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California’s race for state superintendent of public instruction is wide open, with 10 candidates competing to replace term-limited incumbent Tony Thurmond in a nonpartisan contest that could be decided in June if any candidate secures more than 50% of the vote. The role has limited direct authority over school districts, focusing instead on managing the California Department of Education, influencing policy, and working alongside the governor, though its future structure could change under proposed reforms that would shift it toward an advocacy role. The crowded field, largely composed of Democrats, raises the possibility of a split vote that could shape who advances to a likely November runoff, while candidates differ more in background and emphasis than in policy, with key debates centering on issues such as transgender student participation in sports and parental notification policies. Endorsements and fundraising vary widely, with no clear frontrunner, reflecting a competitive and uncertain contest shaped by education policy priorities, union support, and broader political dynamics in the state.

 

Los Angeles Times

Expand Access to AANHPI Stories in California

As California recognizes Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Heritage Month, there’s an opportunity to move beyond celebration and ensure AANHPI voices are embedded in everyday learning. Authentic, culturally grounded stories help students feel seen, valued, and connected while strengthening cross-cultural understanding across diverse communities.

The new Rising Voices: Amplifying AANHPI Narratives was developed with AANHPI mentors, including California educators Joanna Ho and Dr. Don Vu. This curated collection elevates authentic, often underrepresented perspectives. Grounded in books as “mirrors, windows, and doors,” it fosters identity, empathy, and critical thinking and integrates easily into classroom libraries and instruction. Aligned to California’s priorities around equitable access and supporting diverse learners, this is a lasting investment in student engagement and success.

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Teacher salaries in the U.S. rose 3.5% to an average of $74,495 in the 2024–25 school year, but inflation has significantly eroded those gains, leaving pay 4.6% lower in real terms compared with a decade ago, according to a National Education Association report. The analysis highlights persistent concerns over educator pay, with higher salaries concentrated in states like California and New York that also have high living costs, while lower-paying states often leave teachers earning below typical household expenses. Education support professionals saw even weaker progress, with nominal pay rising modestly to $38,494, but only increasing by about $300 after inflation, and falling 9% in real terms over the past decade. Many continue to face financial strain, often needing multiple jobs. The report underscores ongoing challenges in maintaining competitive wages for educators, amid rising living costs and continued debate over funding and pay reforms.

 

Education Week News

The U.S. Department of Education has opened an investigation into Stanford University over a program run by its National Board Resource Center that prioritizes teachers of color and those from low-income schools, amid concerns it may violate federal anti-discrimination laws. The program, designed to help educators achieve National Board certification and increase diversity in the teaching workforce, has drawn scrutiny from federal officials, who argue that race-based eligibility could constitute unlawful discrimination. Following the launch of the investigation, Stanford has begun winding down the initiative and is no longer accepting new participants, and references to the program have been removed from its website. The university has stated that its broader certification support services remain open to all teachers regardless of race, providing access to mentoring, research, and professional development resources.

 

EdSource

California's expansion of transitional kindergarten (TK) is helping to mitigate enrollment declines, but the 2025 State of Preschool Yearbook from the National Institute for Early Education Research (NIEER) raises concerns about the quality of early education programs. California ranks 14th for access to public early education for 4-year-olds and 15th for 3-year-olds, meeting only a few quality benchmarks. Steven Barnett, co-author of the report, remarked: "I’m OK with it in California, not in some other states," highlighting California's commitment to setting timelines for quality improvements. Los Angeles USD is also expanding early education programs, aiming to create a seamless pipeline from infant care to TK. Despite the challenges, LAUSD board member Nick Melvoin emphasized the importance of making preschool accessible, claiming: "Preschool is now one of the best-kept secrets of LAUSD."

 

EdSource

An exclusive Silicon Valley private school for gifted children, founded by wealthy tech executives, has descended into internal conflict, lawsuits, and leadership turmoil, highlighting tensions between startup-style management and traditional education. Tessellations, launched six years ago in Cupertino with tuition starting at $44,500, rapidly expanded from 32 to nearly 300 students, fueled by aggressive fundraising and heavy involvement from affluent parents. However, disputes over governance, donor influence, and educational philosophy led to growing instability, including complaints from neighbors, negative parent experiences, and the abrupt closure of its high school program after just one year. A major flashpoint came when Meta executive Chris Cox and other families withdrew students to form a breakaway homeschool, underscoring dissatisfaction among key stakeholders. Internal tensions escalated further during a 2024 budget crisis that triggered staff layoffs, culminating in the dismissal of founder Grace Stanat after a clash with the board, which accused him of creating legal and financial risks. The school has since shifted away from its original holistic, flexible learning model toward more traditional approaches, including standardized IQ-based admissions, while some programs were scaled back. Despite leadership changes and claims of stabilization, the episode illustrates how the ambitions and management styles of Silicon Valley elites can clash with the operational realities of running a school.

 

Wall Street Journal

Los Angeles County is experiencing a significant decline in public school enrollment, with a drop of 32,953 students, or 2.6%, for the 2025-26 academic year. This decline represents 44% of California's total decrease, despite the county housing only 22% of the state's students. Los Angeles USD alone saw a reduction of 16,765 students, or 4.5%. Thomas J. Kane, director of the Center for Education Policy Research at Harvard, said: "Declining birth rates inevitably mean declining enrollment." Contributing factors include rising housing costs, reduced immigration, and federal deportation efforts. While some districts like Elk Grove Unified have seen increases, the overall trend indicates a troubling future for public education in the region.

