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California
21st April 2026
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THE HOT STORY

Pegasus ties draw scrutiny

Politico reports that California Treasurer and lieutenant governor candidate Fiona Ma has connections to Pegasus California School, a private boarding school in China later scrutinized in a Riverside County audit that found possible fraud and other illegal fiscal practices. The reporting says Ma visited Pegasus in 2023, met Chinese officials, appeared in school marketing, and told students that “if they want to intern in California, they can come to me.” Ma said she paid for the trip herself and was unaware of audits or allegations at the time. The audit did not accuse Ma of wrongdoing, but Politico details campaign donations and a long relationship between Ma and Pegasus founder Steven Ma.

MULTILINGUAL LEARNERS

Designated vs. Integrated ELD Instruction

Targeted ELD instruction, also referred to as dedicated or designated ELD instruction, is designed to help English learners develop critical English language skills needed for learning across content areas. This instruction should be aligned to your state’s adopted ELD standards and requires explicit development of English language knowledge, skills, and abilities. A targeted ELD program has the sole goal of English acquisition.

During a protected time in the school day, targeted ELD engages English learners in focused language acquisition and academic vocabulary building across the four domains of listening, speaking, writing, and reading. This differs from integrated ELD instruction, which provides robust support for accessing lesson-specific content and developing skills within an ELA or other content area class.

Learn more in this article

 

NATIONAL NEWS

Book bans hit record highs

Book bans in the U.S. are at an all-time high, according to the American Library Association (ALA). The ALA's State of America’s Libraries Report revealed that challenges to 4,235 different works were recorded, just shy of the previous year's record of 4,240. Notably, Patricia McCormick’s “Sold” topped the list of most challenged books for 2025, alongside titles like “The Perks of Being a Wallflower” and “Gender Queer.” ALA President Sam Helmick said, “Libraries exist to make space for every story and every lived experience.” The trend has shifted from local community objections to organized campaigns led by government officials and groups like Moms for Liberty. In 2025, over 90% of challenges originated from these activists, highlighting a politically-driven effort to restrict access to certain books.

DISTRICTS

Fredericks to address school crisis

Tina Fredericks, President of the Pasadena USD Board of Education, will deliver the annual State of Schools address tomorrow at Jackson STEAM Multilingual Magnet Elementary School. This year's address comes amid a financial crisis, staff layoffs, and potential school closures. The Superintendent's School Consolidation Advisory Committee is working on recommendations for school closures, with two meetings remaining before presenting to the Board of Education. Fredericks noted that the district is facing challenges due to "declining enrollment, rising costs and uncertainty in federal and state funding." Despite some positive news from the Los Angeles County Office of Education regarding the budget, the district continues to grapple with deficit spending. The event will be streamed on the KLRN Pasadena YouTube channel.

Chavez Middle School faces name change

School officials in Planada are gathering community feedback regarding the potential renaming of Cesar E. Chavez Middle School. This discussion follows allegations against Chavez, including sexual abuse of minors, which surfaced in a New York Times article in March. Superintendent José L. González announced that the Board of Trustees is considering the name change and has created a survey to collect public opinions. The survey, which is anonymous, asks participants about their connection to the district and whether they support changing the school's name. "The community can weigh in," said González. The survey can be accessed via the Planada Elementary School District's Facebook page, although no deadline for responses has been set.

GOVERNANCE

Bonini fights back on credential claims

Chelsea Bonini, a second-grade teacher running for San Mateo County superintendent of education, is addressing claims that she lacks the necessary state-mandated credential for the position. Bonini asserts that her “certificate of eligibility” is valid, similar to her opponent Hector Camacho's credential. However, her certificate does not equate to the required administrative credential, which she can only obtain after securing a job as an administrator. According to state law, only candidates with a valid credential can run for county superintendent. Mark Church, the clerk of elections, admitted he did not verify Bonini's credential before placing her name on the ballot, stating: “I simply saw that she signed a document saying she met the requirements for office.” Ultimately, it is up to voters to decide on this matter.

Henigin challenges incumbents in Palo Alto school board race

Linda Henigin, a parent and teacher's aide, is running for the Palo Alto USD school board against incumbents John Craig and Avery Wang. Henigin has criticized board member Rowena Chiu for her campaigning behavior and has emphasized the importance of focusing on students who are struggling academically. She advocates for general education classrooms as the standard placement and has organized volunteer watch groups to prevent student suicides following recent tragic events.

WORKFORCE

Teachers strike for better conditions

After over 1,000 protesters and 10,000 letters sent to the Little Lake City School District, teachers are on their third day of striking. LLEA President Maria Pilios said: “Our strength and solidarity have brought us to this moment." The strike focuses on class sizes, special education support, and affordable healthcare. Supporters are canvassing nearby homes for the recall of all five school board members. The situation continues to develop as negotiations proceed.

STEM

Empowering parents through tech education

Stanislaus County parents and computer science advocates recently participated in a two-day event aimed at enhancing access to computer science education. The sessions, led by Rudy Escobar, coordinator of computer science and STEM at the Stanislaus County Office of Education, focused on empowering families to advocate for tech education in schools. The initiative is part of a broader effort in California to close the digital divide, especially in rural and low-income communities. While 58% of California high schools offered computer science classes in the 2024-25 school year, disparities remain, with only 44% of rural schools providing such courses. 

MICROSCHOOLS

Homeschooling: A new path forward

In an opinion piece, Lizette Valles, the founder of Ellemercito Learning Community, argues that microschools and hybrid homeschooling models offer a more flexible, child-centered alternative to traditional education. Drawing on her own experience during the pandemic, she advocates for "delight-directed learning" that prioritizes connection, creativity, and real-world experiences. Valles highlights the growing demand for small, community-based learning environments but warns that outdated regulations and zoning rules make it difficult for such models to operate. She supports California’s proposed Senate Bill 1086, which aims to simplify approval processes for microschools. She concludes that education systems should embrace diverse approaches, enabling families and educators to create environments where children can thrive beyond conventional classroom structures.

HEALTH & WELLBEING

Dental care cuts threaten kids' health

In Sacramento County, the percentage of children receiving Medi-Cal Dental services has risen significantly, yet recent budget cuts proposed by Governor Gavin Newsom threaten to reverse this progress. The governor's plan aims to eliminate $144m from the Medi-Cal Dental program, which provides essential dental services for low-income children. Debra Payne, a consultant to First 5 Sacramento, highlighted the alarming situation, stating: "Families already struggle to find dentists who accept Medi-Cal." Despite previous efforts to improve access, many children still face barriers to receiving dental care, with a significant number of emergency room visits for preventable dental conditions. Lawmakers are urged to reject these cuts to protect children's health and maintain the advancements made in dental care access.

CAREER & TECHNICAL EDUCATION

Manteca students ignite creativity with firefighters

Multimedia students from Manteca High School collaborated with the Manteca Fire Department last week to create engaging social media content. Under the guidance of teacher James Burns, students filmed videos, took photos, and produced articles showcasing the daily life of firefighters. Aimee Rubio, executive assistant of the Manteca Fire Department, emphasized the importance of such partnerships, stating: “I believe partnerships like this play an important role in connecting students with real-world experiences.” The collaboration not only provided students with practical skills but also aimed to inspire future generations to consider careers in public service.
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