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The Supreme Court's conservative majority indicated on Tuesday that it may require schools to provide opt-outs for parents objecting to LGBTQ+ books in elementary education. During oral arguments in Mahmoud v. Taylor, Justice Samuel Alito remarked: “The plaintiffs [a group of Muslim, Roman Catholic, and Ethiopian Orthodox parents] here are not asking the school to change its curriculum. They’re just saying, ‘look, we want out.’ What is the big deal about allowing them to opt out of this?” Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. and Justices Clarence Thomas, Neil M. Gorsuch, and Amy Coney Barrett also asked questions or made comments that suggested that they leaned toward the parents. The court's liberal justices argued that exposure to diverse ideas does not infringe on religious rights. The case involves the Montgomery County Public Schools in Maryland, which approved books like “Prince & Knight” and “Born Ready,” aimed at promoting inclusivity. Critics of opt-out options warn it could lead to widespread curriculum disruptions. The 4th US Circuit Court of Appeals previously sided with the schools, stating that the evidence on how the books were used was insufficient to determine any religious burden. A decision in the case is expected by late June or early July.

 

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California has launched the first phase of its Cradle-to-Career (C2C) data system, making education data accessible to the public. This initiative allows parents and students to explore graduation rates, time to degree, and post-graduation earnings through the C2C website. Gov. Gavin Newsom stated: “With the C2C Student Pathways Dashboard now live, Californians can visualize their futures.” The dashboard provides insights into college pathways and is designed to be user-friendly, featuring charts and pull-down menus for easy navigation. The project, which took six years to develop, aims to connect education with workforce outcomes and will expand to include early education and employment data. The total cost of the project is $24.2m, funded entirely by California. Mary Ann Bates, executive director of C2C, emphasized the importance of this data system in understanding student success and community needs.

 

EdSource

Christine Sleeter writes in EdSource that California's education system is facing a significant racial achievement gap due to historical racism and inadequate funding. She notes that Gov. Gavin Newsom has proposed budget allocations aimed at improving academic outcomes in the poorest schools. However, the lack of explicit funding for Assembly Bill 101, which mandates ethnic studies courses in public high schools, has raised concerns among advocates. Critics argue that delaying this requirement would undermine efforts to close the achievement gap. Research indicates that ethnic studies positively impacts student performance, with studies showing improved GPAs and graduation rates among participants. Sleeter says the need for a contextualized approach to ethnic studies curriculum is emphasized, as standardization could limit its effectiveness. She adds that it is crucial for the state to fulfill its commitment to ethnic studies to benefit all students and address racial disparities in education.

 

EdSource

The U.S. Department of Education has issued a warning to K-12 public schools and state education agencies, demanding they certify non-discrimination under diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies or face the loss of federal funding, which includes billions for low-income students. States led by Democratic governors have resisted compliance, citing legal concerns and the potential impact on equity initiatives. Following lawsuits from the National Education Association and the American Civil Liberties Union, enforcement has been delayed until after tomorrow. Mississippi's Superintendent Lance Evans expressed that the cuts could jeopardize over $137m in essential funding, stating: “The impact of this sudden reversal is detrimental to Mississippi students.” Meanwhile, states like Florida are embracing the federal directive, further complicating the landscape of education funding.

 

Time-Standard

Middletown USD teachers have voted to authorize a strike if contract negotiations with the district do not progress. The district, which serves 1,449 students in rural Lake County, is facing demands from the Middletown Teachers Association for salary increases and better communication regarding special education needs. According to Lake County News, the vote empowers union leadership to call for a strike if necessary. A bargaining session is scheduled for May 2, as teachers seek to address their concerns.

 

EdSource

The Sequoia Union High School District board is set to discuss two significant issues: the future of a required ethnic studies class and the proposal to streamline courses for students of varying abilities. The community group SUHSD Students First is advocating for the reinstatement of advanced standing/honors classes, which have been eliminated at four high schools, arguing that “without AS/Honors as a bridge, students are expected to leap from grade-level work to college-level rigor.” Meanwhile, the district is considering merging classes to enhance learning experiences, although concerns about teacher workload persist. Additionally, the board will review the ethnic studies class, which became a graduation requirement in 2020, and is working to align it with state guidelines.

 

Palo Alto Daily Post

The Health and Human Services Department and Food and Drug Administration (FDA) unveiled measures on Tuesday to eliminate petroleum-based synthetic dyes, including Red 40, Yellow 5 and 6, Green 3, and Blue 1 and 2, from U.S. food products by the end of next year. The FDA added that it is authorizing four new natural color additives over the coming weeks, and will accelerate the review and approval of others. “Kids have been living in a toxic soup of synthetic chemicals,” commented FDA Commissioner Marty Makary at a press conference, alongside HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. “For companies using red dye, try watermelon juice, or beet juice. For companies combining yellow and red dyes together, try carrot juice”. Mr. Kennedy lamented that government agencies recommend “a huge amount of sugar” for children, “and it’s hurting them, and it’s addicting them, and it’s changing their taste buds”.

