.

https://newsroom.ocde.us/former-fullerton-student-overcomes-odds-to-promote-from-nicolas-jr-high/

ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

Stefan Bean is chosen as Orange County’s next superintendent

The Orange County Board of Education has selected Stefan Bean to serve as the county’s new superintendent, replacing longtime superintendent Al Mijares who is retiring at the end of June.

https://www.ocregister.com/2024/06/18/stefan-bean-is-chosen-as-orange-countys-next-superintendent/

Funding infusion will help expand WellSpaces to more schools for addressing students’ mental health

Children’s Hospital of Orange County is closer to its goal of establishing health and wellness spaces at every school in Orange County following a $7 million donation that will allow it to expand its initiative into local elementary schools.

https://www.ocregister.com/2024/06/19/funding-infusion-will-help-expand-wellspaces-to-more-schools-for-addressing-students-mental-health/

CSUF’s new humanities dean is bringing history mainstream

After serving as interim dean since January, Cal State Fullerton history professor and author Jessica Yirush Stern has been named dean of the university’s College of Humanities and Social Sciences as of June 1. A member of the Titan community since 2007, Stern has also served as associate dean for student relations and as chair of the Department of History.

https://www.ocregister.com/2024/06/20/csufs-new-humanities-dean-is-bringing-history-mainstream/

Santiago Canyon College’s distance education coordinator is focused on the future

Professor Scott James has seen a huge number of significant changes during his time at Santiago Canyon College. Then again, that figures since he’s been there for more than a quarter century.

https://www.ocregister.com/2024/06/20/santiago-canyon-colleges-distance-education-coordinator-is-focused-on-the-future/

California Gov. Gavin Newsom joins LAUSD in effort to restrict cell phone use in schools

SACRAMENTO — California Gov. Gavin Newsom announced Tuesday that he wants to restrict students’ usage of smartphones during the school day, citing the mental health risks of social media.

https://www.ocregister.com/2024/06/18/california-governor-wants-to-restrict-smartphone-usage-in-schools/

LOS ANGELES TIMES

Column: Five families sued to desegregate O.C. schools. Why is just one remembered?

The 14 people gathered on the steps of the 1st Street U.S. Federal Courthouse in downtown Los Angeles a few Saturdays ago were passionate, but their cause seemed a bit obscure. Young and old and in between, with a French bulldog in tow, they held signs that read “Five Families, Four School Districts,” “Et Als Speak Out” and “Omitted Plaintiffs.” They set up banners with photos of their relatives and shouted “Equality!” on a bullhorn to uncaring pedestrians and cars.

https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2024-06-20/gonzalo-and-felicitas-mendez-federal-courthouse-controversy

SACRAMENTO BEE

Elk Grove middle school hosts Smithsonian exhibit on prejudice and discrimination

One portion of the Smithsonian’s “The Bias Inside Us” traveling exhibit has visitors face to face with an individual who speaks about the discrimination he has faced because of his identity as a Black, queer man. The man shares his story via a video recording that is presented in life-size on a screen at eye level with the viewer. It feels as if he’s speaking directly to you.

https://www.sacbee.com/news/local/education/article289346790.html

EDSOURCE

LAUSD bans cellphones, social media use at schools

Cellphones and social media will be off limits to students in the Los Angeles Unified School District by the second semester of the 2024-25 academic year, the school board voted 5-2 on Tuesday.

https://edsource.org/updates/lausd-bans-cell-phones-social-media-use-at-schools

Lack of reliable education data hamstrings California lawmakers and the public

Public data posted by the California Department of Education has been incomplete, often outdated and occasionally inaccurate, forcing legislators to pass laws based on old data, researchers to delay inquiries and journalists to grapple with inaccurate information.

https://edsource.org/2024/lack-of-reliable-education-data-hamstrings-california-lawmakers-and-the-public/714096

Teachers report low pay, high levels of stress in annual survey

Teachers work more hours with a lower average base pay than other working Americans with similar vocations, according to a national Rand survey released today.

https://edsource.org/updates/teachers-report-low-pay-high-levels-of-stress-in-annual-survey

FCMAT

California School District Finds a Way to Bring Absent Kids Back to Class

The number of California kids missing too many school days tripled during the pandemic — from 12% to 30% — and school districts have been searching for ways to bring them back.

https://www.kqed.org/news/11990691/california-school-district-finds-a-way-to-bring-absent-kids-back-to-class

KPCC

LA Voters Will Decide On Creating An Independent Redistricting Commission for LAUSD

Los Angeles voters will decide if an independent redistricting commission should be created for the Los Angeles Unified School District’s Board of Education in the upcoming election.

https://laist.com/news/education/la-voters-will-decide-on-creating-an-independent-redistricting-commission-for-lausd

KPBS

Students raise flag in honor of the national Juneteenth holiday

Some San Diego Unified students honored this week’s national Juneteenth holiday by raising a flag over the district’s headquarters on Tuesday.

https://www.kpbs.org/news/racial-justice-social-equity/2024/06/19/students-raise-flag-in-honor-of-the-national-juneteenth-holiday

NPR

Federal student aid still up in the air for many

This year's college application process was supposed to get easier. That's because last year, the U.S. Department of Education announced changes to the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA.

https://www.npr.org/2024/06/19/1198912680/federal-student-aid-still-up-in-the-air-for-many

3 things you need to know about student loans this summer

Student loan borrowers should keep an eye on their balances this summer, as big changes are coming. On July 1, millions of borrowers could see their monthly payments cut in half, but only if they’re enrolled in the correct plan.

https://www.npr.org/2024/06/20/nx-s1-5009179/3-things-lower-payments-student-loans-this-summer

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