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California
27th August 2026
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THE HOT STORY

Math crisis: California takes action

California's Legislature has approved Senate Bill 1067, mandating annual math assessments for kindergarten through second-grade students starting in the 2028-29 school year. The bill aims to provide necessary support to prevent achievement gaps, particularly for low-income and Black students, who have shown lower proficiency rates. Sen. Akilah Weber Pierson, the bill's author, emphasized the urgency of addressing the "real and urgent math achievement crisis," noting that "students who miss foundational math skills in grades K through 2 rarely catch up." Despite opposition from various educational groups, the bill seeks to establish guidelines for assessments and ensure they are not used for teacher evaluations or student labeling. The State Board of Education will set criteria by July 2027, with approved assessments available by January 2028. Advocates argue that early intervention is crucial, citing Alabama's successful early math screening program as a model.

SMARTER BALANCE

Why the Best Smarter Balanced Scores Start Early

The California schools that gain the most on Smarter Balanced don't cram in spring, they practice all year with resources built to the test. That's what Lumos delivers:
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NATIONAL NEWS

Meta faces tighter teen safeguards under multibillion-dollar U.S. settlement

Meta has agreed to pay up to $18bn and impose wide-ranging restrictions on how children use Facebook and Instagram under a landmark settlement with U.S. states over alleged harms to young users. Subject to judicial approval, the agreement includes an initial $12.7bn payment for youth online safety initiatives, blocks under-18s from accessing the platforms between midnight and 6 a.m., disables notifications by default during school hours, and limits daily use to two hours unless a verified parent removes the restriction. Meta will also introduce age-assurance technology and turn off “like” counts by default on teenagers’ posts. If YouTube and TikTok introduce equivalent measures, Meta’s restrictions would tighten to a 10 p.m.-7 a.m. blackout and a one-hour daily limit per app, triggering an additional $5.3bn payment.

Preparing teachers for the AI era

Teacher-education programs are being urged to move beyond tool-specific AI training and develop a broader approach covering ethics, pedagogy, professional judgment and classroom practice. A new AACTE framework calls for explicit preparation on AI literacy, equitable access, evaluating AI-generated student work, bias, hallucinations, critical thinking and teacher-student relationships. Anne Tapp Jaksa said: “AI forces us to reconsider what counts as evidence of learning,” particularly when candidates can use AI to produce polished academic work. The framework also argues that aspiring teachers with legitimate ethical, privacy, accessibility, cultural or pedagogical objections should be able to decline AI use without losing access to licensure. However, that principle could become difficult to implement as federal teacher-training funding increasingly prioritizes AI preparation.

STATE NEWS

E-Rate program faces uncertain future

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is reviewing the E-Rate program, which subsidizes broadband for schools, raising concerns among district leaders about potential cuts. High-poverty districts, like Desert Sands USD, rely on E-Rate for up to 90% of their internet costs, and cuts could exacerbate educational inequities. Kelly May-Vollmar, superintendent of Desert Sands, emphasized the program's importance, stating, “You and I don't schedule time to go to a computer lab.” The review, driven by concerns over screen time, has led to a coalition of educators advocating for the program's preservation. FCC chair Brendan Carr noted the review aims to ensure the program meets current educational needs. However, critics argue that limiting E-Rate would disproportionately affect low-income students, with Kevin Taglang from the Benton Institute warning that changes could harm over 16m students.

TEACHING

Revolutionizing education with low-tech approach

David Homa, a teacher at Los Gatos High School, is pioneering a low-tech approach to education to combat the reliance on AI and smartphones in classrooms. “As soon as I saw what it was capable of doing, I was like, ‘Well, that's going to force change in the classroom,’” Homa said, referring to the impact of ChatGPT. He requires students in his honors economics and social entrepreneurship classes to handwrite notes or use typewriters, which he believes challenges their developing brains. Homa also encourages students to take weekly 30-minute walks without technology, emphasizing the importance of disconnecting from constant information.

DISTRICTS

Fresno Unified cuts field trips

Tens of thousands of elementary students in Fresno USD may lose funding for field trips and sixth-grade camps due to a budget deficit. The district's board adopted a budget that includes $30m in cuts, eliminating funds for field trips for transitional kindergarten through fifth grade. Ben Drati, deputy superintendent, said: “It's a value decision we're making about what we fund and don't fund.” Parents expressed concern over the impact on students' learning experiences, with Whitney Bortz stating: “It's narrowing their worldview in some ways to not have experiences outside of what they know.” The Fresno Teachers Association has called for the district to examine its resources, as it currently holds $122m in unrestricted reserves.

Tech troubles at Santa Barbara schools

At a recent Santa Barbara USD School Board meeting, concerns about the safety of district-issued iPads were raised, particularly after parent Ali Bjerke presented alarming content accessible to her daughter. "My 12-year-old can view explicit sexual imagery," Bjerke said, prompting board members to question the effectiveness of current regulations. Board president Bill Banning acknowledged the challenge of ensuring safety, asking, "If it’s 99% or 98%, are we in a better place than just saying, ‘we can’t do anything about it?’" The board also discussed the impact of a recent YouTube ban on students' studies and plans to evaluate enrollment and safety measures in response to the Santa Barbara County Grand Jury's reports on school safety and bullying.

MPUSD schools shine with platinum awards

Officials from Monterey Peninsula USD (MPUSD) announced that 12 schools received platinum recognition in the 2026 California Positive Behavioral Intervention and Supports Recognition Program, while three schools earned gold. This marks the first year that all MPUSD schools receiving recognition achieved either gold or platinum status. "This is a significant accomplishment for our schools," said a representative from MPUSD.

