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During a California gubernatorial candidate forum in Sacramento on Wednesday, all candidates acknowledged the failures of California's public education system, which serves approximately 5.8m K-12 students. Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco, the only Republican present, advocated for school vouchers, commenting: "If you are deciding where you want to eat dinner, you choose the restaurant with the best food." Candidates discussed various issues, including teacher shortages, public school funding, and the impact of housing on student achievement. Former Assembly Majority Leader Ian Calderon emphasized the need for parental involvement and secure housing, while California Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond called for increased revenue to support schools. The forum highlighted the candidates' differing views on solutions, with many expressing concerns about the state's mandate to phase out gas-powered school buses by 2035. The forum was held at Sacramento's SAFE Credit Union Convention Center near the state Capitol. The school boards conference brings together more than 3,500 school board members, superintendents and other education leaders from across the state.

 

Los Angeles Times

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The White House and the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC) have endorsed the SCORE Act, a bill aimed at regulating college sports, despite criticism that it favors the NCAA and its most influential schools. The House is set to vote on the legislation, which has garnered significant Republican support but faces opposition from Democrats. Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-WA), a key critic, described the situation as “a David and Goliath fight,” arguing that the bill would disproportionately empower the SEC and Big Ten conferences. The USOPC, while initially withholding support, has indicated readiness to collaborate on a model that benefits Olympic sports. The NCAA claims the bill codifies rules from a multibillion-dollar lawsuit settlement allowing player compensation. House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-LA) acknowledged concerns regarding federal involvement in college sports, highlighting the contentious nature of the legislation. The SCORE Act aims to establish stability and national standards in college athletics, according to SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey.

 

U.S. News

The abrupt termination of federal grants for school mental health services has left many initiatives in jeopardy. Ian Levy, an assistant professor of school counseling at Rutgers University, expressed disappointment, commenting: "The grant funding would have ended in five years, but the work of the grant would have lived well beyond the period." The U.S. Department of Education terminated these grants, citing inconsistencies with the new administration's priorities. This decision affects 174 initiatives aimed at increasing the availability of mental health professionals in schools, which are crucial given the ongoing mental health crisis exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. The funding cuts have prompted appeals and legal challenges from affected organizations, but few have been successful. As a result, many school districts may struggle to retain newly hired counselors, further impacting student mental health services.

 

Education Week News

Teachers in Madera USD protested on Wednesday, demanding higher compensation, which is currently the lowest among neighboring districts. The teachers union highlighted the district's struggle to retain educators, as many leave for better pay elsewhere. “Of the 20 years that I’ve taught in Madera, it’s gotten to the point where it’s no longer economically smart for me to continue working here,” said Scott Weber, a high school English teacher. Negotiations between the union and the district have reached an impasse, similar to other districts in California, with mediation set to begin in mid-December.

 

EdSource

The U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has issued a proposed order against Illuminate Education, requiring the ed-tech firm to delete unnecessary student data, strengthen its cybersecurity practices, and cease making misleading privacy claims after breaches in 2021–22 exposed data of over 10m K–12 students. The FTC found the company had weak security measures, delayed breach disclosures, and stored sensitive data improperly. The order mandates a comprehensive security overhaul, detailed data retention policies, and regular audits, with penalties of up to $51,000 per violation if finalized. 

 

Compliance Week

Government Technology

Rose Tagnesi, a former administrator, has settled her lawsuit against the Grossmont Union High School District for over $700,000, claiming she was demoted due to anti-LGBTQ+ discrimination by the school board. Tagnesi, who served as the district’s special-education director for over a decade, alleged that her demotion was part of a broader "discriminatory campaign" by the board majority. The district, while settling, stated it was not admitting wrongdoing but aimed to move forward productively.

 

East Bay

Mercury News

Santa Monica-Malibu USD (SMMUSD) has recognized five National Merit Scholarship Semifinalists and 29 Commended Students for their academic achievements. These students are among the top 4% of over 1.5m entrants in the National Merit Scholarship Program. The semifinalists from Santa Monica High School include Eli Bendersky Boreth, Camille Choe, Sabrina Glasser, Carly Knauf, and Kaveh Naini. Superintendent Dr. Antonio Shelton expressed pride in the students, stating: "Their accomplishments demonstrate remarkable dedication and intellectual curiosity." While semifinalists compete for scholarships, commended students receive letters of commendation and may qualify for special scholarships. The SMMUSD Board of Education will honor the students at upcoming meetings.

 

Santa Monica Daily Press

Palisades Charter High School is set to reopen in January, a year after a devastating fire displaced around 3,000 students. The school will utilize 70% of its surviving buildings and 30 temporary portables on the baseball field. The $266.6m reconstruction project is expected to be completed by the third quarter of 2029. Meanwhile, students have been attending classes in a temporary facility at the former Sears building in Santa Monica, facing challenges such as crowding and security issues.

 

Los Angeles Times

The MacArthur Park Charter School board is hosting a forum for parents and community members interested in establishing a new charter school in Sonoma. The proposed charter school aims to replace Prestwood Elementary School, which is set to close at the end of the 2025-26 academic year. "Meaningfully interested" individuals are encouraged to attend and share their thoughts on the plans.

 

Press Democrat

The first four years of California's transitional kindergarten (TK) program have seen the closure of 167 community preschools in Los Angeles County, according to research from UC Berkeley. While TK enrollment increased by 13,000 students, preschools lost 12,000 child-care slots, creating a challenging situation for families with younger children. Bruce Fuller, a UC Berkeley professor emeritus, said: “TK seemed like a sparkling idea with very few negatives,” but the downsides were not adequately considered. The study revealed that areas with the highest TK enrollment also saw the most preschool closures, indicating that TK is competing with local preschools rather than supporting them. Despite the program's goal to reduce income and racial disparities, enrollment growth has been most significant in affluent areas.

 

Los Angeles Times

School attendance in Australia remains significantly below pre-pandemic levels, with only 62% of students attending at least 90% of school days in 2025 compared to 73% in 2019. Experts cite cultural shifts, more permissive parenting styles, and increased digital distractions at home as contributing factors. The national average attendance rate is 88.8%, with the government targeting a return to 91.4% by 2030. Education leaders warn that sustained low attendance could harm workforce reliability and the broader economy, calling for a national strategy to improve student resilience and daily school engagement.

 

The Australian