OCDE Newsroom

Attendance Awareness Month launches in September

Staff reports August 28, 2015

All schools in Orange County will be back in session in September, making it a great time to emphasize the importance of not missing school. It is critical that schools intervene early to identify and address the issues that contribute to chronic absenteeism. [...]

California High School Exit Exam no longer a barrier for Class of 2015 graduates

Staff reports August 27, 2015

Thousands of students that had been unable to graduate due to the cancellation of the July California High School Exit exam are now exempt from that requirement. Yesterday, Governor Jerry Brown signed Senate Bill 725. [...]

Santa Ana high schoolers complete internship at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (video)

Ian Hanigan August 19, 2015

Perhaps you've been following the story of eight students from Santa Ana who earned the rare opportunity to be interns at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena. On the day before they completed the program, we dispatched a video crew to talk about their experiences.

California Department of Education develops drought response best practices for schools

Staff reports July 14, 2015

California is now in its fourth straight year of below average rainfall and this past winter was one of the warmest on record. The snow pack in the Sierra Nevada has a water content of only five percent of the historic average, the lowest since 1950. This has placed California firmly in one of the worst droughts in the state's recorded history. Everyone, including schools, are encouraged to do their part to conserve water. [...]

An image of Orange County Superintendent Al Mijares

Mijares: JPL internship exemplifies collaborative efforts to create college and career pathways

Al Mijares July 13, 2015

A paid summer internship that has eight talented Santa Ana students working with JPL scientists and engineers is "precisely the type of experience that was envisioned when the state Department of Education awarded our own OC Pathways initiative a $15 million grant to expand career pathways for students from kindergarten through college," writes Dr. Al Mijares, Orange County superintendent of schools. Click through to read the superintendent’s latest column.

A look at past year achievements for Orange County alternative education

Staff reports July 7, 2015

OCDE’s Alternative, Community and Correctional Schools and Services division, or ACCESS, has released a list of highlights from the 2014-15...

In the news: A new state budget deal, JPL interns from Santa Ana, inspiring graduates and more

Ian Hanigan June 19, 2015

It’s Friday, June 19, and that pretty much closes the books on the 2014-15 school year in Orange County. We don’t have much in the way of pomp and circumstance here, but we do have a handful of education stories from the past week. Click through to catch up on recent articles you may have missed.

Students at the National History Day competition in Maryland

Three student projects from OC earn medals at National History Day Contest in Maryland

Ian Hanigan June 18, 2015

Of the seven California entries to earn medals at the Kenneth E. Behring National History Day Contest in Maryland, no fewer than three were from schools in Orange County. Click through to see which schools produced this year's top NHD submissions.

Eight high school students from Santa Ana have the right stuff for summer JPL internship

Ian Hanigan June 16, 2015

Thanks to the countywide initiative known as OC Pathways and community partners including OpTerra Energy Services, eight high schoolers from Santa Ana are embarking on a once-in-a-lifetime research experience as summer interns at NASA’s famed Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Click through to read the story and watch a brief video.

Let’s take a look back at this year’s Orange County Teacher of the Year announcements (video)

Ian Hanigan June 10, 2015

Back on May 20, county Superintendent Dr. Al Mijares surprised five local educators with the news that they’re the Orange County Teachers of the Year for 2016. Along with OCDE staff, media and sponsors, we were on hand at each stop with our cameras rolling. Click through to watch a brief video featuring this year's honorees.

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