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California Assembly Bill 2918, aimed at regulating high school ethnic studies courses to prevent antisemitism, has been postponed for a year due to opposition from teacher unions and civil rights groups. Authored by Assemblymembers Rick Chavez Zbur and Dawn Addis, the bill was introduced amid rising tensions related to the Israel-Gaza conflict. Zbur stated: “We came to the conclusion that there were some valid concerns that were going to take longer for us to work through.” Critics, including Zahra Billoo from the Council on American-Islamic Relations, argue that the bill could censor educators. The bill's intent is to ensure that ethnic studies uplift all students while addressing concerns about antisemitic content in curricula. The postponement allows for further discussions with stakeholders to create a more inclusive approach to ethnic studies in California schools.

 

Mercury News

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Huntington Beach City School District is set to welcome approximately 4,500 students back on September 3, following Labor Day. This year, Seacliff and Smith elementary schools will pilot a new initiative to transition into an Apple school district, integrating iPads and MacBooks into classrooms. District spokeswoman Adriana Angulo noted that training sessions with an Apple professional coach have already taken place, allowing teachers to develop lesson plans that enhance learning experiences. Seacliff Elementary Principal Mike Andrzejewski expressed optimism about the transition, stating: “I think there’s a lot of opportunities. It’s going to have a learning curve with it, but I think the teachers are excited.” The district also plans to extend this Apple integration to Dwyer Middle School next year. Meanwhile, Sowers Middle School is undergoing reconstruction work, with Phase 1 completed and Phase 2 ongoing.

 

Los Angeles Times

According to a new report from nonprofit advocacy group Generation180, over 12% of K-12 students in the U.S. attend schools equipped with solar panels, a number expected to rise due to increased federal funding for clean energy. As of 2023, nearly 9,000 school buildings have solar installations, more than double the figure from 2014. LeeAnn Kittle, the sustainability executive director for Denver Public Schools, noted that the district has significantly reduced energy costs, stating, “We want to show them we are looking at all avenues to reduce our carbon footprint.” The report highlights that the average cost of solar projects has dropped by over 70% in the last decade, making solar energy more accessible for schools. States like Hawaii and Connecticut lead in solar adoption, with over 25% of their schools utilizing solar panels. The federal Inflation Reduction Act also offers tax credits to support solar installations, encouraging more districts to consider solar energy as a viable option.

 

Education Week News

As students return to school, the Wall Street Journal reports that teachers across the nation are feeling demoralized and exhausted. The challenges they face include student behavior issues, cellphone distractions and the rise of artificial intelligence in cheating. Pay is another source of stress. Average teaching salaries fell by 6% between 2019 and 2021, adjusted for inflation, and continue to lag behind most other professions. These factors are compounding the pressures that America's approximately 3.8m teachers have experienced, especially following the difficult pandemic years. The situation highlights the urgent need for support and resources for educators. In a recent Education Week poll, just 18% of public-school teachers said they were very satisfied with their jobs, while an additional 46% said they were somewhat satisfied. But the share of teachers who were very satisfied was lower than at any point between 1984 and 2012, the last pre-pandemic period in which the question was asked.

 

Wall Street Journal

Mira Costa High School in Los Gatos has set a remarkable example in fundraising, raising over $500,000 in 2023 to support 40 extracurricular groups and facility maintenance. This achievement stems from a strategic facility rental program developed in partnership with Facilitron and the MBX Foundation. Gary Wayland, founder of the MBX Foundation, has played a crucial role in managing athletic facility rentals, utilizing technology to enhance efficiency. As a result, Mira Costa has become California's top revenue-generating school, surpassing others by over $200,000. This model demonstrates how school districts can effectively leverage resources to address financial challenges, offering a sustainable approach to fundraising that can benefit students nationwide.

 

Yahoo! Finance

Port Arthur News

Modesto City Schools is partnering with the local NAACP to enhance academic performance among Black and biracial students through the NAACP Tutoring and Mentor Program. Launched during the COVID-19 pandemic, the initiative has positively impacted all 50 participating students. Khani Gustafson, former interim NAACP president, emphasized the importance of the program, stating: “The invisibility of our students was horrendous.” The program addresses the alarming drop in graduation rates, which fell by 10% for Black students in the 2022-23 academic year. Tutors from diverse backgrounds provide both academic and social-emotional support, fostering a welcoming environment. Franklin Elementary Principal Catherine Mullins noted: “They loved the tutoring program. It was something that they really looked forward to.” The program has now expanded to assist all students of color needing additional support.

 

EdSource

James Webb has resigned from his position as assistant principal at Rio Norte Junior High, just a week after his appointment. According to Debbie Dunn, communications coordinator for the William S. Hart Union High School District, Webb will return to his previous role at the district office. His appointment came over a year after he resigned from the district's governing board. The district also made two other principal appointments during the same week.

 

Signalscv.com

St. HOPE Public Schools, a charter school network in Oak Park, is facing allegations from Sacramento City USD officials regarding conflicts of interest and accounting practices as it seeks to renew its charter for the 2025–26 school year. Despite these challenges, Superintendent Lisa Ruda expressed confidence in the school's future, stating: “I’m sure every time there was renewal, there were questions.” Established in 2003 by former Mayor Kevin Johnson, St. HOPE aims to graduate self-motivated leaders, with 95% of its 2024 graduates accepted into four-year colleges. Notably, 50% of African American students in the district are enrolled in St. HOPE schools, which serve a high percentage of socioeconomically disadvantaged students.

 

The Sacramento Observer

The Mountain View Whisman School District allocated $121,150 for energy healing sessions with Alycia Diggs-Chavis last school year, covering 121 sessions for 159 employees. Diggs-Chavis, a certified master energy healer, offers services like chakra alignment and sound meditation. District spokeswoman Shelly Hausman emphasized: “The well-being of our teachers and administrators is not a luxury; it’s a necessity.” The district has spent a total of $315,000 with Diggs-Chavis. Concerns were raised during a school board meeting about a $90,000 PR contract, with residents questioning the need for additional PR services given the district's existing budget and high salaries for its public information officers. Board President Devon Conley noted that the contracting costs represent only 1.2% of the district's budget.

 

Palo Alto Daily Post

California's Assembly Bill 1947, recently passed by the legislature, aims to enhance training for preschool teachers. If signed into law, the bill will increase training days from two to six annually for all California State Preschool programs. Notably, preschools with at least 25% of students speaking a language other than English must dedicate one of the three training days to supporting these children. The state superintendent of public instruction is tasked with developing regulations by August 1, 2025, to implement these changes.

 

EdSource

Cal State Long Beach's student newspaper has officially changed its name from The Daily Forty-Niner to The Long Beach Current for the 2023–24 school year. The decision reflects a commitment to honor the historical ties of the Indigenous lands on which the university is situated. The original name, linked to the California Gold Rush, has faced criticism for romanticizing a narrative that overlooks the impact on Indigenous communities. The renaming is seen as a step toward accountability and transparency, with the publication aiming to evolve while remaining a reputable news source for the campus community.

 

Press-Telegram