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The U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights has rescinded all guidance that said school districts could violate civil rights law by implementing book bans. Removing “age-inappropriate” books from schools is a decision that should be made by parents and communities, and therefore OCR “has no role in these matters,” the Trump administration said on Friday. The agency also eliminated the position of book ban coordinator, whose job was to develop training for schools on how book bans targeting specific communities and driving “hostile school environments” might run counter to federal civil rights laws. “By dismissing these complaints and eliminating the position and authorities of a so-called ‘book ban coordinator,’ the department is beginning the process of restoring the fundamental rights of parents to direct their children’s education,” acting Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights Craig Trainor said.   “The department adheres to the deeply rooted American principle that local control over public education best allows parents and teachers alike to assess the educational needs of their children and communities. Parents and school boards have broad discretion to fulfill that important responsibility. These decisions will no longer be second-guessed by the Office for Civil Rights at the U.S. Department of Education."

 

ABC News

The Hill

K-12 Dive

New York Times

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In the wake of President Donald Trump's return to office and his executive orders targeting immigrant rights, families are experiencing heightened anxiety. Cassandra, an undocumented immigrant from Santa Ana, expressed her fears, stating, “It is now always a risk to walk my children to school.” Public schools and advocacy groups are working to reassure families during this challenging time, aiming to provide support and calm amid the uncertainty.

 

Inland Valley Daily Bulletin

Redlands Daily Facts

Classes at Solano Widenmann Leadership Academy in Vallejo have been canceled indefinitely due to a theft that severely damaged the school's electrical systems. District spokesperson Celina Baguiao reported that copper was stolen, resulting in a complete power outage during a basketball competition. Vallejo City USD has notified the Vallejo Police Department about the incident. Repairs are expected to take about a week, and if the closure extends beyond that, alternative placements for students will be arranged. Baguiao expressed, "We are deeply saddened and frustrated that this has happened again to one of our schools," emphasizing the district's commitment to protecting students and their education.

 

The Sacramento Bee

Field Elementary, Washington STEM Magnet, Madison Elementary, Norma Coombs Elementary, and the Children’s Center at Jefferson are set to reopen today, while Alma Fuerte Charter at Cleveland reopened on Friday. Pasadena USD has provided a safety fact sheet to ensure a smooth transition back to school.

 

Pasadena Star-News

SGV Tribune

The Wall Street Journal highlights new federal data showing the continuing decline in the number of male teachers - down from almost one in three in public schools in the 1970s and 1980s to less than one in four today, despite research suggesting that boys, who are more likely to have discipline problems, fall behind in reading, or fail to complete high school, could benefit from more male teachers. Data suggests that the "teacher pay penalty" is more significant for men, the paper notes, with the typical college-educated male making $30,000 more than the average male teacher, while the gap is just $12,000 for women, while teacher salaries have been flat for three decades once inflation is taken into account. Richard Reeves, president of the American Institute for Boys and Men, comments: "I worry a lot that teaching is sometimes perceived as something of a second-earner profession rather than a breadwinner profession."

 

The Wall Street Journal

In 2016, Jenine Catudio, a Filipino special education teacher, was among 21 educators recruited to address the teacher shortage in California. Adjusting to cultural and linguistic differences presented challenges, such as reluctance to question authority, navigating indirect communication norms, and facing accent-related misunderstandings. This prompted one district to implement mandatory English classes for new hires. Catudio suggests this is a positive development, noting that Filipinos, as English learners themselves, "can empathize deeply with minority students facing similar challenges. Drawing from these shared cultural experiences, they can offer invaluable contributions to culturally responsive classrooms."

 

EdSource

In Riverside County, teachers are collaborating with the Riverside County Office of Education math team to enhance student learning. Reflecting on his tenure, former California State Board of Education president Michael W. Kirst noted, "Alignment alone is not enough for successful student learning." The new 2023 math framework emphasizes deeper understanding and reasoning, requiring substantial shifts in teaching practices. To achieve this, California must invest in ongoing professional development for its 319,000 teachers, ensuring they have adequate preparation time, opportunities for collaboration, and access to effective teaching models. The state is also exploring technology to facilitate training, as seen in Lost Hills, where online coaching led to significant gains in math proficiency.

 

EdSource

The recent fires in Los Angeles have severely impacted child care providers, with 37 facilities destroyed and 284 rendered nonoperational due to damage. Paul Pulver, CEO of Options for Learning, stated, "Los Angeles' child care system is still pretty fragile, and so this kind of devastation can rock it." Many providers are struggling to reopen, facing challenges such as ash, debris, and lack of potable water. The state is offering temporary financial support, but the Child Care Providers United union is calling for more assistance. Families are left scrambling for care, with some providers unable to recover.

 

The Fresno Bee

At Vacaville's Community Presbyterian Church, volunteers are dedicated to alleviating childhood food insecurity through the End 68 Hours of Hunger program. Every Thursday, they pack nonperishable food items for local elementary school children, bridging the gap between school meals. Program coordinator Patty Cole emphasized, "Childhood food insecurity is a big problem in Solano County," highlighting the impact of hunger on children's behavior and learning.

 

The Modesto Bee

Jose Barrera, a 29-year-old DACA recipient, and Maria Castillo, a nurse, express their concerns about the uncertain future of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program under President Trump's administration. Barrera, who was brought to the U.S. from Mexico as a child, states, “Since Trump's victory, we definitely feel very uncertain.” With approximately 540,000 individuals protected by DACA, Southern California is significantly impacted, housing 1 in 6 recipients. Despite Trump's past willingness to negotiate for DACA recipients, his administration's actions have often been hostile, leading to fears of deportation.

 

The Sacramento Bee

The U.S. Border Patrol's recent raids in Bakersfield have ignited significant concern among immigrant communities. Conducted under the guise of “targeted enforcement,” the operation reportedly led to the detention of around 1,000 individuals, contradicting the Border Patrol's claim of 78 detentions. Pupils from immigrant families stayed home from school as news of the raids circulated.

 

Press Democrat

California’s universal transitional kindergarten (TK) program has negatively impacted preschool programs already struggling to recover from the pandemic. According to a data snapshot from the Center for the Study of Child Care Employment at UC Berkeley, preschool enrollment dropped across all age groups during COVID-19 and has only partially recovered. Notably, there has been a sharp decline in the enrollment of four-year-olds, though it is unclear whether the TK expansion or pandemic disruptions are the primary cause. In 2021, Gov. Gavin Newsom introduced California’s Master Plan for Early Education and Care to improve access to high-quality learning for three- and four-year-olds. As part of this plan, the state began implementing universal TK and income-eligible preschools statewide. However, the transition has created challenges for existing early education programs, which are struggling to adapt to the changing landscape.

 

Gwire

Less than three weeks after a fire devastated Pacific Palisades, destroying homes and much of Palisades Charter High School (Pali High), students have resumed classes online, facing challenges reminiscent of the COVID-19 pandemic. The fire left many students homeless and disrupted routines, with teachers and classmates adapting to distance learning amid technical difficulties and emotional strain. Assistant Principal Adam Licea reassured seniors that milestone events like prom would still occur, offering hope for a sense of normalcy.

 

Los Angeles Times