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California
20th March 2026
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THE HOT STORY

Chavez schools face renaming dilemma

California school districts with campuses named after Cesar Chavez are facing tough decisions following sexual abuse allegations against the late labor leader. Currently, eight of the 50 schools named after Chavez are located in the Central Valley. While Madera USD has stated it is not considering renaming its Cesar Chavez School, Sacramento City Unified is preparing community discussions to rename Cesar E. Chavez Elementary School. Other districts, including Stockton Unified and Bakersfield City School District, are gathering information and evaluating options regarding potential name changes. Jose Gonzalez, superintendent of Planada Elementary School District, mentioned that no formal decisions have been made yet, but the district is considering all options. “We continue to monitor the situation closely,” said a spokesperson from Ceres Unified, emphasizing the importance of thorough study before any renaming decisions. Meanwhile, California's legislative leaders have announced the redesignation of March 31 as Farmworkers Day, replacing the previous holiday honoring Chavez. Gov. Gavin Newsom expressed his support for the change, noting the need to reflect on the broader labor movement

BLENDED LEARNING

An Administrator's Guide to Blended Learning  

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STATE NEWS

CSBA questions failure to narrow the achievement gap

The California School Boards Association (CSBA) has launched a legislative initiative called SOS for Student Achievement to address the persistent achievement gap among students. CSBA President Debra Schade said: “School districts and county offices of education are expected to deliver results for students every day,” emphasizing the need for state accountability. The initiative includes four bills aimed at establishing clear priorities and measurable goals for state agencies involved in education. Notably, Assembly Bill 2225 proposes a 15-member group to create a Closing the Achievement Gap Support and Operations Plan, while AB 2202 seeks to form an independent Closing the Achievement Gap Commission. The initiative responds to concerns about fragmented state policies and unfunded mandates that hinder local efforts to improve student performance, particularly among disadvantaged groups.

New guidelines to protect students

California Attorney General Rob Bonta announced new immigration enforcement guidelines aimed at protecting students across the state. The guidelines, outlined in two bulletins, are based on Assembly Bill 495 and Senate Bill 98, which establish legal responsibilities for educational institutions. "As federal immigration enforcement continues to create fear and uncertainty, it is critical that schools and child care providers are prepared," Bonta said. The bulletins prohibit school officials from allowing immigration officers into nonpublic areas without a valid warrant and restrict the disclosure of student information without proper authorization. Schools must update their policies by March 1, 2026, and include procedures to notify parents and staff of immigration enforcement on campus. 

Parents push back against classroom tech

Parents in California are increasingly concerned about the growing reliance on technology in classrooms, particularly for young children. Early childhood experts warn that excessive screen time can hinder essential hands-on learning and peer interaction. Many parents are advocating for more transparency regarding technology use in schools and are pushing for limits on screen time. The American Academy of Pediatrics emphasizes the importance of non-digital activities for children under five, suggesting that kids in the preschool and kindergarten years "really benefit from hands-on play and tactile learning experiences.” As grassroots movements gain momentum, some school districts are reevaluating their technology policies, with Los Angeles USD considering a resolution to limit screen time for younger students.

California's literacy law marks a new chapter

California has enacted AB 1454, a comprehensive literacy law aimed at enhancing reading instruction through evidence-based practices. However, the real challenge lies in translating this policy into effective classroom practices. To ensure successful implementation, California can learn from other states by clearly communicating quality standards, investing in curriculum-focused professional learning, and providing targeted support to under-resourced districts. The law allocates $200m for teacher training, but it is crucial that this funding supports specific curriculum-related learning. Ultimately, the success of California's literacy reform will depend on robust implementation strategies that ensure all students benefit from improved instructional materials.

WORKFORCE

Strike looming in LA schools

Los Angeles school officials are urging against a strike as the district's two largest unions, United Teachers Los Angeles and Local 99 of Service Employees International Union, have set April 14 as a potential strike date if no agreement is reached. Acting Superintendent Andres Chait emphasized that “nobody wants a strike,” highlighting the negative impact on students and families. The strike could affect nearly 400,000 students and involve over 60,000 essential workers. Union leaders criticized the district's offers, claiming they do not adequately address the rising cost of living and staffing shortages. Local 99 Executive Director Max Arias stated that the district's proposal “keeps workers in poverty” and fails to meet the needs of its members. The district has offered an 8% raise over two years for UTLA and 13% over three years for Local 99, but unions argue these offers are insufficient.

FINANCE

Bay Area schools face drastic cuts

Dozens of school districts in the Bay Area are facing significant budget deficits, leading to layoffs, budget cuts, and school closures. Oakland USD has laid off over 400 staff, while San Jose USD is considering closing five elementary schools. Families and advocates warn that these measures could harm students' academic and social well-being, particularly affecting low-income and high-need students. The decline in enrollment is attributed to lower birth rates and migration, with the Public Policy Institute of California noting an 8% drop in Bay Area school enrollment over the last decade. As funding is tied to student attendance, districts are struggling to maintain resources amid rising costs and inflation.

