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California
16th January 2026
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THE HOT STORY

Trump administration battles California's oil law

The Trump administration has filed a lawsuit against California over Senate Bill 1137, which establishes a 3,200-foot buffer zone between new oil and gas wells and sensitive areas such as homes, schools, and parks. The U.S. Department of Justice claims the law violates federal regulations and hampers energy development, stating it could "knock out" about one-third of federally authorized oil and gas leases in the state. California officials, including Gov. Gavin Newsom's office, are prepared to defend the law, emphasizing its role in protecting public health. “The Trump administration just sued California for keeping oil wells away from elementary schools,” said Anthony Martinez, a spokesman for the governor. Environmental groups have condemned the lawsuit, viewing it as an attack on health protections established after years of advocacy. The legal battle reflects ongoing tensions between state and federal energy policies.

SAVVAS - STUDENT-CENTERED MATH

Turn Math Into an Active Experience  

Active learning is the foundation of Experience Math® California, a K–8 program designed by Dr. Marian Small to transform classrooms into communities of curious, confident problem solvers. Each lesson engages students in meaningful thinking and discussion, supported by a structure that makes learning hands-on and collaborative:
  • Minds On: An open prompt that sparks curiosity and activates prior knowledge.
  • Action Task: A rich, student-centered task where learners explore ideas, test strategies, and work together.
  • Consolidate: A whole-class discussion that surfaces key mathematical ideas and makes student thinking visible.
With rich tasks, math talks, data investigations, and games woven throughout, the program helps students develop deep conceptual understanding while staying engaged.  

See active learning in action: Download free sample lessons to try in your classroom.

 

NATIONAL NEWS

Bipartisan bill seeks to curb screen time and algorithmic feeds for children

A Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation hearing on Thursday saw lawmakers and experts raise concerns about the harmful effects of excessive screen time and social media use among children, who now average 7.5 hours of screen exposure daily. A proposed bill from Sens. Ted Cruz (R-TX) and Brian Schatz (D-HI) would set a minimum age of 13 for social media access and ban algorithm-driven content for users under 17. The legislation also requires federally funded schools to block social media on school devices and networks. Experts urged parents to delay children's social media use, linking excessive screen time to mental health challenges and a growing "loneliness epidemic."

Project AWARE grant turmoil exposes fragility of school mental health funding

The recent turmoil surrounding the Project AWARE (Advancing Wellness and Resiliency in Education) mental health grants highlights the instability in funding for school mental health programs. After the U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration abruptly canceled up to $2bn in grants on January 13, advocacy from educators and bipartisan congressional members led to a swift reversal on January 15. Chris Bucher, a spokesperson for the Wisconsin Department of Education, commented: "The conflicting information creates real stress for the schools, families, and communities who depend on these services." Despite the reinstatement, many states and school districts reported uncertainty regarding their funding status. The grants, which aim to enhance mental health awareness and access to services, received $140m in the 2025 fiscal year. The situation underscores the ongoing challenges in securing consistent mental health support for students.

TEACHING

Palo Alto schools add advanced math

The Palo Alto USD board has approved two advanced math courses for the 2026-2027 school year: Introduction to Proofs: Honors and Multivariable Calculus/Linear Algebra Honors. These courses, which require Advanced Placement (AP) Calculus as a prerequisite, will enable students to take advanced math during the school day without leaving campus. Board president Shounak Dharap said, “the implementation and offering of courses is not within the scope of our vote.” Associate Superintendent Guillermo López noted that individual schools can decide on offering these courses, and the process for students to earn college credit will be determined later.

DISTRICTS

Fresno USD retirees face health care crisis

Fresno USD's health board is convening to address the ongoing health care crisis affecting retired educators. Since January 1, many retirees have lost access to health care from Community Medical Centers due to contract negotiations with Aetna. Over 6,200 retirees are enrolled in the Aetna program, with more than 1,500 having received care from Community Medical Centers in the past year. The district, which is among 7% of California school districts offering lifetime health benefits, is considering restoring a self-funded model for retiree health care. Patrick Jenson, the district's chief financial officer, said: "We really need to try to run both plans as long as it is financially feasible." The outcome of the health board's vote could significantly impact retirees' access to necessary medical care.

