OCDE Newsroom

State Superintendent Torlakson lauds Laguna Beach as a leading digital district (video)

Ian Hanigan December 9, 2015

How’s this for recognition? State Superintendent Tom Torlakson recently cited the Laguna Beach Unified School District as one of the three leading digital districts in California. “These bright spots serve as lights of encouragement and guidance for our state,” Torlakson wrote in this letter to district leaders about technology and equity. [...]

OC Pathways Showcase demonstrates the sky is not the limit for Orange County students

Ian Hanigan December 2, 2015

Astronaut Leland Melvin, who voyaged to the International Space Station in 2008 and 2009, was the keynote speaker at the inaugural OC Pathways Showcase, held in Hangar 244 at the Orange County Great Park in Irvine. The event, featuring innovative displays from local schools, colleges and businesses, drew about 300 educators and business leaders to celebrate the first year of OC Pathways.

OC Pathways Showcase will highlight college and career partnerships on Dec. 2

Ian Hanigan November 24, 2015

A limited number of seats are still available for an upcoming showcase to celebrate the first year of OC Pathways, an initiative that's paving the way to college and career success and strengthening the 21st-century workforce. Open to educators and industry leaders, the inaugural OC Pathways Showcase on Dec. 2 will feature innovative displays from local schools, colleges and businesses, as well as a keynote address from NASA astronaut Leland Melvin. “Equipping Students for the Global Innovation Economy” is the theme of the event, which will be held from 7:30 to 10 a.m. inside Hangar 244 at the Orange County Great Park in Irvine. [...]

Fitness scores in Orange County decline slightly but remain higher than the state average

Staff reports November 23, 2015

The percentage of Orange County students who met the Healthy Fitness Zone performance targets in all six areas decreased slightly, according to the 2014-15 California Physical Fitness Test results released on Friday. [...]

UC Irvine to host annual Gifted and Talented Education webinar series

Staff reports November 19, 2015

The University of California, Irvine Extension is once again offering a free webinar series geared toward teachers, administrators and parents of gifted students. The eighth annual Gifted and Talented Education Webinar Series will take place weekly on Tuesdays, Feb. 2 through Feb 23, from 4 to 5 p.m. [...]

Project Tomorrow wants to hear your thoughts on technology use in the classroom

Staff reports November 9, 2015

From now until Dec. 18, all K-12 students, parents and teachers can share their views on the role and use of technology for learning as part of the 13th annual Speak Up National Research Project. [...]

A call for ‘purveyors of hope, champions of change’ at Santa Ana’s State of the District breakfast

Ian Hanigan November 6, 2015

The Santa Ana Unified School District continues to create new learning opportunities and educational options in alignment with the interests and aptitudes of its students. That was among the key takeaways from the Superintendent’s State of the District and Partners Breakfast, which was hosted Friday morning by the district’s Board of Education and the Santa Ana Public Schools Foundation. [...]

Oral family history project aims to capture a generation of stories over Thanksgiving holiday

Staff reports November 5, 2015

High school students have an opportunity to discover and share their life and family histories over the upcoming holiday via the ambitious Great Thanksgiving Listen initiative, sponsored by StoryCorps. The goal is to offer participants a chance to discover the history in their own families and lives while honoring their elders through the act of listening. [...]

Chronic absenteeism is the focus of a new U.S. Department of Education initiative

Staff reports October 19, 2015

The U.S. Department of Education has launched a new federal initiative, “Every Student, Every Day: A National Initiative to Address and Eliminate Chronic Absenteeism,” which calls on the nation to raise awareness and reduce chronic absenteeism by at least 10 percent each year. [...]

Nine questions (and answers) about public charter schools

Staff reports October 6, 2015

You may have read about charter schools in the news recently, and perhaps you’ve found yourself wondering, “What exactly are charter schools, and how do they differ from public or private schools?” Well, we’re here to help, with a list of frequently asked questions. [...]

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