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In California, the current attendance-based funding model for public schools disproportionately affects lower-income districts, as highlighted by Bruce Bivins, the superintendent of Perris Elementary School District. With over 5,500 elementary-age children in Perris, the district can only budget for about 5,000 due to funding constraints. Bivins states, “Changing from attendance- to enrollment-based funding would be a big switch that could potentially mean more funding for underserved student groups.” The model penalizes schools with higher absenteeism, often found in economically disadvantaged areas, leading to significant shortfalls in funding. For instance, Perris faced a $5.5m deficit this past year due to a 91.78% average daily attendance. A shift to an enrollment-based system could provide necessary resources to address the root causes of absenteeism and support all students effectively.

 

The Sacramento Bee

The Los Altos School District's Measure EE has successfully passed, allowing the district to raise $350m through bonds for construction projects, primarily aimed at relocating Bullis Charter School. Board member Bryan Johnson stated: “It’s been a long time since we’ve been able to significantly invest in our schools.” The new campus is planned to be built at the former Kohl’s site in Mountain View, potentially opening before the 2027-28 school year. However, Bullis Charter School, which currently operates in portable classrooms, opposed the measure, citing concerns about being excluded from facility discussions. The total debt from the bond is estimated at $730m, with property owners responsible for annual repayments. The bond measure received 56% support, just above the 55% threshold needed for approval.

 

Palo Alto Daily Post

The Educational Results Partnership (ERP) has unveiled the 2024 Honor Roll list, celebrating California's top-performing schools for the tenth consecutive year. This initiative recognizes public schools, school districts, and charter schools that excel in closing achievement gaps, particularly for disadvantaged students. Notable schools in the Santa Clarita Valley include Canyon High School and Dr. J. Michael McGrath Elementary. Ivan Volschenk, president/CEO of the SCV Chamber, stated: “By working together with an engaged and innovative business community, we can create economic opportunities for the next generation of learners.” The Honor Roll schools are acknowledged for their consistent student achievement and efforts to reduce disparities among historically disadvantaged populations. The analysis utilized data from the California Department of Education's assessment results from 2022-2024.

 

Signalscv.com

L.A. Unified School District has reported a record graduation rate of 87%, marking a significant achievement despite overall academic performance falling short of state learning goals. Michael W. Kirst, former state Board of Education president, emphasized the need for results that meet pre-pandemic levels, stating: “LAUSD scores are on an upward trend, but the initial goal needs to be to attain results that meet or exceed LAUSD pre-pandemic levels.” While the district improved its suspension rate and test scores, it still lags behind in proficiency rates, with only 43% of students meeting grade-level standards in English and 32.8% in math. Superintendent Alberto Carvalho described the results as “historic,” but acknowledged the need for further improvement, saying: “Do we have more work to do? Absolutely. Are we satisfied? Absolutely not.”

 

Los Angeles Times

Daily Breeze

Redlands Unified School District has launched a series of initiatives to encourage high school seniors to apply for college. These events included visits from college representatives and workshops focused on admissions and financial aid. Janice Hernandez, a student at Citrus Valley High School, received an on-the-spot admission offer from Liliana Hernandez, an admissions counselor at the University of La Verne, during one of these events. The district's efforts aim to make college aspirations a collective goal, emphasizing that "it's not just parents who encourage their kids to apply."

 

Redlands Daily Facts

Napa Valley schools have experienced both improvements and challenges in the 2023-24 school year, according to the California Department of Education. Chronic absenteeism has decreased across the county, with Napa Valley Unified reporting a 9% drop to 20%. Julie Bordes, the district's communications officer, stated: “Every elementary and middle school experienced some form of decline.” However, the progress of English learners has declined, with Napa Valley Unified seeing a nearly 6% drop to 42.3%. The California School Dashboard indicates that while graduation rates have slightly increased, the overall performance of English learners remains a concern. Howell Mountain Elementary was the only district to see an increase in chronic absenteeism, reaching 26.8%. In contrast, St. Helena Unified outperformed state averages in several metrics, boasting a graduation rate of 96.6%.

 

Press Democrat

Recent data from the California Department of Education indicates that Orange County students are making notable strides in their academic performance. According to the report, students are "reading a bit better, working more easily with numbers, and attending school more regularly" compared to last year. While the overall performance remains below pre-pandemic levels, several districts, including Capistrano Unified and Orange Unified, have surpassed previous benchmarks in English language arts and math. Chronic absenteeism has also decreased by approximately 5.3%, reflecting a statewide trend. Furthermore, graduation rates in Orange County are significantly higher at 94.4% compared to the state average of 86.7%. Laguna Beach Unified leads with a graduation rate of 99.2%. However, challenges remain, as some districts still struggle with re-engaging students post-pandemic.

 

The Fresno Bee

Despite a new law mandating reporting of cyberattacks, many California school districts are not informing state officials about major incidents. According to a recent report, 38 out of 945 public school districts, along with 1,283 charter schools and 58 county offices of education, experienced significant cyberattacks in 2023. The report highlights that those who do report are often declining assistance. As noted in the report: "A California law requires public schools to report cybercrime incidents," yet only 38 incidents were reported statewide.

 

Inland Valley Daily Bulletin

Pasadena Star-News

SGV Tribune

The William S. Hart Union High School District has chosen Michael Vierra as the finalist for the superintendent position, as announced by board President Linda Storli. Vierra, who has been with the district for 12 years, previously served as assistant superintendent of human resources and deputy superintendent of educational services. He has 35 years of educational experience and has been acting as interim superintendent for the past five months. “I am deeply honored to be named finalist for superintendent,” Vierra stated, emphasizing his commitment to collaboration and student success. The board plans to offer him an official contract at their meeting on December 11. The selection process involved input from staff, students, and community members, which guided the board in their decision.

 

Signalscv.com