Education Slice
Become more informed in minutes....
Education Slice Logo
California
20th February 2026
Together with

FlexPoint Brand Logo

THE HOT STORY

Justice Department takes on LAUSD

The U.S. Department of Justice has petitioned to join a lawsuit against Los Angeles USD (LAUSD), which is accused of discriminating against white students through its desegregation policy. The lawsuit, initiated by the 1776 Project Foundation, claims that LAUSD's practices provide advantages to predominantly minority schools, leaving white students at a disadvantage. "Los Angeles County students should never be classified or treated differently because of their race,” said Harmeet K. Dhillon, Assistant Attorney General. LAUSD maintains its commitment to equitable access for all students, with board member Nick Melvoin arguing that the Justice Department's intervention misrepresents the district's efforts to address educational inequities. The lawsuit highlights disparities in class sizes and access to magnet programs, alleging that 600 campuses benefit from these policies while about 100 do not.

CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION

Prepare Your Students For Their Future, Today

As the workforce and student needs evolve, how can schools ensure students are future-ready? Career and Technical Education (CTE) offers a strategic solution. Our comprehensive free guide provides school leaders with the tools needed to elevate CTE, from student interest surveys to employment landscape checklists.  

In the guide, you’ll have access to:
  • An overview of nationally recognized Career Clusters and Programs of Study
  • Tips for selecting the best career pathways that evolve with the employment landscape
  • Sample survey questions to gauge students’ interests in future career opportunities
  • And more!
Download The Free Guide


 

STATE NEWS

California's education budget skyrockets

California's education budget is set to reach $88.7bn for the 2026-27 fiscal year, a significant increase from the $17,014 per pupil funding when Gov. Gavin Newsom took office. This represents a 61% rise, although inflation has reduced the real gain. The Public Policy Institute of California reports that the state is now in the middle range for per pupil spending. However, local school districts are struggling with budget deficits due to declining enrollments and rising costs. Gabe Petek, the Legislature's fiscal analyst, said, “This delay shifts costs to the future when the state must ‘settle up' and meet this obligation.” With a $191m deficit in Los Angeles Unified and ongoing fiscal challenges, educators argue that increased state aid is essential to address these issues.

CDE defends parents' rights to records

The California Department of Education (CDE) has issued a letter to district and county superintendents, reaffirming the rights of parents under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). The CDE emphasized that there is "no evidence" supporting the Trump administration's claims that it coerces school districts to withhold information from parents. The letter clarified that parents of students under 18 have the right to inspect their children's education records, even if they include sensitive information related to sexual orientation or gender identity. Furthermore, the CDE stated that Assembly Bill 1955 does not prevent parents from accessing these records, as it only restricts local educational agencies from disclosing a student's identity without consent.

ACA 7 targets Prop 209

The proposed Assembly Constitutional Amendment 7 in California aims to repeal Proposition 209, which currently prohibits racial preferences in public education. If passed, ACA 7 would allow race to influence decisions in various educational areas, including gifted programs and financial aid. Wenyuan Wu, executive director of the Californians for Equal Rights Foundation, stated: "Racial discrimination of this kind is never progress." The amendment has faced legal challenges, as seen in recent lawsuits against programs in Fresno and Los Angeles. Despite initial postponements, the California Assembly Appropriations Committee has revived ACA 7, which could soon be voted on by the State Senate. Advocates for racial preferences are seen as undermining equal rights, raising concerns about the future of educational equity in California.

NATIONAL NEWS

Property tax battles threaten schools

State lawmakers are weighing property-tax reforms that could shrink K-12 revenue, since property taxes provide more than a third of U.S. school funding. The push is fueled by post-pandemic bill increases and GOP efforts to curb government spending, though full repeal faces voter resistance; Wyoming lawmakers recently killed an elimination proposal. The text outlines four approaches: replacing property taxes with sales or income taxes, pursuing constitutional amendments, adding local veto mechanisms, and expanding caps or exemptions. Experts warn alternatives may underfund services, making districts cut staff or rely more on state aid.

