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California schools may soon be required to provide halal and kosher meal options for students. A proposed bill in the California Legislature, known as the Halal and Kosher School Meals Act, would mandate schools to offer kosher or halal meals if more than 5% of their students request them. The bill aims to ensure that students of all religions and cultures feel supported and included at school. Both kosher and halal meals follow specific dietary practices, and the bill seeks to create a more equitable system for students who observe these practices. If the bill passes, it would take effect in the 2025-2026 school year. The bill has received support from religious leaders and advocates for equal access to meals for all students. Rabbi Dov Wagner, director of the Chabad Jewish Student Center at USC, said the bill would open up meal options for all students, something that has been tough for children in the past. “Without access to kosher and halal meals, students are often put in a situation where they have to choose between their education and their religious traditions and heritage,” Wagner added.

 

LA Daily News

East Bay

The Orange Country Register

California's public schools, with nearly 6m students, are facing a financial crisis due to multiple factors, writes Dan Walters. He says the exhaustion of federal funds meant to cushion the impacts of COVID-19, school closures during the pandemic leading to declines in enrollment, chronic absenteeism, increasing operating costs, and a huge state budget deficit have all contributed to the financial challenges. Continuing, Walters adds that the state's funding of schools based on attendance has resulted in widening gaps between income and expenses for many local districts, disrupting the previous trend of increasing per pupil spending. Local school trustees have limited options to balance their budgets, including school closures, layoffs, and seeking tax increases from voters. However, these measures often face resistance. He ends by saying that the financial crisis has put California schools in a difficult position, requiring innovative solutions to ensure quality education for students.

 

Pasadena Star-News

SGV Tribune

Ventura County Star

California is considering whether to include anti-abortion crisis pregnancy centers in K-12 sex education. Some schools already do so, but there are concerns about the accuracy and bias of the information provided by these centers. A bill has been introduced to implement this policy statewide, with the aim of providing students with information on both Planned Parenthood and licensed pregnancy centers. However, there are concerns that these centers may provide inaccurate information and potentially increase the number of unintended births. The bill faces opposition in the Democratic-controlled Legislature.

 

The Sacramento Bee

School Leadership’s Guide to Building an Online Learning Program

No two students learn the same way, and alternative options for education have never been more necessary than they are right now. Online learning has become an option that’s gained traction nationwide. According to a recent study, 81% of parents believe online learning helps their children better prepare for the future and 94% believe it positively impacts their children’s ability to understand courses.*

This guide will help school and district leaders like you learn more about the fundamentals of online learning and its benefits.

Topics include:

• Debunking common myths about online education
• An outline of the first steps to create and implement a new program
• Strategies for creating open communication with parents, students, and staff
• How to select the best industry partner to help develop your new program

*FlexPoint 2021 Parent Survey

Download the Guide

 

The prevalence of active shooter incidents at schools, particularly high schools, has prompted increased discussions about campus safety measures. According to the Security Industry Association, since 1999, nearly 60% of such incidents have occurred in high schools. Although only a small percentage of schools are currently equipped with weapon detection devices, experts like Bobby Kipper of the National Center for Prevention of Community Violence believe that the adoption of these systems will likely grow in response to the rising number of shootings. Kipper advocates for enhanced training for students and faculty to respond to active shooter situations, rather than arming educators. Similarly, Remo Eyal of Decision Tactical underscores the importance of crisis response training for both law enforcement and civilians. In line with these perspectives, Orange County Public Schools has initiated a safety pilot program that includes the installation of weapons detection systems in seven schools, aiming to improve safety and preparedness.

 

News 13

As classrooms become increasingly digital, teachers’ unions are actively engaging in the discourse around cellphone use in schools, often advocating for policies to manage or restrict such devices during school hours. This engagement is reflected both at the local and state levels, where unions are not just participants but are driving forces behind policy changes. Local teachers’ unions, in some cases, have brought the issue to the bargaining table, proposing or supporting the implementation of district-wide cellphone bans. These efforts aim to give teachers more control over classroom environments, where distractions from cellphones have become a significant concern. At the state level, teachers’ unions are supporting legislative efforts to curb cellphone use in classrooms. The growing support for these measures is partly in response to a widespread acknowledgment of the distractions cellphones can cause, impacting student engagement and learning. States like Florida and Indiana have enacted or are considering legislation that restricts cellphone use, with unions playing a critical role in shaping these policies to ensure they align with educational goals and teachers' operational needs.

 

Education Week

The National Council of School Safety Directors (NCSSD) has been launched by ZeroNow, a school safety stakeholder community, to advocate for dedicated School Safety Directors in K-12 school districts nationwide. The NCSSD aims to establish standards, share best practices, and advocate for holistic school safety policies. Inaugural Chair Jason Stoddard, Director of School Safety and Security for Charles County Public Schools, stated that the NCSSD is the first organization created to establish a national standard and certification for School Safety Directors. The organization's immediate objectives include developing a cohesive safety strategy and leading its integration and implementation. The NCSSD believes that a dedicated School Safety Director is necessary in every school district to effectively mitigate risks and create a secure educational environment.

 

Port Arthur News

Napa Valley USD is considering placing a $231m bond measure on the November ballot to address the safety and building standards of local schools. Many of the campuses were built 60 or more years ago and face numerous challenges, including leaking roofs, unreliable heating and cooling systems, and safety hazards such as asbestos. The bond revenue would be used to remove hazardous materials, provide modern labs and technical education facilities, repair and improve school roofs and utilities, upgrade older schools to meet health codes, improve school security systems, and enhance access to technology. The district emphasizes the need for local funding, as the state does not provide funding for facilities. The bond measure would be paid through property taxes, averaging around $116 per year for a typical Napa homeowner.

 

Napa Valley Register

After four months, Fresno Unified is still far away from selecting a new superintendent. The tension between focusing on internal candidates or conducting a broader search has caused division among the board members. Parents, the public, and elected officials have openly criticized the initial decision to focus on internal candidates. Board President Susan Wittrup stated that progress is being made but declined to give a timeline. The search has garnered attention from Fresno's politicians, community leaders, and advocates who are calling for a thorough and transparent national search.

 

The Fresno Bee

The Clovis USD is accepting name suggestions for its new Clovis South intermediate school, which is set to open in 2025. The district is seeking community input and plans to select a name later this year. The new school is part of the Terry P. Bradley Educational Center, along with Satoshi Hirayama Elementary and Clovis South High School. The district follows a policy of naming facilities after people, places, or themes. The board can decide on a name directly or form a committee to assist with the process. Community members and students can also participate by submitting names or joining the name-selecting committee.

 

The Fresno Bee

During a roundtable hosted by EdSource, education leaders from both community colleges and four-year universities discussed the effectiveness of dual admission programs as a solution to California's faltering transfer system. Hans Johnson from the Public Policy Institute of California highlighted the low transfer rates from community colleges to four-year universities, with only 10% of students making the transition within two years. Dual admission, which guarantees entry to a four-year university after completing specific courses at a community college, is seen as a potential statewide remedy. The conversation referenced California's 2021 Assembly Bill 132, which pushed for such programs, aiming to simplify the transition and increase the rate of successful transfers. CSU's permanent Transfer Success Pathway Program, which began in fall 2023, exemplifies this effort by helping students navigate their educational requirements across various campuses. Despite this, the UC system has implemented dual admission more restrictively.

 

Ed Source