 

Los Angeles Times

The Academy at District, a K-12 Christian school in El Dorado Hills is expanding its reach to provide an alternative to traditional education. The Academy focuses on learner-driven, project-based education, aiming to cultivate resilience, curiosity, and character in students. As families seek educational paths aligned with their values, The Academy addresses the need for an environment that prepares children for real life rather than just standardized testing. The curriculum emphasizes active engagement through project-based learning, allowing students to shape their own values and goals. To enhance its visibility, The Academy has partnered with Knapsack Creative to improve its digital presence, ensuring that families can easily find its offerings. This collaboration aims to make purpose-driven, Christian education accessible to families valuing independent thinking and courageous leadership.

 

Chino Champion

Mesa USD is facing a potential water crisis as it struggles to reach an agreement with Del Norte Water Company, which has supplied water since 1939. John Orr, president of Del Norte's Board of Directors, noted that the company has faced challenges, including wildfire damage and groundwater rights litigation. After a disconnection notice was sent in December 2024, Mesa Union agreed to use its groundwater allocation for the water provided by Del Norte. However, negotiations stalled over additional conditions proposed by Del Norte, including a $10,000 reimbursement for legal expenses. Superintendent Raul Ramirez emphasized the district's goal to maintain water service while developing a contingency plan to truck in drinking water, which he described as "a costly, but at this point, necessary build." The district plans to have this system in place before the end of June.

 

Ventura County Star

Kelly Gonez, the incumbent for the Los Angeles USD Board District 6 seat, is running unopposed in the June 2 primary. The district faces significant challenges, including an FBI investigation into Superintendent Alberto Carvalho, declining enrollment, and budget pressures. Gonez, who has been a vocal advocate for immigrant rights and educational improvements, stated: “My first priority is making sure every child can walk through their school doors without fear.” The district's future hinges on addressing these issues while maintaining academic recovery post-pandemic. With a board majority aligned with the teachers' union, the election outcome will influence the balance of power within the district.

 

Los Angeles Times

Los Angeles Times

On May Day, teachers from Pacific Collegiate School in Santa Cruz rallied to support their union's negotiations for better pay and staffing conditions. United PCS, part of the California Teachers Association, has been in talks with the school board since December 2024, but negotiations have stalled. Devon Lincoln, United PCS chapter president, commented: "We feel urgency because this county is very expensive to live in and we don't know if the school sees that urgency." The union is seeking a 3.5% salary increase, while the school board has offered only 1.5%. Teachers have not received a pay raise since 2024, leading to high turnover rates. Greg Walker, United PCS Secretary, emphasized the need for fair working conditions, saying: "We mean business and they're going to keep hearing from us until we can reach a fair and reasonable agreement."

 

Santa Cruz Sentinel

As schools adopt more digital tools and artificial intelligence (AI), K–12 IT teams are being called to take on a more strategic role, driving technology integration, safeguarding data, and supporting classroom innovation, which is increasing the need for targeted professional development. Experts say IT staff must understand not only technical systems but also instructional practices, student privacy laws, and ethical data use, particularly as technologies like AI reshape learning environments. The article highlights the importance of cross-department collaboration, with IT professionals working closely with educators and administrators to ensure responsible technology use and support digital citizenship. Training programs, certifications, and partnerships with technology vendors are seen as critical to keeping IT teams up to date, while shared learning across districts can improve efficiency and security.

 

EdTech Magazine

Milpitas USD recently celebrated the groundbreaking of Phase 3 of its Innovation Campus, which will include a 9,000-square-foot Workforce Development Center and a 3,500-square-foot Early Childhood Education Research Center. The Workforce Development Center will feature meeting rooms, offices, and a café, while the Early Childhood Education Research Center will consist of classrooms and administrative spaces. The entire project, funded by the district’s 2018 Bond Measure AA and state grants, is expected to be completed by summer 2027.

 

East Bay

A global analysis of TIMSS data from 1995 to 2023 has found that boys are increasingly outperforming girls in mathematics, particularly by fourth grade, with significant gender gaps now evident across the majority of participating countries. In 2023, boys outperformed girls in 81% of countries at the fourth-grade level, up sharply from 52% in 2019 and 39% in 2015, while boys were also disproportionately represented among top performers and girls more likely to fall into the lowest achievement bracket. The research, published by the International Association for the Evaluation of Educational Achievement in partnership with UNESCO, emphasizes that the gap is not due to innate ability, but instead reflects differences in confidence, classroom dynamics, teacher expectations, and persistent gender stereotypes. Girls consistently report lower self-belief in mathematics, which affects their participation, engagement, and long-term learning pathways. To address the issue, the report recommends early interventions to build girls’ confidence in math, training teachers to recognize and counteract bias, and tracking gender-based performance data. 

 

The Educator Online

Jo Edna Niblett, a 103-year-old woman, recently received her high school diploma after putting her education on hold to serve during World War II. Recognized by the Pickens County School District during the Class of 2026's Military Enlistee Ceremony on April 29, Niblett was honored for her resilience and patriotism. She worked at Bell Aircraft as a "Rosie the Riveter," contributing to the war effort by welding B-29 bombers. Superintendent Dr. Travis Thomas said, "This diploma represents more than academic achievement—it represents a lifetime of service, sacrifice, and strength." The ceremony celebrated Niblett's legacy and aimed to remind attendees of the importance of stepping up in times of need.

 

Tampa Bay Fl News