WORKFORCE

New training tools for superintendents unveiled

Superintendents are increasingly confronted with political challenges that are often overlooked in their training. Jennifer Perry Cheatham, a former superintendent and now a senior lecturer at the Harvard Graduate School of Education, emphasized: "This is not something you want to learn on the job." To address this gap, new resources, including case studies and simulations, have been introduced. The Initiative on Superintendent as Civic Leader aims to support superintendents and enhance preparation programs nationwide. The simulations, which can be conducted online or in-person, allow superintendents to engage in discussions about hypothetical crises, helping them navigate complex issues such as school closures and teacher recruitment. As Cheatham noted, "The role of the superintendent has changed," highlighting the importance of civic leadership in education.

Job cuts loom at Antioch USD

Antioch USD is set to lay off around 300 staff members to address a budget deficit projected at $30m over the next two years. The Board of Trustees approved the layoffs in a 3-2 vote, despite concerns from parents and staff about the impact on students, particularly in special education. The layoffs are expected to save approximately $38m for the 2026-2027 school year.

DISTRICTS

CTE team places ninth off-road

Silver Valley High School's Automotive Career Technical Education Program made history by being the first high school automotive team to compete at the King of the Hammers, a challenging off-road racing event held from January 22 to February 7. Competing on January 31, the team finished ninth out of 26 in the Class 11 race. "Silver Valley High School's participation at King of the Hammers shows how CTE programs across our county are preparing students with real-world experiences," said San Bernardino County Superintendent Ted Alejandre. Students built their own Volkswagen Beetle with safety modifications, gaining hands-on experience in various automotive skills. Supported by sponsors like Sylvania Off-Road Lighting and Slow Ride Garage, the program provided students with authentic motorsports experiences, marking a significant milestone for CTE.

IMPORTANT DELIVERY UPDATE

We’re making a behind-the-scenes improvement to how our emails are sent by updating our sending domain.

What does this mean for you? Not much - except one quick action to make sure our newsletters continue landing safely in your inbox (and not your spam folder).

Please add the following address to your safe senders list: 👉 news@edu.industryslice.com

Doing this helps your email provider recognise us as a trusted sender, so you never miss an edition.

👉 How to add a sender to your safe list: Click Here

Thanks for reading - and for making sure we keep showing up where we should 👍

 

LEGAL

Community demands answers after arrest

At the latest Glendale USD board meeting, community members expressed outrage following the arrest of special education assistant Joseph Vladamir Sanchez on multiple charges, including “lewd acts with a child.” Superintendent Darneika Watson stated: “As we continue to review, evaluate and strengthen our policies... we are listening.” Parents called for increased transparency and accountability, questioning how Sanchez was placed with vulnerable students. Lea Awni, president of the Glendale Parent Teacher Association, emphasized the need for “clear, transparent and enforced protocols” to protect children.

HEALTH & WELLBEING

Social media giants face courtroom reckoning

Social media companies, including Meta and TikTok, are facing trials across the U.S. over allegations that their platforms harm children's mental health. The lawsuits, initiated by school districts, families, and government entities, argue that these companies deliberately design addictive features and fail to protect young users from harmful content. Matthew Bergman of the Social Media Victims Law Center said: “This is a monumental inflection point in social media,” highlighting the significance of these cases. The outcomes could challenge existing legal protections for tech companies and lead to substantial changes in their operations. As the trials unfold, experts draw parallels to past cases against the tobacco and opioid industries, emphasizing the potential for significant legal and financial repercussions for the defendants.

FINANCE

Election doubts threaten school funding

In Lucia Mar USD, a $143m bond measure approved over a year ago for campus improvements is facing scrutiny from election deniers. San Miguel resident Darcia Stebbens expressed concerns about the election's certification, stating: “I'm concerned mostly in the certification of the election itself.” Despite the measure passing with a narrow margin of 55.26%, no substantial evidence was provided to support her claims. Trustee Mike Fuller also raised doubts about the election's accuracy, citing unrelated events in Georgia. His reluctance to accept the results led to a delay in the bond sale aimed at enhancing school safety.

