Funding influx needed to address equity concerns this school year and beyond

In the topsy-turvy leadup to the 2020–21 school year, the most recent pressing issues involve the logistics of when and how campuses could or should physically reopen. While opening dates are critical for the operations of school districts, national education observers and advocates said at […]

Revised Ethnic Studies Model Curriculum begins new rounds of public review

A revised draft of the California Department of Education’s Ethnic Studies Model Curriculum was presented to the Instructional Quality Commission on Aug. 13, after reviewing thousands of critical comments of the initial draft. The first draft had been criticized by advocacy groups as promoting anti-Semitism […]

CSBA webinars feature broad board member perspectives on preparing for the new school year

On Aug. 4, CSBA hosted two panels of board members to discuss the real-time progress and challenges their local educational agencies are facing as they plan for the 2020–21 school year, which begins as early as this week for some. The panels grouped representatives by […]

Court rules in favor of eliminating pension “spiking”

On July 30, 2020, the California Supreme Court unanimously ruled in Alameda County Deputy Sheriff’s Association v. Alameda County Employees Retirement Association that the Legislature was allowed to eliminate pension “spiking,” where employees artificially increased their earnings (and, in turn, their pension) in their last […]

Federal legislation proposes free meals for all children, extension of waivers

New federal legislation would allow all children to access breakfast, lunch and after-school snack programs either in school or through “grab and go” and delivery options during the 2020–21 school year. House Committee on Education and Labor Chairman Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (D-Va.) introduced the […]

State issues updated guidance on reopening school waiver process

On the evening of Monday, Aug. 3, the California Department of Public Health released updated guidance for reopening California schools. The updated guidance outlines the waiver process through which local educational agencies in counties on the COVID-19 monitoring list can seek to resume in-person instruction at […]