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California
10th September 2026
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THE HOT STORY

Parents demand cameras in classrooms

California parents are pressing schools to install cameras in special education classrooms after allegations of abuse involving students who may struggle to communicate what happens at school. Campaigns in Visalia and Bakersfield have attracted thousands of petition signatures, with supporters arguing recordings could verify mistreatment and protect vulnerable children. Visalia parent Brittney Camacho said: “Cameras are so, so important because these children don't have a voice.” However, districts cite privacy, legal and labour concerns, while existing California law restricts classroom recording without teacher and principal consent. Advocates point to Texas, where cameras can be installed in certain special education classrooms on request and footage accessed following abuse allegations. Supporters say such systems can both substantiate complaints and clear wrongly accused educators.

SPECIAL EDUCATION AS AN INTERVENTION

A Powerful Lens for Supporting Students with Learning Differences

Every school year, meetings take place across the state as California educators collaborate to support student learning through multi-tiered systems of support (MTSS). These meetings represent a significant investment of time and effort aimed at improving outcomes for all learners, especially those with learning differences who face the greatest challenges in progress and achievement. To make the most of this time, school teams must focus on identifying effective interventions. But what exactly is intervention in the context of special education? How does it differ from specially designed instruction (SDI)? And how can tools like MTSS and response to intervention (RTI) guide our decisions?

Read this article to explore special education as an intervention

 

STATE NEWS

Measles vaccination hot spots revealed

Despite high overall measles vaccination rates in Northern California, a new study published in JAMA Network Open by Kaiser Permanente researchers has identified several "hot spots" with low vaccination coverage. The study found seven clusters, particularly in parts of Sonoma and Napa counties, where vaccination rates fell below the herd immunity threshold. Dr. Karen Jacobson, a research scientist at Kaiser Permanente, said: "This information can be used … to inform the design and implementation of vaccination campaigns." The findings highlight the need for targeted vaccination efforts, as Dr. Mia Shim, Sonoma County's health officer, noted that "localized gaps in protection" can increase the risk of measles transmission. As of August 2026, the U.S. has reported 2,903 confirmed measles cases this year, emphasizing the urgency of addressing these vaccination gaps.

NATIONAL NEWS

Special education chief steps down as Ed. Dept. transfers get underway

Kelly Rogers, the U.S. Department of Education’s top special education official, has unexpectedly resigned after four months in the role, as the agency begins transferring more than 100 Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS) employees to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Rogers had previously indicated that she would continue supervising OSERS staff from the Education Department following their move, but officials have not said who will replace her or how oversight will now work. The transfers are part of a wider restructuring that will also move 57 Office for Civil Rights employees to the Department of Justice. Disability advocates have criticized the changes, arguing that splitting responsibilities among federal agencies could increase bureaucracy, disrupt coordination, and create uncertainty for educators, families, and people with disabilities. The Education Department is proceeding despite congressional efforts to halt the changes. A Senate committee has advanced legislation that would prevent OSERS from being transferred to another agency, while a similar bipartisan proposal has been introduced in the House.

Microsoft, teacher unions set new AI data protections for Schools

Microsoft, the American Federation of Teachers (AFT), and the United Federation of Teachers (UFT) have introduced a National AI Safety and Privacy Standard giving U.S. school districts greater control over student and educator data used by AI products. Districts can add the safeguards to Microsoft agreements, making them contractual requirements rather than voluntary guidelines. The standard prohibits covered data, including prompts, AI-generated responses, and uploaded files, from being sold, used for unrelated purposes, or used to train general-purpose AI models. It also restricts behavioral tracking, requires human oversight for significant AI-driven decisions, and requires providers to notify affected education customers within 72 hours of a confirmed or reasonably suspected data breach. Districts can terminate agreements or pursue other available remedies for unresolved material violations. Other AI providers working with AFT’s National Academy for AI Instruction can also adopt the standard if they agree to its full set of protections.

SAFETY AND SECURITY

Students rethink violence for speech

According to a recent study by the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression, 30% of students believe it is acceptable to use violence to stop a campus speech, a decrease from 34% last year. The report, which surveyed nearly 63,000 students from over 250 schools, highlighted the impact of Charlie Kirk's assassination on campus speech, describing it as a "jarring year" for free expression. The University of Chicago ranked highest for free speech, while New York University was at the bottom due to incidents affecting its ranking. Despite concerns, the report noted a rise in the average overall score for free speech on campuses, stating, "This is the way," and expressing hope for more colleges to support free expression in the future.

WORKFORCE

Fidelity checks shift toward support

Bridget Farr, a Ph.D. student in education policy at the University of Texas at Austin, discusses the need to transform fidelity checks from a surveillance mechanism into a supportive process for teachers. She reflects on her experiences as a principal, noting that frequent fidelity checks can lead to feelings of confusion and frustration among educators. To foster a more positive environment, Farr suggests naming processes and expectations clearly, involving teachers in program evaluations, and focusing on a limited number of impactful areas to monitor. She emphasizes the importance of providing teachers with preparation time and feedback opportunities. As a result of these strategies, over 95% of classrooms were using the new curriculum effectively, leading to improved student outcomes and increased state assessment scores. Farr concludes that classroom visits can strengthen teacher relationships and enhance instructional practices.