 

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A former teacher at Mountain View Whisman School District, Pauline Facciano, has filed a lawsuit against former Superintendent Ayinde Rudolph, alleging that he and his administrators kept students in special education classes to fraudulently obtain state funds. Facciano claims that two Latino students were misidentified as needing special education due to their English learning status. “These two students were bright, verbal and eager to learn,” she stated in her lawsuit. The trial, set for May 5, will examine claims that Rudolph and his team misappropriated funds for personal luxuries, including massage therapists and cigars.

 

Palo Alto Daily Post

David Toston has been appointed as the new superintendent of the Santa Clara County Office of Education. This position is significant as Santa Clara County is one of five counties in California where superintendents are appointed rather than elected. Toston's appointment marks a pivotal moment for the education office, with the board expressing confidence in his leadership abilities.

 

Mercury News

Grover Cleveland Charter High School and Ulysses S. Grant Senior High Principal Rebecca McMurrin received prestigious accolades at the Magnet Schools of America conference in Nashville. Grover Cleveland Charter was recognized as the best magnet school in the nation, while McMurrin earned the title of principal of the year. Additionally, Naomi Talens from George Ellery Hale Charter Academy won the National Student Art Contest. Los Angeles USD operates over 330 magnet programs, serving nearly 89,000 students from kindergarten to 12th grade, with themes ranging from STEM to the arts.

 

EdSource

Palisades Charter High School will commence in-person classes at its temporary "Pali South" location in downtown Santa Monica, accommodating around 2,500 students. The relocation follows fire damage to the original campus in Pacific Palisades, prompting a shift to virtual learning before establishing the new site through an emergency order by the Santa Monica City Council. Santa Monica Superintendent Dr. Antonio Shelton expressed support, adding: "We would like to extend a warm welcome to families and staff of Palisades Charter High School." The school will remain at this location until June 6, with plans to return once repairs are completed.

 

EdSource

Santa Monica Daily Press

Pasadena Star-News

Finn Maxwell, a 16-year-old junior at San Lorenzo Valley High School, has been named Santa Cruz County's second youth poet laureate. Following a competitive selection process, he succeeds Dina Lusztig Noyes, the inaugural laureate. Maxwell expressed his excitement, commenting: “I'm very honored that I have this opportunity.” He aims to promote poetry among the youth, emphasizing its accessibility and communal nature. Inspired by local landscapes and the emotional depth of poetry, he plans to host workshops to introduce the art form to younger generations.

 

Santa Cruz Sentinel

The University of California (UC) is considering a proposal to mandate an ethnic studies course for admissions, despite Gov. Gavin Newsom's lack of funding and support. The proposal, which has faced criticism for being politically extreme, aims to establish a curriculum that reflects the expertise of ethnic studies faculty. Richard Sander, a law professor at UCLA, warned that implementing such a course could entangle the university in political disputes and lead to legal challenges. The proposal is seen as a deviation from the state's model curriculum, which emphasizes inclusivity and sensitivity.

 

EdSource

Canada is closer to implementing a mandate for school buses to be equipped with video cameras and monitors to allow improved detection of students at stops, effective November 2027. Patricia Turner, territory manager for school bus video manufacturer Gatekeeper-Systems, was a member of a 2020 Task Force created by the Council of Ministers Responsible for Transportation and Highway Safety. “We all came together to discuss what could be put on school buses to assist in keeping children safer,” she said, adding that the Task Force began with bi-weekly virtual meetings that turned into monthly discussions on "what technology is out there that can help keep children safe.” It identified four ways to improve school bus safety: Infraction cameras, extended stop signal arms, exterior 360 cameras, and automatic emergency braking. The perimeter visibility cameras  capture and stitch together real-time, panoramic video, giving drivers a comprehensive, live view of the vehicle’s perimeter to eliminate blind spots. While the Transport Canada mandate does not require camera systems to include recording capability, and the cameras would only be viewable for live look-in, Gatekeeper’s system can easily be upgraded to record video footage with Gatekeeper’s Mobile Data Collector (MDC) for easy retrieval and review. “This will be an aid to the drivers to even going around the corner, making sure that they don’t take the corner too sharply,” Turner explained. “And [it’s] one more tool to keep them feeling empowered to keep children safer.”

 

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