In recent House and Senate hearings, Democrats pressed Education Secretary Linda McMahon on the end of the grants and the impact on students. McMahon told them mental health is a priority and the grants would be rebid and reissued.

The grants supported programs in districts across the country. In CA, West Contra Costa USD will lose nearly $4 million in funding. In Alabama, Birmingham City Schools was notified it wouldn't receive the rest of a $15 million grant to train, hire and retain mental health staff.

The $1 billion in grants for school-based mental health programs — part of a sweeping gun violence bill signed in response to the school shooting in Uvalde, Texas — were meant to help schools hire more mental health workers, especially in rural areas

It’s time to celebrate some recent success involving three pieces of CSBA-sponsored legislation; AB 1021, AB 1224 and AB 1111!

Learn more about how the latest federal budget agreement is likely to affect children and schools:.

While most adults don’t view preparing students to be engaged citizens as the top goal for K-12 education, @PPICNotes survey results show majorities of Californians and public school parents still considered civic education a very high or high priority

Next week, the unpopular teacher licensure test, the Reading Instruction Competence Assessment, will be officially retired and replaced with a literacy performance assessment to ensure educators are prepared to teach students to read. Learn more:

A new report explores the origins of micro-credentials, how they are being applied currently and their potential to provide meaningful new pathways for students in K-12 education. Read a summary:

Genoveva Islas — @fresnounified trustee and @CultivaLaSalud founder and executive director — details the need for School Meals for All, how the program may be impacted under the proposed federal budget, and what trustees can do to advocate for children:

Despite expanding eligibility requirements, California’s transitional kindergarten program showed declining rates of participation, according to recent findings, The 74 reports. Learn more:

PPIC researchers examined how TK-12 and institutions of higher education are addressing low rates of college completion and highlighted strategies that could encourage more students to go to and complete college.

While the region has a higher share of children and young adults than the rest of the state, few earn baccalaureate degrees.

In a follow-up report to two recently released fact sheets detailing college access and readiness throughout the state, the Public Policy Institute of California homed in on pathways to college completion in the Inland Empire:

Leaders from @ACSA_info, @WeAreCTA, California Federation of Teachers, California Association of School Business Officials, @CACountySupts and @SEIULocal99 also spoke. A recording of the event can be viewed on the CDE’s Facebook page.

"California students can not afford further delays. We urge the federal government to act now and fulfill its promise," O'Donnell said.

“The delay in funding has already strained local resources and will weaken our ability to meet the needs of all students in California,” O’Donnell said. “These funds are targeted investments that directly improve educational outcomes.”.

They are also necessary to meet federal mandates, he added.

He noted that school boards are counting on these dollars and already have them earmarked in their budgets for critical costs such as staff salaries, curricular materials, classroom technology and other academic supports and initiatives.

O’Donnell underscored that the funding is needed to support outcomes for all students, and, on behalf of the more than 5,000 school board members in California, called on the federal government to honor its commitment and release the funds.

The funding was allocated by Congress for the 2025–26 academic year for programs including Title I-C, II-A, III-A, IV-A and IV-B.