Vallejo schools face major cuts

Vallejo City USD has approved a resolution to eliminate 142 classified positions due to "lack of work or lack of funds for the 2026-2027 school year," following the closure of three elementary schools. During a recent board meeting, Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources Matthew Chamberlain emphasized the necessity of these cuts for "long-term fiscal stability." The board also approved adjustments to school attendance boundaries to optimize program space and reduce transportation impacts.

CHARTERS

Monterey County denies charter school petition

The Monterey County Board of Education has voted to deny Navigator Charter Schools' petition to establish a new K-12 charter school, which faced significant opposition from educators and school leaders. The proposed campuses were intended for Salinas, Seaside–Marina, and South County regions. Concerns were raised about the impact on existing districts and whether Navigator adequately addressed local student needs. Mary White, principal at North Salinas High School, said, “When those transitions are disrupted, it affects the students greatly.” Additionally, Rosalyn Book, president of the Monterey Bay Teachers Association, highlighted the lack of support for vulnerable communities, stating: “Navigator's petition fails to acknowledge or provide a plan for meeting these critical needs.”

FINANCE

Santa Rosa schools face financial crisis

In a move to avert state control, the Sonoma County Office of Education has appointed a financial adviser to oversee Santa Rosa City Schools' budget decisions. This comes as the district faces a significant budget crisis, needing to implement nearly $3m in cuts by March 15. "When we look at the risk that we incur by not taking this significant action, we just all came to a unified agreement that it was just too critical a junction to not have this safeguard in place for our students," said Sonoma County Superintendent of Schools Amie Carter. The adviser, Robert Shemwell, will have the authority to approve all spending, aiming to stabilize the district's finances and prevent a state takeover. The situation is dire, with the district needing to identify an additional $23m in savings for the next academic year.

LEADERSHIP

Long Beach superintendent announces retirement plans

Jill Baker, the first female superintendent of Long Beach USD (LBUSD), will retire at the end of the 2025-26 academic year after over 34 years in the district. Baker, who has led LBUSD since August 2020, has been praised for her integrity and commitment to the community. “Serving the Long Beach community has been the greatest honor of my professional life,” Baker said. During her tenure, she implemented significant initiatives, including the Learning Acceleration and Support Plan and the introduction of a student board member position. Under her leadership, LBUSD also passed a $1.7bn facilities bond and launched a strategic plan for 2024-29. The district will announce details regarding the search for her successor in the coming months.

HIGHER EDUCATION

Chinese universities climb global research rankings as U.S. institutions lose ground

Chinese universities are rapidly rising in global rankings that measure research output, overtaking many leading U.S. institutions and pushing Harvard down to third place in the latest Leiden Rankings. The shift reflects China’s sharp increase in both the volume and influence of academic publications, with Zhejiang University now ranked first and seven other Chinese universities in the global top 10 on that research-focused list. While Harvard and other major U.S. universities are still producing more research than they did two decades ago, China’s output has grown much faster, narrowing — and in some cases surpassing — the traditional dominance of American academia. Experts say this trend signals an emerging rebalancing of global research leadership, driven by heavy Chinese investment in higher education and growing emphasis on publishing in widely cited English-language journals. Although U.S. institutions continue to perform strongly in broader rankings that include reputation and teaching quality, the research-output gap is widening as China expands its academic capacity and global ambitions.

INTERNATIONAL

Mentoring programs bridge education gap for disadvantaged children in Germany

A new study by the Universities of Bonn and Cologne has found that mentoring programs significantly improve educational outcomes for children from low socio-economic backgrounds in Germany. Despite equal academic performance, these children are 22 percentage points less likely to enter the high academic track in secondary school. However, participation in a year-long mentoring initiative increased their chances by 11 percentage points, a benefit that persisted for at least five years. In this program, university student volunteers were paired with disadvantaged children in second or third grade, meeting weekly for a year to support their personal development through activities and guidance. The study also found that mentoring helped parents consider more ambitious educational paths for their children, demonstrating that role models and external encouragement can influence critical schooling decisions.
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