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California
13th April 2026
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THE HOT STORY

LAUSD strike deadline nears

Los Angeles Unified moved closer to avoiding a systemwide shutdown after reaching tentative agreements with both its administrators union and United Teachers Los Angeles, but a strike still looms unless SEIU Local 99 settles before Tuesday. The administrators deal includes an 11.65% raise over two years, with possible bargaining in a third year, plus new limits on uncompensated workload. The teachers pact would raise starting pay to $77,000, add student support staff, expand paid parental leave, and reduce some class sizes. Maria Nichols, president of Associated Administrators of Los Angeles, called the deal “a powerful testament to what unity, courage, and unwavering resolve can achieve.” Even with two agreements in place, solidarity actions remain likely if Local 99, which represents many low-paid campus workers, does not reach terms.

BLENDED LEARNING

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
  • Best practices for educator training
  • Instructional strategies and tips
  • 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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STATE NEWS

California education faces new challenges

As California prepares for a new governor and state superintendent of public instruction, the education landscape is shifting amid budget constraints. The incoming leaders will face challenges such as declining enrollment and rising costs, which could lead to school closures. David Roth, superintendent of Buckeye Union School District, said: “We don't need new programs,” advocating for a focus on basic funding instead. The state has seen a 53% increase in funding since 2018-19, yet districts are struggling with special education costs and inadequate cost-of-living adjustments. The next governor will need to address these pressing issues, including the potential for a “declining enrollment dividend” of $7.5bn, which could impact funding distribution.

California preschool access widens

California enrolled 62% of its 4-year-olds in publicly funded early childhood programs in 2024–25, up from 42% in 2019–20, reflecting major progress toward universal pre-kindergarten. Transitional kindergarten accounted for 55% of enrollment, or about 177,000 children, and this was the first school year every 4-year-old was guaranteed a TK place. Still, access remains uneven: nearly 40% of 4-year-olds are not enrolled, and participation among eligible children has declined, suggesting that awareness gaps and other barriers are limiting uptake despite broader availability.

NATIONAL NEWS

Maryland teacher pipeline program boosts diversity

A long-running study of Maryland’s Teacher Academy program shows that encouraging high school students to pursue teaching can significantly strengthen the educator pipeline and improve diversity, but additional support is needed to ensure participants return to teach in their home districts. The program, which offers high school coursework in education, classroom experience, and college credit, increased the likelihood of participants becoming teachers by 45% and slightly boosted their earnings. It also helped narrow racial gaps in entry into the profession, though disparities remain, and relatively few students overall ultimately became teachers. However, the study found that many participants, particularly Black students, did not return to work in the districts where they trained, often opting for higher-paying or more diverse districts elsewhere. Researchers emphasize that while “grow-your-own” programs can attract more diverse candidates, retaining them locally requires stronger mentorship, earlier hands-on teaching experiences, and better guidance on college pathways.

Why school fads keep returning

Robert Pondiscio, writng for The 74, argues that education’s recurring reform cycles are driven less by gullible teachers than by structural pressures inside school systems. Slow and ambiguous evidence makes it hard to know what works, leadership often demands visible change, new ideas face few barriers to adoption, and moral urgency pushes schools to act quickly. Together, those conditions reward novelty over steady execution. Pondiscio contends that lasting improvement depends more on coherence, routine, and sustained implementation than on constantly introducing the next big idea.

TECHNOLOGY

Schools urged to hit pause on AI adoption amid unknown risks

In an opinion piece for The Hill, Pedro Noguera, dean of the USC Rossier School of Education, argues that schools should slow down the rapid adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) and consider a temporary pause until more research is available on its impact. Drawing parallels to the delayed response to social media’s harmful effects on youth, Noguera warns that education risks repeating the same mistake by embracing AI without sufficient evidence, highlighting such unknowns as how AI may affect students’ academic development, critical thinking, and originality, as well as ethical issues such as plagiarism and copyright. He also raises concerns about increased screen time, the potential erosion of problem-solving skills, and the possibility that AI could eventually replace teachers and counselors. While acknowledging the benefits of technology in education, particularly during the pandemic, his piece calls for a more cautious, evidence-based approach, and urges educators and institutions to use their influence to demand accountability and research before expanding AI use.

LEGAL

Audit approved for Orange County board

The Joint Legislative Audit Committee has approved a request from Senator Tom Umberg, D-Santa Ana, for the California State Auditor’s office to investigate the Orange County Board of Education's practices. Umberg expressed concerns about governance, legal risks, and taxpayer resource usage, citing issues such as the board's opposition to the California Healthy Youth Act and its litigation during the COVID-19 pandemic. "The people of Orange County deserve transparency, accountability and responsible stewardship of taxpayer dollars," Umberg said. The audit will assess the board's compliance with laws, fiscal prudence, and the impact of its decisions on student outcomes. Board trustee Jorge Valdes criticized the audit as politically motivated, asserting that the board has operated transparently and has incurred no litigation costs in the past year. The audit is expected to take at least six months.

FINANCE

Brentwood saves big with bond refinance

Brentwood USD has successfully refinanced $20m in general obligation bonds, originally approved by voters under Measure B in 2016, resulting in savings of over $1.5m for taxpayers. The refinancing was made possible due to lower interest rates, with new rates ranging from 2.5% to 4.12%, compared to the original rates of 4% to 5%. Superintendent Dana Eaton expressed gratitude for the community's support, saying: “Our school board remains committed to saving taxpayers money whenever possible.” The funds from Measure B have been instrumental in enhancing school facilities, safety, and technology resources, including the construction of Isaac R. Montañez Elementary School, which opened in 2024.

DISTRICTS

PUSD consolidation committee meets again

The Pasadena USD (PUSD) Superintendent's School Consolidation Advisory Committee is set to hold its fifth meeting today, where it will review consolidation scenarios presented by Total School Solutions, a consultant contracted for $233,300. During the previous meetings, the consultant provided data on district schools. On March 31, the committee opted to explore additional options rather than vote on school closures, having previously removed several schools from consideration, including Sierra Madre Elementary and Pasadena High School. Protests from school communities occurred outside the district office, reflecting concerns over potential closures.

SCHOOL CHOICE

A solar-powered town redefining education choice

Babcock Ranch, America’s first solar-powered town, is rapidly growing and developing a diverse and innovative education landscape to match its forward-looking identity. With a population of around 15,000 and plans to expand significantly, the Florida community offers families a wide array of K–12 options, including public charter schools, homeschooling, and emerging microschool models. Public charter schools like Babcock Neighborhood School and Babcock High School emphasize project-based learning, appealing to families seeking hands-on, experiential education. At the same time, new alternatives such as Primer, a private microschool network blending structured learning with flexibility, are gaining interest among parents looking for more personalized approaches.

INTERNATIONAL

Upward bullying threatens leaders

A new Australian report warns that upward bullying, whereby employees intimidate or undermine managers, is becoming a serious organizational risk, especially in schools. The study found that 71% of senior leaders have faced this behavior, 93% said it harmed their confidence, and about two-thirds reported major effects on performance and wellbeing. Unlike constructive disagreement, the behavior is often indirect and persistent, making it easy to dismiss as ordinary conflict. The report urges schools to spot patterns early, set clear conduct standards, and strengthen leaders’ ability to respond before problems escalate.
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