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California school districts are grappling with significant budget deficits, leading to thousands of preliminary pink slips issued to employees, primarily targeting classified staff and administrators. Troy Flint, chief information officer for the California School Boards Association, said: "You have some large school districts... that are in complete financial crisis right now." Sacramento City USD plans to send layoff notices to 800 employees to address a $134m deficit, while Los Angeles USD aims to cut 3,200 positions to save $250m. Oakland USD may reduce its central office staff by two-thirds to tackle a $21m deficit. The California School Employees Association reported at least 2,700 pink slips issued by the March 15 deadline, highlighting the impact on student support services.

 

Inland Valley Daily Bulletin

An Administrator's Guide to Blended Learning  

Online learning doesn’t have to be an all-or-nothing approach. Explore blended learning with this comprehensive guide from FlexPoint^®, which includes:    

• Worksheets to define your school’s needs
  
• Outline of blended learning classroom models
  
• List of questions to ask curriculum providers
  
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• Key benefits for you, students, and staff    

Download the FlexPoint guide to find the right mix of face-to-face and online instruction for your school or district.  

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Assemblymember Maggy Krell, D-Sacramento, is urging Twin Rivers USD officials to intervene in a teachers strike that has left 25,000 students without classroom instruction for eight days. Negotiations have stalled since Thursday, with the district refusing to discuss other contract items until the teachers union accepts their health care proposal. Krell emphasized the need for leadership, claiming: "We have been at an impasse in negotiations since Thursday and need your leadership and direction to move forward." The union is demanding a 10.5% raise over two years, fully-paid health benefits, and a cap on classroom sizes, while the district has offered a 4.7% raise and limited health care coverage.

 

The Sacramento Bee

Students at Natomas High School staged a walkout on Monday to support their teachers, who have been on strike for five days seeking better pay and health benefits. Junior Elfie White, a co-organizer of the protest, expressed the students' frustration, remarking: "All my teachers mean so much to me, and they deserve what they're asking for." The teachers are demanding an 8.5% raise over two years, fully-paid health benefits, and limits on classroom sizes, while the district has offered a 4% raise and increased health care contributions. The students marched two miles to the district office, rallying alongside their teachers, highlighting their solidarity amid ongoing negotiations that have yet to yield an agreement.

 

The Sacramento Bee

The U.S. Department of Education is urging states to seek waivers from major Every Student Succeeds Act provisions, aligning with the Trump administration’s push to return more education authority to states. Alabama, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Louisiana, Kansas, and Oklahoma have advanced plans affecting federal funding, testing, and accountability. Proposed changes include merging funding streams, broadening assessment options, and sending school improvement dollars directly to students. Supporters say the moves could cut bureaucracy and target support more effectively, while critics caution they may weaken oversight, transparency, and protections for disadvantaged student groups.

 

Education Week News

Tamalpais UHSD is facing significant community backlash over proposed cuts to the Team Academy, an outdoor learning program, due to budget constraints. Over 75 community members attended a recent board meeting to voice their concerns. The program, which includes activities like backpacking and rock climbing, is seen as vital for students' emotional well-being. Principal Jacob Gran explained that the decision was made in response to declining tax revenue and rising costs, but community members, including Fairfax Mayor Stephanie Hellman, have challenged the financial rationale behind the cuts.

 

San Luis Obispo Tribune

California’s reduced support for the Active Transportation Program has left many school-area pedestrian and bike safety projects unfunded despite strong demand. More than half of the 2024 proposals focused on Safe Routes to School, including plans tied to Sutterville Elementary School in Sacramento, four elementary schools in Concord, Mary Farmar Elementary School, Benicia High School, Benicia Middle School, and an elementary school near Stockton. Funding shortages have delayed sidewalks, crosswalks, bike lanes, and trail upgrades even for high-scoring applications, raising concerns about student safety near campuses and along daily travel routes.

 

The Modesto Bee

The Sacramento Bee

The Sacramento Bee

An updated forecast for the Newhall School District indicates a significant increase in student enrollment over the next seven years. Currently, there are 5,323 students enrolled in grades TK-6, with an estimated 6,288 living within district boundaries. Kaitz noted that the highest student density is found between McGrath and Newhall Elementary Schools. The district is also experiencing transfer patterns, with Newhall Elementary seeing 274 students transfer out. The forecast predicts a rise in kindergarten enrollment, with 663 students expected in the 2026-27 school year. Over 10 residential developments are anticipated, adding approximately 3,100 housing units, primarily in the Oak Hills area, which will see a net increase of 347 students by the 2032-33 school year. The remaining school zones are expected to remain stable or decline.

 

Signalscv.com

Santa Cruz City Schools will commence construction on its Educator Housing Development at 313 Swift St. on Wednesday. This 100-unit project aims to provide long-term housing for teachers and support staff.

 

Santa Cruz Sentinel

Palo Alto USD has investigated board member Rowena Chiu for alleged racism against an employee throughout much of last year. Chiu expressed her desire to know the investigation's costs and why its findings were not made public, stating: “Not very many people were aware of this investigation.” The inquiry focused on Chiu's social media activity following a contentious meeting about Ethnic Studies. Despite the fallout, including calls for her resignation, the investigation ultimately cleared Chiu of wrongdoing, concluding that while her comments were viewed as unprofessional, they were not racially motivated.

 

Palo Alto Daily Post

In a remarkable achievement, 10-year-old Honey Cooper from San Bernardino is enrolled in a college course at San Bernardino Valley College, making her one of the youngest students to do so. "Even though they might be young, they still always need to be challenged," said her mother, Mia Cooper. Honey is taking ART 120, a two-dimensional design course, and is already impressing her professor, Nader Gergis, with her dedication. San Bernardino Valley College President Gilbert Contreras emphasized the college's mission to make higher education accessible to all, stating: "Honey Cooper's story is an inspiration to us all." This unique case could pave the way for more young students to pursue college courses if they demonstrate academic readiness.

 

The Sacramento Bee

South Korean high school students spend about six hours a day on screens but just over one hour on outdoor activities, highlighting a significant imbalance in physical activity, according to a report from the Korea Institute of Child Care and Education. The study surveyed 1,212 second-year high school students in 2024. Students reported using smartphones and computers for an average of 5.8 hours per day for girls and 6.2 hours for boys. The most common activities were entertainment and studying (1.5 hours each), followed by social media (1.4 hours), and gaming (1.1 hours). Girls tended to spend more time on social media, while boys spent more time gaming. By contrast, outdoor activities such as exercise averaged 1.1 hours on weekdays and 1.6 hours on weekends, and fewer than 40% of students said outdoor leisure activities were part of their routine. Nearly 99% of respondents reported daily use of phones or computers. The report also highlighted a significant perception gap between students and parents regarding device use. While 86.3% of students described themselves as moderate users and only 1.2% believed they overused devices, 36.7% of parents said their children were at high risk of multimedia overuse. 

 

The Straits Times