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Since California shut down its state juvenile facilities and transitioned the responsibility to county control, the juvenile justice system has seen a varied response. Some counties have introduced new educational programs for incarcerated youths, while others grapple with basic safety concerns. The closure of the state's Division of Juvenile Justice was met with mixed reactions, with some seeing it as a step toward necessary reform and others skeptical about immediate improvements in longstanding issues like violence and educational deficits. The transition, enforced by Senate Bill 823, aims to provide a less restrictive environment for rehabilitation and reduce confinement, mandating that youth stay within their home counties. This has led to the development of Secure Youth Treatment Facilities (SYTF) for those committing serious offenses, and these facilities are now operational in 36 of California’s 58 counties. However, the shift has highlighted significant challenges, including disparities in how counties manage these facilities. The Office of Youth and Community Restoration (OYCR) oversees this new structure, providing guidance and resources but without regulatory power to enforce changes. It’s working on improving transparency and educational outcomes with initiatives like a database for tracking academic progress and developing special curricula for older learners.

 

EdSource

Almost 2,000 teachers across California have received layoff notices, a significant increase compared to last year. School districts are grappling with budget cuts, as federal COVID relief funding expires, enrollment declines, and state funding levels off. While some teachers who received these notices may ultimately be asked to stay on, the threat of being laid off is demoralizing and affects the ability of districts to recruit new teachers. This flood of pink slips has a profound impact on schools and teachers in California, exacerbating the ongoing teacher shortage. The situation is causing anxiety among teachers who are awaiting word on their jobs for the next school year.

 

EdSource

Jill Biden hosted the 2024 national and state teachers of the year at a White House dinner to honor their commitment to their students and excellence in the classroom. President Joe Biden also made a surprise appearance, expressing his appreciation for teachers. The event was a twist on the traditional White House ceremony, with Jill Biden hosting a "state dinner" instead. Education Secretary Miguel Cardona highlighted the significance of this honor, stating that there is no American dream without American teachers. The event aimed to recognize the challenges faced by U.S. public schools and the dedication of teachers. The State Teachers of the Year were treated to a slimmed-down version of a White House state dinner, with personalized thank-you notes from their students. The guest list included Vice President Kamala Harris's husband, Cabinet members, members of Congress, and the heads of major teachers' unions. This year's State Teachers of the Year represented 49 states and various U.S. territories.

 

Wacotrib

Casey Cuny, a Valencia High School teacher, has been named California's Teacher of the Year. Cuny teaches 10th grade Honors English and 12th grade mythology and folklore. He was honored at the first-ever White House State Dinner for teachers, hosted by First Lady Dr. Jill Biden. Cuny emphasized the importance of building relationships with students and the impact of passionate teachers. He believes that teaching is a calling and hopes to inspire young people to consider a career in education. Cuny also highlighted the need to attract the best talent to the profession by offering a livable salary. Despite the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, Cuny adapted his teaching approach to maintain connections with students. He expressed gratitude for the recognition and the positive spotlight on teaching.

 

News 13

The William S. Hart UHSD has chosen Leadership Associates as the search firm to find external candidates for the district's upcoming superintendent position. The decision was made during a board meeting, with Leadership being selected unanimously. The cost of the search is expected to be no more than $29,500. Leadership Associates has previously worked with the district, and board members expressed trust in their ability to find a suitable candidate. The search process is estimated to take two to three months, with the goal of having a new superintendent in place by July 1. The board considered appointing an interim superintendent to gather more information and community input. However, they ultimately decided against creating an ad hoc committee and will handle the decision-making process themselves.

 

Signalscv.com

Antioch USD has placed Kenneth Turnage II, the head of facilities, maintenance, and operations, on administrative leave following allegations of bullying and harassment. Two independent investigations have been launched into the district's handling of the complaints. Some employees have accused Superintendent Stephanie Anello of ignoring the misconduct due to her personal relationship with Turnage. AUSD board President Antonio Hernandez has called for Anello's resignation and has questioned the district's handling of the complaints. The district has faced criticism for not taking action against Turnage despite multiple written complaints.

 

East Bay

After weeks of negotiations, the Brea Olinda Teachers Association and the Brea Olinda USD have reached a salary agreement. The teachers have accepted a two-year agreement, pending board approval, with a 2.40% on-schedule increase retroactive to July 1 and a 1.60% on-schedule increase effective from April 1. The district's offer was a 4% increase, while the teachers requested a 4% on-schedule increase plus an off-schedule increase. The agreement was reached without the teachers going on strike, ensuring a smooth end to the school year.

 

The Orange Country Register

Savvas Learning Company has introduced the newest edition of its myPerspectives English Language Arts (ELA) program, which offers interactive resources for teachers and students. The program provides real-time insights into student learning and includes multimedia content to engage students. The myPerspectives program aims to improve student outcomes and offers personalized learning experiences. The program has been shown to have a significantly positive effect on learning outcomes, according to a study conducted by independent researchers. The new edition includes features such as Media Studio, which guides students in analyzing media sources and creating their own projects. It also offers support for background knowledge, vocabulary, and language structures. The program is delivered on the Savvas Realize learning management system and includes flexible resources for teachers.

 

Orange Leader

Connected intelligence company CalAmp has launched Dispatch Monitor, a new product that integrates with the CalAmp K-12 suite of application solutions to improve school bus fleet management. Dispatch Monitor provides school districts with a real-time view of route coverage, ensuring efficient operations and optimized driver performance. It offers a consolidated snapshot of critical data points, such as drivers' clock-in status, designated routes, assigned vehicles, and support for multiple drivers or aides per bus. The application helps streamline operations and enhance student transportation experiences. Melissa Posey, GPS coordinator at Prince William County Public Schools in Virginia, praised Dispatch Monitor for its ability to identify buses that haven't started their routes, ensuring route coverage and avoiding unnecessary delays. Joe O'Dell, vice president public sector at CalAmp, stated that Dispatch Monitor is designed to improve driver efficiency and enhance the overall transportation experience for students and administrators.

 

School Bus Fleet

Southern California campuses, including UCLA, USC, and others, have tightened security measures in response to recent violent clashes between pro-Palestinian demonstrators and pro-Israel counterprotesters. This surge in student-led demonstrations has forced university administrators to balance safety concerns with the right to free speech. At UCLA, over 100 demonstrators were arrested following the shutdown of a weeklong protest, prompting a temporary shift to remote classes. USC faced criticism for canceling a commencement speech by a Muslim, pro-Palestinian valedictorian, leading to the cancellation of the main commencement ceremony. Other institutions, such as UC Irvine, Chapman University, and several Cal State campuses, are implementing security protocols to ensure the safety of graduation events while maintaining an environment conducive to the free exchange of ideas.

 

Pasadena Star-News

As heatwaves become more frequent and intense due to climate change, millions of students around the world are being affected by school closures. The decision to either keep students in hot classrooms or encourage them to stay home and keep cool has consequences for their education. High temperatures can impair cognitive functions and lower students' ability to retain and process information. This is particularly concerning in developing countries, where a large proportion of children are already out of school and test scores lag. The impact of heat on education is expected to widen the learning gaps between hot and cool countries. The closure of schools due to heatwaves also exposes children to risks such as child labor and child marriage. U.S. schools are now cancelling class for an average of six to seven school days each year for heat, compared with about three to four days a decade ago, said Paul Chinowsky, a civil engineer who led a 2021 study on schools and rising temperatures for the firm Resilient Analytics.

 

Reuters