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In October, the California Department of Education reported slight increases in academic test scores, with English language arts rising from 46.7% to 47%, math from 34.6% to 35.5%, and science from 30.2% to 30%. However, these gains are minimal and indicate that California's academic performance remains below pre-pandemic levels. Alix Gallagher, director at Policy Analysis for California Education, stated: “What we would want to see is that with those additional funds, we had a really strong recovery. Instead what we saw were really modest gains.” The state's education dashboard emphasized nonacademic factors, obscuring the ongoing academic challenges. A report from the Center for Reinventing Public Education rated California's school system transparency as a “D,” highlighting difficulties for parents in accessing clear information. Successful projects in Lake Tahoe and Grass Valley demonstrate that sustained efforts can improve academic skills despite the overall sluggish recovery.

 

Ventura County Star

California's ethnic studies mandate faces funding challenges as Gov. Gavin Newsom prepares to propose the 2025-26 budget. The law requires high schools to offer ethnic studies starting in 2025-26, but the California Department of Finance has stated that no appropriation has been made, leading to uncertainty. Assemblymember David Alvarez emphasized: “It’s pretty clear that the law only really takes effect if there is funding for this during the budgetary process.” The estimated implementation cost is around $272m, with concerns that the current budget will not suffice. Meanwhile, the Jewish Legislative Caucus is advocating for amendments to ensure the curriculum is free from bias, as tensions rise over the Liberated Ethnic Studies Model Curriculum. Newsom's Golden State Plan to Combat Antisemitism includes commitments to strengthen the guardrails of the ethnic studies curriculum.

 

EdSource

As President-elect Donald Trump prepares for a second term, his focus on expanding school choice through public funding for private education has sparked renewed debate, Education Week reports. Supporters, such as the yes. every kid. foundation, highlight strong public support for policies like tax credit scholarships, education savings accounts (ESAs), and public-school choice. A foundation survey found 72% of adults and 81% of K-12 parents back these initiatives. Critics, including the National Coalition for Public Education, argue such measures siphon resources from public schools and discriminate against vulnerable students. Trump’s proposed federal tax credit scholarship program has drawn sharp opposition from over 50 organizations, including the National Education Association and the Council for Exceptional Children. The coalition contends the program would harm public education by directing funds to private schools that can exclude students based on various criteria. While ballot initiatives in Colorado, Kentucky, and Nebraska rejected school choice expansions this year, supporters claim these outcomes reflect misunderstanding, not public opposition.

 

Education Week News

Moody’s has revised its 2025 outlook for the traditional K-12 public school sector from stable to negative, citing slowing revenue growth, rising staffing costs, and declining enrollment. The expiration of federal ESSER pandemic aid by January 2025 is expected to reduce operating fund balances, compounding financial pressures. Public school budgets reliant on per-pupil funding face strain from declining birth rates and competition with charter and private schools. Higher-poverty districts, heavily dependent on ESSER funds, are projected to struggle more with expense adjustments. Rising numbers of students with disabilities also add to fiscal challenges, as traditional public schools serve a disproportionate share compared to charters. Charter schools, however, maintain a stable outlook due to enrollment growth and financial flexibility. Despite rising compensation costs and inflation challenges, charter schools’ operational adaptability positions them better to handle funding fluctuations. The report underscores uneven impacts across regions due to differing demographic and funding dynamics, with Moody’s predicting multi-year efforts to adapt.

 

K-12 Dive

Generative artificial intelligence (AI) tools like ChatGPT are transforming school operations, helping district leaders streamline tasks and engage communities. Andrew Adams, executive director of business services for the Eden Prairie school district in Minnesota, used ChatGPT to navigate funding documentation, though he highlighted the importance of human oversight after identifying errors in AI-generated suggestions. Despite the challenges, Adams advocates for embracing AI, having launched an “AI for Dummies” class for the Minnesota Association of School Business Officials to encourage experimentation and learning. Similarly, Madeline Negrón, superintendent of New Haven schools in Connecticut, used the AI-driven tool ThoughtExchange to gather extensive community feedback for a five-year strategic plan. The tool’s ability to translate queries into 76 languages and analyze demographic-specific data enabled unprecedented outreach in the district of 19,000 students. Negrón plans to use AI for future projects, including crafting a "portrait of a graduate" to define key student skills. A recent EdWeek Research Center survey found strong support for AI among K-12 administrators, with 70% endorsing its use for tracking and analyzing community feedback. 