TECHNOLOGY

AI revolutionizes student assessment

Artificial intelligence (AI) is set to transform how teachers assess students' academic and soft skills through innovative report cards that move away from traditional A-F grading. Legend.org, which acquired the Mastery Transcript Consortium, is developing AI tools to provide immediate feedback on various student works, including papers and presentations. Co-founder Matt Sornson emphasized that the AI will assist teachers by evaluating work based on established standards, allowing for a more nuanced assessment of skills like communication and collaboration. "It does the first pass of assessing (their) rubric," Sornson said. The initiative aims to streamline grading processes while ensuring that teachers retain final authority over grades. As educators explore the ethical use of AI in grading, the focus remains on enhancing student learning experiences.

GOVERNANCE

Laguna Beach candidates gear up for election day

As election day approaches on November 3, candidates for Laguna Beach USD are actively campaigning. The board has faced turmoil, particularly with the dismissal of former superintendent Jason Glass and the appointment of Don Austin. Current board members Sheri Morgan, Dee Perry, and Howard Hills are seeking re-election, while James Kelly will not run again. Candidates Joan Malczewski, Shaheen Sheik-Sadhal, and Kimberly Smith participated in a recent forum, discussing collaboration and community engagement. Smith emphasized the need to listen to teachers, stating: “If that doesn't scream that there needs [to be] a change, I'm not sure what does.” Malczewski highlighted the importance of acting as a unified board, saying, “We don't have to agree, but you're supposed to act as one board.” All candidates agreed on the importance of respectful communication with community members.

Valerie Amparan aims for Santa Barbara school board

Valerie Amparan, a nonprofit chief executive and mother of two, is running for the Santa Barbara USD school board. Amparan aims to improve the district's budget and academic performance, focusing on math and reading scores. She has already made an impact by raising $75,000 for her children's school and plans to address declining enrollment by analyzing data on families leaving the district. Endorsed by current board members and the Santa Barbara Teachers Union, Amparan believes her unique skill set can drive necessary changes in the district.

POLICY

Balancing books: a heated debate

The Redlands school board is grappling with the contentious issue of balancing political viewpoints in school materials. During a recent meeting, trustee Candy Olson raised concerns about the lack of right-leaning books in libraries, stating: "We should all want a balanced viewpoint … we need opposing sides of every issue to be able to raise up critical thinkers." The board discussed potential changes to the “controversial issues” policy, which mandates that materials be presented without bias. Superintendent Juan Cabral questioned who determines what constitutes a controversial book, highlighting the challenges of maintaining balance in educational resources. The ongoing debate reflects broader cultural and political shifts affecting educational content.

DISTRICTS

Inland Empire students vie for $24m

Dozens of students from the Inland Empire have been named semifinalists in the 2027 National Merit Scholarship Program, competing for a share of $24m in scholarships. The National Merit Scholarship Corp. announced over 16,000 semifinalists on September 9, with about 95% expected to advance to the finalist stage. "Half of those finalists will win a National Merit Scholarship," the release stated. More than 1.2m juniors from around 20,000 high schools entered the program by taking the 2025 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test, with semifinalists representing less than 1% of U.S. high school seniors. A list of semifinalists from various schools in Los Angeles, Riverside, and San Bernardino counties has been provided.

HIGHER EDUCATION

UC's A-G requirements under review

The University of California (UC) is reviewing its A-G requirements, the high school courses necessary for admission, for the first time in decades. Faculty leaders are assessing whether these requirements adequately prepare students for UC's academic challenges. “The goal of this A-G policy review is to consider how UC defines and evaluates college readiness in a rapidly changing educational environment,” said Ahmet Palazoglu, outgoing chair of the university's Academic Senate. Currently, only 54% of high school graduates meet these requirements, which include a minimum of 15 year-long UC-approved classes. The review may lead to changes in subject areas and the number of required courses, with recommendations expected by May. The earliest any changes could be implemented would be in 2027.

INTERNATIONAL

Students voice concerns as Ontario puts greater weight on exams and attendance

Ontario high school students are adjusting to a new grading system for the 2026-2027 school year that places greater emphasis on final exams, attendance, and classroom participation. For Grades 9 and 10, classwork accounts for 65% of the final grade, final evaluations for 20%, and attendance and participation for 15%. For Grades 11 and 12, the breakdown is 65%, 25%, and 10%, respectively. Several students said the heavier weighting of final exams could increase anxiety and argued that schools should provide more support as they prepare for higher-stakes assessments. Reactions to attendance grading were mixed: some students questioned whether attendance should affect grades when work is completed, while others said the policy could discourage skipping. Excused absences, including illness and cultural days, will not negatively affect students’ grades.
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