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California Governor Gavin Newsom has signed a bill that prohibits mandating teachers to notify families about student gender identity changes. The new law protects teachers from retaliation and prohibits K-12 "forced disclosure" rules. It also requires the California Department of Education to offer resources to parents and students on managing conversations about gender and identity privately. The bill comes in response to school board decisions in some parts of California to notify parents about name or pronoun changes and gender-related requests by students. Attempts at gender notification policies in other states have triggered lawsuits and concerns about student privacy rights. California is the first state to outlaw such policies at the local level. Assemblymember Chris Ward, the bill's author, emphasized that teachers are not meant to be "the gender police" and that the law does not intrude on the parent-child relationship. This is not the first time Governor Newsom has intervened in local school affairs, as he previously signed a law that fines school districts for banning textbooks portraying LGBTQ+ people and other marginalized groups.

 

Napa Valley Register

The Bakersfield

Los Angeles Times

Press Democrat

The Sacramento Bee

California Gov. Gavin Newsom has approved the allocation of $2bn to address learning loss caused by COVID lockdowns. The recent settlement in the case Cayla J. v. California led to this allocation, which aims to help children most impacted by lost learning and mental health issues. The funds will be used for tutoring and other efforts to assist students in recovering from learning loss. The lawsuit highlighted the detrimental effects of school shutdowns on low-income and minority students. The settlement requires existing funds to be used for hiring tutors and implementing programs to support students facing adverse education outcomes. Critics argue that California's policymakers created the problem by keeping schools closed for too long and that empowering families to choose their children's learning environments would be a better use of the funds. The allocation is seen as a stark admission of failure and has sparked criticism of the state's education policies.

 

Fox News

A new report from the Government Accountability Office reveals that a student's race, gender, and disability status heavily influence their likelihood of being arrested. The report analyzed data from the 2015-16 and 2017-18 school years and found that students of color, particularly Black students, and students with disabilities face disproportionate disciplinary measures. Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander, Black, and American Indian/Alaska Native students are arrested at two to three times the rate of their white peers. The report also highlights the intersectionality of these factors, with Black girls without disabilities having higher arrest rates than white girls with disabilities. The presence of police in schools is associated with higher arrest rates, despite discouragement from education and justice departments. The report recommends collecting arrest and referral data by race and improving data collection practices. The U.S. Department of Education generally agrees with the recommendations. The findings emphasize the need to address the root causes of these disparities and reform police involvement in schools.

 

Education Week News

Even though the attempted assassination of Donald Trump is expected to overshadow policy discussions at this week's Republican convention in Milwaukee, delegates are still expected to embrace a party platform that includes education prominently on its 20-page document. The platform, shaped by Trump himself, focuses on issues drawn from the culture wars, including opposition to "Leftwing propaganda" in schools and support for "Fair and Patriotic Civics Education." It also champions school choice, hardening schools against violence, and ending teacher tenure. However, the platform fails to acknowledge the limited federal control over education and the fact that only a small portion of education funding comes from Washington, D.C.

 

EdSource

The sudden shelving of an ambitious AI chatbot at Los Angeles USD highlights a key challenge for AI projects: corralling data. The district launched the chatbot, nicknamed "Ed," in March, but it was abruptly shut down last month due to financial difficulties faced by the company that built it, AllHere Education. The chatbot was meant to be a personal assistant for students, providing tailored resources and assignments. However, the project was deemed too ambitious for a small startup like AllHere, as it required integrating data from multiple systems. The implosion of the project serves as a lesson for other schools and colleges working with generative AI. Data security and privacy protection are crucial aspects that need to be carefully addressed. The incident also raises concerns about the handling of student data and potential breaches. LAUSD maintains that student data will continue to be protected, regardless of the fate of AllHere as a company.

 

EdSurge

Clovis voters may have the opportunity to approve a multi-million dollar bond measure to fund school construction projects and maintenance. Residents wouldn't see an increase in taxes as a result of the bond measure, which the Citizens Committee to Study Capital Facility Needs recommended. However, it would provide critical funding to complete ongoing construction projects, including the Terry P. Bradley Educational Center. The proposed measure includes reductions in budgeted expenses for facility modernization, building infrastructure maintenance, energy upgrades, and athletic facility upgrades. Board members are considering the proposal, with one member emphasizing the importance of community support. Clovis Unified's board will meet again in July to further discuss the bond measure.

 

The Fresno Bee

The Hollister School District is set to add new modular classroom buildings to three of its schools. The Board of Trustees has allocated $5.17m in funding for the buildings, which will provide 1,000 square feet of additional classroom space. The buildings will also include restrooms, storage, and a data/electrical room. The construction is expected to be completed in mid to late fall. The new buildings symbolize the district's commitment to providing high-quality education for all students.

 

Hollister Free Lance

Corning UHSD has announced the appointment of Miguel Barriga as its new superintendent. Barriga, a graduate of Corning Union High School, brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the district. He has a history of improving academic outcomes and strengthening relationships for greater collaboration. Barriga has previously served as an elementary school principal in the Willows USD, where he was recognized as the Elementary Principal of the Year in 2023. He has also held positions as a principal in the Los Molinos School District and as an associate principal at Red Bluff High School. Barriga, who has been an educator since 1993, holds a Bachelor of Arts from Chico State University and a Masters of Science in Educational Leadership and Administration from National University. The appointment of Barriga comes after the resignation of outgoing superintendent Jared Caylor, who will be taking on the assistant superintendent position with the Tehama County Department of Education.

 

Appeal Democrat

Every year, the San Francisco 49ers Foundation awards grants to local educators through the Follow Your Bliss Award. This year, ten educators, including Amanda Clark, the Principal of Sedgwick Elementary School, received grants to support their work in local schools. Clark plans to use the funds for cooperative play PE classes for TK through third graders, helping them develop important social skills. The 49ers Foundation opens applications for the Follow Your Bliss Award each spring and selects finalists before the summer break.

 

Silicon Valley Voice

The North Bay Children's Center (NBCC) will take over the preschool program at Sassarini Elementary School in the first trimester of the 2024-25 academic year. The program will include two new classrooms for infants and toddlers. With financing from the Sonoma Valley Education Foundation, the preschool program was administered by the Sonoma Valley Unified School District. However, the foundation decided to discontinue funding after the 2023-24 school year. NBCC secured a grant from the State to ensure the program's sustainability. The new program will accommodate 24 children in the infant and toddler program, with enrollment priority given according to State guidelines. In Sonoma and Marin counties, NBCC offers approximately 700 newborns, toddlers, and preschoolers full-day, year-round child care and early education.  The program also integrates nutrition education and offers classes that promote school readiness and financial self-sufficiency.

 

Press Democrat