 

Education Week News

The Valley of the Moon Teachers Association (VMTA) has filed an unfair labor practice charge against Sonoma Valley USD, alleging bad faith bargaining. VMTA claims that the district's's failure to honor a signed tentative agreement undermines trust with educators and the community. VMTA bargaining chair Drue Jacobs stated: “Our members agreed with what both parties agreed to and voted to win language protecting small class sizes.” Despite two board meetings since the agreement was signed, Sonoma Valley has not taken action. VMTA Vice President Shelle Ryan expressed concern over the district's decision-making, stating: “This signals to us poor management, a lack of proper decision-making processes and leadership dysfunction.” VMTA co-president Laura Hoban criticized the district for ignoring established labor agreement processes, emphasizing the need for transparency and accountability.

 

Sonoma Valley Sun

Press Democrat

Michael Vierra officially began his role as the superintendent at William S. Hart USD after the board approved his contract, which includes an annual salary of $310,000, health benefits, and a monthly automobile reimbursement of $875. Vierra, who served as interim superintendent since July, expressed gratitude to the board, stating: “I would like to thank the governing board for this great opportunity to serve as the superintendent of our district.” The board conducted a thorough search for candidates, with board member Cherise Moore noting the rigorous process involved. Linda Storli, the board president, emphasized that Vierra was the best candidate among those interviewed, highlighting her extensive experience in the district. Board member Bob Jensen praised Vierra's dedication and hard work, looking forward to continued collaboration.

 

Signalscv.com

Mayacamas Charter Middle School's inaugural test scores have left Napa County education officials worried about the future. Carolynne Beno from California's Fiscal Crisis Management Assistance Team reported that the school's performance in English and math was the lowest in the county. While sixth graders performed comparably to their peers, only 18% of seventh graders met state standards in English, compared to 37% across Napa Valley USD. NCOE Board President Don Huffman emphasized the need for improvement, stating, “These numbers need to be substantially improved.” Mayacamas founder Lauren Daley defended the results, attributing them to the students' previous experiences in other schools. Ongoing litigation with the district has complicated the situation, affecting teacher hiring and overall school performance. The school is developing a Local Control and Accountability Plan to address these issues, with future charter renewal dependent on student performance.

 

Napa Valley Register

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is set to allocate $135m to California school districts and local governments to transition to battery electric vehicles. This initiative follows Gov. Gavin Newsom's announcement of $500m in state funding for 1,000 electric school buses. The EPA's funding will benefit 13 agencies, including Los Angeles USD, which could receive approximately $20m to replace 50 fossil-fuel buses. The funds will also support electric vehicle charging infrastructure and workforce training. As the EPA stated: "Recipients must use the money to replace aging fossil-fuel vehicles, which will have to be scrapped." The funding aims to enhance California's commitment to zero-emission vehicles, with a mandate for all new school buses sold by 2035 to be zero-emission.

 

Los Angeles Times

In a significant legal development, a judge has issued a default judgment against Kanye West's Yeezy Christian Academy, now known as Donda Academy, following a lawsuit from former assistant principal Isaiah Meadows. Meadows sought the judgment due to wrongful termination and unpaid wages after the school failed to appear in court. Judge Christopher K. Lui ruled in favor of Meadows, striking the defendants' responses to the complaint. Meadows alleged that he raised multiple health and safety concerns, including a classroom skylight without glass, which led to water damage and mold. He claimed that after voicing these issues, he was demoted and ultimately terminated without explanation. This lawsuit is one of at least five against West and Donda Academy, highlighting a pattern of alleged workplace hostility and safety violations. The school has been closed since June 2023, following a tumultuous period marked by a series of controversial remarks from West.

 

Los Angeles Times

The William S. Hart UHSD has reached a $10m settlement regarding lawsuits from the 2019 Saugus High shooting, which resulted in the deaths of students Gracie Anne Muehlberger and Dominic Michael Blackwell. Each family will receive $5m from the district's insurance provider. President Linda Storli confirmed the unanimous decision during a board meeting, stating: “While nothing can bring their children back, we do hope these agreements will help bring some closure for the two families.” Attorney Nick Hane emphasized that the settlement does not equate to closure for the families, who seek changes in school security and mental health interventions. The district was insured for up to $50m for such incidents. The settlement concludes a lengthy legal battle, with hopes for improved safety measures in the future.

 

Signalscv.com

A middle school in Paso Robles, Lewis Flamson Junior High School, experienced a lockdown on Thursday due to a false alarm. At approximately 12:50 p.m., a student reported hearing about a person with a firearm near the campus, prompting the school to notify the Paso Robles Police Department. Police quickly arrived, secured the area, and conducted a thorough search, detaining a juvenile off-campus. However, after interviewing students, it was confirmed that no one had seen a firearm. The situation was deemed a false alarm, with no injuries or evidence of gunfire found. The lockdown was lifted once the campus was declared safe, and the school day continued as normal. Paso Robles Joint USD emphasized its commitment to safety, stating: “This response reflects our commitment to protecting our schools and ensuring the safety of everyone involved.”

 

San Luis Obispo Tribune