Unlock college funds with CalKIDS

As the March 2 deadline for the FAFSA and California Dream Act Application approaches, education officials are encouraging high school seniors in Stanislaus and Merced counties to explore their eligibility for CalKIDS scholarships. With over $38m available in Stanislaus County and more than $24m in Merced County, these scholarships require no essays or minimum GPA. "CalKIDS was created to support students at moments when financial decisions can feel overwhelming," said State Treasurer Fiona Ma. Eligible students can receive up to $1,500 for educational expenses. More than 60% of public school students in grades 2–12 qualify, and some college students may have unclaimed funds.

SAFETY AND SECURITY

Schools under pressure to reconsider Flock surveillance ties

Amazon-owned Ring has ended a planned partnership with surveillance company Flock Safety following public backlash over a Super Bowl ad promoting neighborhood-wide camera networks. Privacy advocates say schools should follow suit, as many districts use Flock’s automated license plate readers, which have been accessed by law enforcement agencies to assist federal immigration enforcement. Audit logs from Texas districts showed out-of-state agencies conducting searches tied to immigration cases, raising concerns about student and family privacy. Flock says schools can disable immigration-related searches using a filter tool, and maintains its cameras are primarily used for campus safety, such as monitoring banned individuals or investigating crimes in school parking lots. However, critics argue the broad sharing of surveillance data creates serious privacy risks and may deter families from attending school events or even sending children to school. More than 100 school districts use Flock cameras, though few have publicly addressed how their data are shared.

SCHOOL TRANSPORTATION

Clean school bus funding paused as EPA seeks input on gas, hydrogen and biofuels

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced plans to revamp its Clean School Bus Program, expanding the range of eligible fuel and technology options beyond primarily electric buses. The agency has launched a 45-day public comment period through a Request for Information to gather feedback from manufacturers, school districts, and fleet operators on the cost, availability, and performance of alternative technologies. The updated program is expected to place greater emphasis on biofuels, compressed and liquefied natural gas, and hydrogen-powered vehicles. As part of the transition, the EPA confirmed it will cancel the 2024 rebate funding round, encouraging applicants to instead apply for the 2026 grant cycle. A formal funding notice outlining eligibility criteria is expected soon. EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin said the overhaul aims to improve fiscal responsibility and provide school districts with more flexibility to meet transportation needs. The Clean School Bus Program was originally created to replace older, high-emission buses with cleaner models to improve air quality and protect student health. 

INTERNATIONAL

Maternity pay for teachers in England to rise from 2027-28

Maternity pay for teachers in England will increase for the first time in 25 years under reforms set to take effect in the 2027-28 academic year. The government will raise full-pay maternity leave from four weeks to eight, followed by 10 weeks at half pay and 21 weeks at statutory maternity pay. The changes, to be outlined in the forthcoming schools white paper, aim to improve staff retention, particularly among women aged 30 to 39, who make up the largest group leaving the profession. Nearly 10% of qualified teachers left state schools in 2023-24, and only 68% remain five years after qualifying. Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson said the reform addresses long-standing stagnation in maternity pay and will support more women returning to teaching. Unions welcomed the move but noted that teachers’ maternity packages still fall short of those offered to civil servants. The white paper will also include proposed reforms to special educational needs provision, including reassessments at the transition from primary to secondary school, and tighter eligibility criteria for full support.
Industry Slice Logo

Education Slice delivers the latest, most relevant and useful intelligence to key educators, administrators, decision makers and teaching influencers, each weekday morning..

Content is selected to an exacting brief from hundreds of influential media sources and summarised by experienced journalists into an easy-to-read digest email. Education Slice enhances the performance and decision-making capabilities of individuals and teams by delivering the relevant news, innovations and knowledge in a cost-effective way.

If you are interested in sponsorship opportunities within Education Slice, please get in touch via email sales team

Follow us on FacebookFollow us on XFollow us on Linkedin

This e-mail has been sent to [[EMAIL_TO]]

Click here to unsubscribe