NATIONAL NEWS

Treasury to take student loans

The Department of Education has outlined a phased plan to transfer its nearly $1.7tn student loan portfolio to the Treasury Department, a significant move in the Trump administration’s ongoing effort to wind down the agency. The transition will be executed through an interagency agreement in three stages, beginning with loans already in default, followed by non-defaulted loans where legally and practically feasible, including servicing responsibilities. In the final phase, Treasury will also take on a role in enforcing school eligibility for federal student aid programs, building on its existing involvement in verifying borrower income data. Officials said the plan has been developed over several months to ensure a smooth handover, and they expect borrowers to experience no disruption, although no timeline or cost details have been disclosed.

POLICY

Supreme Court's ruling shakes up school policies

The Supreme Court recently ruled that California's school policies preventing parents from being informed about their child's gender transition are unconstitutional. The ruling, stemming from the case Mirabelli vs. Bonta, emphasizes that schools must inform parents if they request information about their child's gender presentation. UC Davis law professor Aaron Tang said: “This means that schools must tell parents the truth about their child's gender presentation at school if the parents request that information.” However, the ruling's scope is limited, applying only to parents who object to the policies. The case has sparked significant debate, with advocates arguing that students' voices have been overlooked. Andrew Ortiz, an attorney for the Transgender Law Center, said: “This case has been about states' and parents' rights but students have been left out of the conversation.”  

LEGAL

Audit reveals corruption in school district

An audit by the Riverside County Office of Education has uncovered serious allegations against Val Verde USD, revealing potential corruption linked to its partnership with Pegasus California School in China. The audit, completed by Larson LLP, spans over 1,000 pages and highlights that Val Verde lacked the legal authority to issue diplomas to nonresident students from Pegasus. Riverside County Superintendent of Schools Edwin Gomez said: “This audit identified serious concerns that merit further review by the appropriate authorities.” The investigation also points to conflicts of interest and misappropriation of public funds involving former education officials, including David Long and Tom Torlakson. The audit raises questions about the integrity of the partnership, which has been in place since 2013, and the legitimacy of the diplomas issued to Pegasus students.

DISTRICTS

SACHS earns prestigious model school title

The San Benito County Office of Education has announced that San Andreas Continuation High School (SACHS) has been designated as a Model Continuation School by the California Department of Education. This honor is awarded to only about 59 of the 430 continuation high schools in the state, highlighting exemplary alternative education programs.

AUSD teams head to state decathlon

On March 18, three teams from Alhambra USD departed for the state academic decathlon competition in Santa Clara, marking the first time all AUSD high schools qualified for this event. Alhambra High School recently secured its third consecutive win at the Los Angeles County academic decathlon.

Fresno schools tackle homelessness crisis

Fresno USD and its teachers union are funding apartments for 20 families at Crossroads Village, an affordable housing complex. This initiative aims to provide stable housing and support services to families, addressing the barriers to learning caused by homelessness.

HEALTH & WELLBEING

Global study warns of social media’s impact on youth wellbeing

The 2026 World Happiness Report highlights growing evidence that heavy social media use is contributing to declining mental health among teenagers, particularly girls, with passive consumption of algorithm-driven content linked to higher levels of anxiety, depression, cyberbullying, and online exploitation. The report, published by the Wellbeing Research Centre at the University of Oxford, in partnership with Gallup and the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network, suggests that platforms centered on curated influencer content may be especially harmful, while also noting that the relationship between social media and wellbeing remains debated, with some regions showing limited positive effects. The findings come amid increasing regulatory scrutiny, with several countries considering or implementing restrictions on youth access to social media, and ongoing legal challenges in the US over whether platforms are addictive. Alongside these concerns, the report again ranked Finland as the world’s happiest country, based on factors including income, health, social support, and trust in institutions.

SCHOOL TRANSPORTATION

School transport startup Zum hits $333m revenue amid expansion push

Zum Services has reported 2025 revenue of $333m, up 35% year-on-year, as demand grows for its technology platform that modernizes school bus routing, operations, and electrification. The company, which serves more than 4,000 schools and has secured over $2bn in contracted revenue, is continuing to expand its customer base and electric fleet rollout, while maintaining plans for a future IPO without specifying timing.

INTERNATIONAL

UNESCO, UNICEF, and ITU set standards for inclusive digital learning systems

UNESCO, UNICEF, and the International Telecommunication Union have jointly launched a new Charter aimed at helping governments design and manage digital learning platforms as public goods, reinforcing education as a universal right. Announced on the International Day for Digital Learning, it is based on seven principles. Platforms should be public, inclusive, pedagogically driven, complementary to in-person learning, open and interoperable, focused on educational needs, and trustworthy in their use of data and artificial intelligence. The initiative also stresses the importance of international collaboration, building on the existing Gateways program, which has supported dozens of countries in developing digital education systems.

AND FINALLY......

Deodorant days don’t add up

A TikTok video by Amanda (@amandasindallas) showcases a humorous classroom incident where a student bluntly stated: "It [stinks] in here," leading to a discussion about deodorant use. The teacher suggested students shower, but one student claimed his "72-hour deodorant" only needed application every four days. The teacher then asked another student to calculate how many days 72 hours covers, which was revealed to be three. The situation escalated when the student inquired about how many wishes he would get if he rubbed his head. Commenters on TikTok resonated with the scenario, with one stating, "This is EXACTLY how it is being a middle school teacher."
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