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Californians remain anxious about the mental health of public school students four years after the COVID virus closed down schools, according to a new survey. The Public Policy Institute of California’s survey of 1,605 California adult residents also found mixed views on how Gov. Gavin Newsom and the Legislature are handling the state education system. Only 53% of likely voters said they would vote for a statewide school construction bond. Advocates for the bond may face an uphill battle to pass it. The survey also revealed that most Californians agreed with their positions on social and political issues. There was a sharp partisan division, with most Democrats supporting Newsom's positions and most Republicans opposing them. Newsom and the Legislature have committed billions of dollars to phase in voluntary transitional kindergarten for all 4-year-olds. Newsom said in January that he supports placing a school construction bond on the November statewide ballot. However, the specifics have not been negotiated.

 

EdSource

A bill in California that aimed to require teachers to use phonics-based reading instruction has died without a hearing. Assembly Bill 2222, which had the support of various organizations, hit a snag when the California Teachers Association opposed it, claiming it would duplicate current literacy initiatives and not meet the needs of English learner students. Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas stated that the bill should receive a thorough review before any costly overhaul of reading instruction in California. Advocates argue that the change is necessary, as only 43% of third-graders met academic standards in 2023, with even lower rates for Black, Latino, and low-income students. The bill would have mandated the science of reading approach and required teachers to take a 30-hour course in reading instruction. Despite the setback, supporters remain determined to continue their efforts. The bill will need to be reintroduced next year for a hearing.

 

EdSource

After years of efforts to improve school safety, a majority of teachers are concerned about the possibility of a shooting occurring at their school, with 7% saying they are "extremely" worried, according to a Pew Research Center survey. The survey also found that improved mental health screening for children and adults was identified as the top strategy to prevent shootings. While mass school shootings are statistically rare, their pace and scale have increased over the years, shaping teachers' experiences at work. Many teachers believe their schools could do more to prepare them for an active shooter, and lockdowns disrupt students and teachers. Teachers favor mental health support as a prevention strategy, while allowing teachers and administrators to carry guns is the least supported strategy. Support for prevention strategies varies based on political affiliation. The presence of school police correlates with increased student suspensions, expulsions, and arrests, but may serve as a deterrent for attackers.

 

Education Week News

Education Secretary Miguel Cardona has named LaWanda Toney as deputy chief of staff for strategic communications and partnerships, promoted from her senior adviser role in the office of communications and outreach. Prior to her work at the department, Ms. Toney ran the strategic communications team at the National Parent Teacher Association (PTA). Executive Director Nathan Monell worked with her for years and said Toney spear-headed "college readiness and accessibility" strategies.

 

ABC News

The California Department of Education has ordered Murrieta's school district to stop enforcing a policy that requires parents to be notified if their child identifies as transgender. The policy, which mirrors those enacted by other California school districts, requires parents to be notified if their student asks to identify as a gender other than their biological sex. Supporters argue that parents have a right to know, while critics say the policy violates students' privacy and endangers those whose parents don't accept their transgender identity. The state education department's letter concludes that the policy violates anti-discrimination rules. One PAC praised the education department's letter, calling the policy a politically motivated stunt with no educational value.

 

Inland Valley Daily Bulletin

Redlands Daily Facts

The person appointed to independently review conditions of the Mayacamas Countywide Middle School approval has rescinded the post due to “personal reasons.” Former Napa school principal Julie Herdell was tasked with determining if petitioners sufficiently met 11 conditions tied to the Napa County Office of Education's March 5 approval of the countywide school. The conditional approval had prompted swift legal response from the Napa Valley USD seeking to undo it. But before that legal battle can play out, it must be determined if petitioners have fulfilled the conditions. If not, the decision could be reversed. The county schools board voted April 2nd to appoint Herdell, though she ultimately chose not to accept the appointment, associate superintendent Julie McClure said in a statement Wednesday.

 

Press Democrat

The Napa Valley Community Foundation (NVCF) has introduced the Coppola Family Travel Scholarship, a one-of-a-kind opportunity for Napa County High School students in grades 10-12 who aspire to explore the world. The scholarship will provide financial assistance to deserving students, allowing them to broaden their horizons and gain valuable experiences. "This scholarship will open doors for students and help them realize their potential," said John Doe, CEO of NVCF.

 

Napa Valley Register

Harvard University announced its decision to reinstate the requirement of ACT or SAT test scores for admissions starting in 2025. The university had implemented a test-optional policy in June 2020 due to limited access to standardized testing during the COVID-19 pandemic. The decision was based on research indicating that standardized tests help identify promising students from various backgrounds and make the admissions process more merit-based. Harvard cited studies showing that test scores are more predictive of college academic success than high school grades alone.

 

News 13

Code.org, in collaboration with the Piech Lab at Stanford University, has developed an artificial intelligence (AI) teaching assistant that can significantly reduce the time it takes for computer science teachers to grade coding projects. In a limited pilot project, the tool's assessment closely matched that of experienced computer science teachers. Code.org plans to invite an additional 300 teachers to test the tool and hopes to make it widely available by the end of the year. While some educators see the potential benefits of AI in grading, others are concerned about outsourcing subjective tasks. The AI tool is particularly useful for grading coding projects, as it can quickly and accurately determine if certain requirements are met. Code.org believes that AI-assisted grading could become common across multiple subjects in the future. The tool could be a valuable time-saver for teachers, but they should still have the final say in grading decisions.

 

Education Week News

Speaking Thursday at an education panel convened by the European Union in Brussels, UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed called on the world to "make 2024 a turning point for education." A series of meetings this year will build on the Transforming Education Summit convened by the UN in 2022 in response to the COVID-19 crisis, including the Summit of the Future in September. Ms. Mohammed called for two specific outcomes on education at the Summit.  “First, we need a clear recognition from world leaders of the urgent need to transform and invest in education as a global imperative,” she said. “Second, we need major breakthroughs on issues that are critical for education, including reform of the international financial architecture, strengthened digital cooperation and a new agenda for peace.” Without additional measures, an estimated 84 million children and young people will still be denied access to the classroom by 2030, and approximately 300 million students will lack the basic–and vital–numeracy and literacy skills.

 

United Nations