GOVERNANCE

Alameda school board seeks new member

Alameda USD is accepting applications for a board seat left vacant by Jennifer Williams' resignation on August 12. Williams, who served since 2016, was in her third term. The board decided to fill the position by appointment, as it cannot be included in the upcoming November 3 ballot.

NUTRITION

Don’t skip breakfast, it’s egg-cellent!

Skipping breakfast can significantly affect children's mood and energy levels during the school day, according to Nemours KidsHealth. "Missing it means kids may run low on fuel just as class begins," the report states. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) highlights that children who regularly eat breakfast perform better academically, with studies showing improved scores in vocabulary, math, and reading. Alarmingly, 13% of school-age children skip breakfast, a figure that rises to over 27% among adolescents aged 12 to 19. Reasons for skipping include selective eating, time constraints, and weight concerns. To combat this, parents are encouraged to prepare quick breakfast options and consider school-provided meals to ensure children start their day with the necessary nutrition.

SCHOOL TRANSPORTATION

Schools tap reserves and consolidate bus routes as diesel costs surge

U.S. school districts are cutting transportation costs, consolidating bus routes, and tapping reserves as diesel prices climb to $5.62 per gallon, nearly $2 higher than a year ago. With roughly 90% of the country’s 480,000 school buses running on diesel, more than half of districts surveyed in May said fuel costs were already pushing them over budget. Districts are responding by reducing trips, putting more students on each bus, and, in some cases, exploring electric alternatives, but those measures can mean longer routes and added pressure on drivers and students. Elleka Yost, director of advocacy and research at the Association of School Business Officials International, said, “Many districts are tapping reserves or rainy-day funds as a temporary solution,” warning that doing so could weaken their ability to respond to future financial challenges. Washington state's Yakima School District expects diesel costs to rise 38%, or $130,000, this school year, while Boise, Idaho faces an approximately $600,000 increase in transportation costs despite efforts to streamline routes and the addition of eight federally funded electric buses.

 
NPR

SAFETY AND SECURITY

Bomb squad thwarts Santa Barbara school threat

Authorities in Santa Barbara County responded to a potential school threat involving a youth, leading to the recovery of two explosive devices from his home. Raquel Zick, a spokesperson for the county Sheriff's Office, confirmed that the threat had been "thwarted" and emphasized that there were "no on-campus aspects." The investigation began on August 18 after deputies received reports of a juvenile making "concerning statements about harming others." During the inquiry, officials discovered the boy's online connection with another juvenile in Illinois who shared similar "concerning interests." The Illinois law enforcement agency was notified but did not consider it an actionable threat.

HIGHER EDUCATION

Sacramento schools shine in rankings

Two Sacramento-area schools have been recognized in Time magazine's inaugural list of America's Best Colleges for 2026-2027. The rankings, compiled with data from Statista, evaluated schools based on student outcomes, learning environment, and attractiveness to students. UC Davis ranked 90th with a score of 78.86, while California State University, Sacramento, placed 425th with a score of 58.57. Time noted that the rankings particularly highlighted students' views on their return on investment, emphasizing the importance of what they gain post-graduation. "Many university students have turned the ROI factor into the pursuit of Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) careers," the article stated. In total, 54 California colleges made the list, showcasing the state's strong educational landscape.

INTERNATIONAL

Immigrant-background students in Korea hit record 210,838

The number of elementary, middle, and high school students from immigrant backgrounds in Korea reached a record 210,838 as of April 1, up 4.3% from a year earlier, according to government data. Students from multicultural or foreign-nationality families now account for 4.3% of all elementary and secondary school enrollment, with Vietnam the largest parental country of origin at 30.9%, followed by China at 26.7%, and the Philippines at 8.1%. International enrollment in Korean higher education also increased sharply, rising 21.3% year over year to 307,464 students. Vietnamese students became the largest international student group for the first time, totaling 96,834, or 31.5% of the total, surpassing 78,890 Chinese students, who accounted for 25.7%.

France expands school survey to measure scale of child sexual violence

France will add questions on sexual and gender-based violence to an annual school questionnaire completed by around 10m students, from the final year of preschool through secondary education. Education Minister Édouard Geffray said he expects the results to be “seismic,” citing estimates that one in 10 children in France is a victim of sexual violence. The survey will initially be anonymous, although students will be able to identify themselves if they want to speak with a trusted adult. The questions will be developed with school staff, parents’ associations, and experts, including child psychiatrists. The move comes amid growing scrutiny of how authorities handle abuse allegations. France recorded 88,000 reports concerning children in 2025 related to sexual violence or parental failings, while a recent review found 85,047 complaints involving sexual violence against minors were still being processed. 

AND FINALLY......

Professoring beyond his years

Nathan Thomas, at just 20 years old, has been recognized by Guinness World Records as the world's youngest male professor, surpassing a 306-year-old record. He began his academic journey at Miami Dade College, where he excelled in his studies and later taught at the same institution. “I tried to emphasize that like my age is not important... [to] what we're doing here,” he said, reflecting on his teaching experience. Nathan's mother, Merlyn Rani Thomas, played a crucial role in his education, opting for homeschooling after realizing traditional schooling wasn't suitable for him. He accumulated 60 college credits by age 14 and graduated with a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering at 16. Now in law school at the University of Miami, Nathan continues to inspire others while taking a break from teaching. His mother advocates for the opportunities community colleges provide, emphasizing their value in education.
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