This year's second High School Voter Education Week will take place Sept. 15 through Sept. 26. The statewide initiative encourages students to learn about elections and preregister to vote, with resources available through the Secretary of State and the California Department of Education.
Cypress High School senior Parsmi Rajput and teacher Shelley Hawkins have been named 2025 Bezos Scholars, joining a cohort of just 17 student-educator teams worldwide. Their Community Change Project will focus on creating a resource hub to connect students and families with critical services.
Fender, in partnership with Orange County Music & Dance, Arts Orange County and OCDE, will host a free songwriting workshop Sept. 20 in Irvine for high school students. The daylong program will cover guitar, bass and ukulele, guiding participants through the songwriting process and ending with original recordings.
OCDE will host the 2025 OC Civic Learning Institute on Oct. 7 and Oct. 14 in Costa Mesa. The two-day professional learning event is designed to help TK-12 educators expand student voice, civic engagement and readiness.
