OCDE Education in the News

Tuesday, August 16, 2022

OCDE NEWSROOM

#Kindness1billion: Huntington Beach High School educators filled backpacks at annual donation drive

While students are gearing up for their new class schedules, affordable school supplies are becoming harder to come by with families in the U.S. expected to pay more than ever before this back-to-school season. To provide assistance to children that need it most, Huntington Beach High School administrators lent helping hands to local nonprofit organization Project Hope Alliance for its annual backpack drive.

https://newsroom.ocde.us/kindness1billion-huntington-beach-high-school-educators-filled-backpacks-at-annual-donation-drive/

ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

Many students in north OC are back in the classroom

This is a big week for local students, many north Orange County school districts are opening their campuses for a new year of learning. Returning to classrooms this week are students in the Brea Olinda Unified District, Fullerton School District, Fullerton Joint Union High School District, La Habra City School District, Buena Park School District and Lowell Joint School District. Set to return later this month are the Magnolia and Placentia-Yorba Linda districts.

https://www.ocregister.com/2022/08/16/north-oc-is-back-in-the-classroom/

Saddleback Valley Unified students move on to the business of learning

School is back in session in the Saddleback Valley Unified School District. Campuses welcomed back students this week for a new year of learning. As parents dropped their young learners off the first day of school, many stopped for photos marking the milestone and then students were off to their classrooms to get down to business.

https://www.ocregister.com/2022/08/15/saddleback-valley-unified-students-move-on-to-the-business-of-learning/

Garden Grove Unified welcomes students to hit the books again

Schools back in session. The Garden Grove Unified School District welcomed students back to campus in droves on Monday for a new year of learning. The Fountain Valley School District, the Huntington Beach City School District, the Huntington Beach Union High School District, the Ocean View School District and the Westminster School District remain on summer break a bit longer, with the Westminster district set to start on Aug. 30 and the high school students set to return to their campuses on Aug 31.

https://www.ocregister.com/2022/08/15/garden-grove-unified-students-hit-the-books/

Candidate filing extended in several local council, school board races

Still interested in running for local office? You just might be in luck. The filing period has been extended for a bevy of local races — from school boards to water districts to city councils — until 5 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 17. These short extensions kick in for races where eligible incumbents did not file for re-election (if an incumbent is termed out, there is no extension). The filing period for other races closed Friday, Aug. 12.

https://www.ocregister.com/2022/08/16/candidate-filing-extended-in-several-local-council-school-board-races/

LOS ANGELES TIMES

As L.A. schools return, should monkeypox be a concern for students, staff?

With many Los Angeles County students returning to school this week and thousands of young people headed back to California universities this month and next, there’s a rising concern about the potential for monkeypox outbreaks in academic and social environments.

https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2022-08-15/back-to-school-should-monkeypox-concern-students-staff

DAILY NEWS LOS ANGELES

Nearly 50,000 students absent on first day as LAUSD deals with chronic absenteeism

About 11% of students enrolled in the Los Angeles Unified School District were no-shows on the first day of school, underscoring the fact that more work needs to be done to re-engage those students, the district said Monday, Aug. 15.

https://www.dailynews.com/2022/08/15/roughly-66000-students-absent-on-first-day-as-lausd-deals-with-chronic-absenteeism/

SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE

Data shows severity of S.F. teacher shortage, absenteeism, low reading scores

While it’s difficult to capture the health of an entire school district with a handful of numbers, the Chronicle pulled together some data to give a sense of where San Francisco’s schools stand on a range of issues.

https://www.sfchronicle.com/sf/article/sfusd-data-17375301.php

FRESNO BEE

‘We started a movement.’ Fresno Unified’s plan to end achievement gap for Black students

Year after year, Black students in Fresno Unified schools have struggled more academically than any other group. So the district established a new department to focus on eliminating the achievement gap.

https://www.fresnobee.com/news/local/education-lab/article264423681.html#storylink=cpy

EDSOURCE

Healthier options on the menu as California begins providing free meals for all students

California districts are continuing to offer free meals to all students, and extra funding this year is allowing them to incorporate more healthy, local ingredients.

https://edsource.org/2022/healthier-options-on-the-menu-as-california-begins-providing-free-meals-for-all-students/676773

KPCC

How far behind are Los Angeles students? As a new school year starts we’re about to find out

No more weekly COVID testing. No more daily symptom checks. Masks are optional, just as they were at the end of last year. The Los Angeles Unified School District kicked off a new school year on Monday.

https://laist.com/news/education/academic-learning-loss-los-angeles-unified-students-new-school-year

NPR

Routine COVID-19 testing ends at Sacramento City Unified for upcoming school year

Sacramento City Unified School District students shuffled through COVID-19 testing once a week last school year, regardless of their symptoms. This year, that program is ending, district officials said at Thursday’s board meeting.

https://www.capradio.org/179390

CALmatters

California schools face avalanche of changes

“Everything Everywhere All At Once” is the name of a 2022 film, but it could also describe the cascade of changes confronting California schools as they welcome students back to campus after more than two years of pandemic-disrupted education. Although many COVID restrictions have loosened, districts are contending with plenty of other new policies.

https://calmatters.org/newsletters/whatmatters/2022/08/california-school-start-time-changes/

OTHER NEWS OUTLETS

New research: Summer learning boosts math performance, college graduation

New research released last month has offered persuasive new evidence of the potential of summer learning opportunities, particularly in STEM subjects. One, a meta-analysis compiling the findings of dozens of prior studies over the last two years, shows consistent gains in math achievement resulting from student enrollment in summer coursework. Another showed participants in a summer STEM program enjoying significant later-life benefits, including greater success in college and higher earnings.

https://www.laschoolreport.com/new-research-summer-learning-boosts-math-performance-college-graduation/

School back in session at LAUSD Monday amid eased COVID-19 rules

Classes resumed Monday for thousands of Los Angeles Unified School District students amid relaxed COVID-19 protocols that made for a far smoother entrance to campuses than last year, which saw long lines of students trying to meet testing and health protocols. The start of school marked Superintendent Alberto Carvalho’s first opening day as head of the LAUSD, and he visited a series of campuses and other district facilities to welcome back students and staff.

https://spectrumnews1.com/ca/orange-county/education/2022/08/15/school-back-in-session-at-lausd-monday-amid-eased-covid-19-rules

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