California Department of Education

A California bill, Assembly Bill 2003, aims to expand suicide prevention efforts by providing free training for students, educators, and parents. Sponsored by Assemblymember Marc Berman and co-sponsored by the California Youth Empowerment Network and the California Commission for Behavioral Health, the bill requires schools to submit annual reports on suicide risk screenings and bypasses existing grant requirements for training. Youth suicides declined last year but remain elevated compared to two decades ago.

The California Department of Education hosted a webinar titled the 'Black Student Achievement Series,' which critics argue did not focus on academic topics like reading and math, as expected, but instead addressed different priorities.

Governor Gavin Newsom's proposal to transfer control of the California Department of Education from the elected state superintendent to a new appointed education commissioner faces debate. Supporters, including Children Now and Assembly Bill 2117 co-author David Alvarez, argue for governance realignment, while opponents like the California Teachers Association criticize the move as undemocratic. A Stanford-affiliated report previously recommended similar reforms to improve education system management.

A bedbug infestation has forced the immediate evacuation of the California Department of Education headquarters in downtown Sacramento. The Northern California state office is now under invasion by blood-sucking insects.

California will require all high schools to offer personal finance courses starting in 2027-28, with students needing to take the class for graduation by 2031. Fresno Unified School District, an early adopter, has developed courses including stock market simulations and is helping guide the statewide rollout led by educator Jeff Allen.

Sonja Shaw and Richard Barrera are leading candidates for California's superintendent of public instruction primary, with Shaw at 24.9% and Barrera at 18.9%. The top two will advance to the Nov. 3 general election after all mail-in and provisional ballots are counted, a process that could take 30 days. Shaw and Barrera disagree on policies regarding LGBTQ+ student disclosures and transgender student sports participation.

Jason Agan, a California teacher, was fired for sexually harassing students, but the state allowed him to continue teaching at other schools. Despite multiple complaints and warnings, Agan faced only a one-week suspension of his teaching license. The state's teaching credentialing agency did not inform other schools or parents of the full extent of Agan's behavior.

California State Treasurer Fiona Ma, a candidate for lieutenant governor, faces scrutiny over her ties to Pegasus California School in Qingdao, China, which was investigated for diploma fraud in collaboration with the Val Verde Unified School District. The school's founder, Steven Ma, donated over $37,000 to her campaigns, and Ma promised U.S. internships and jobs to the school's students during a 2023 visit.

California State Treasurer Fiona Ma, running for lieutenant governor, is criticized for promising jobs and internships to students at Pegasus California School in Qingdao, China, which was investigated for diploma fraud in partnership with Val Verde Unified School District. The audit revealed potential fraud and illegal fiscal practices, while the school's founder, Steven Ma, donated over $37,000 to her campaigns through his firm and directly.