County Superintendent Dr. Stefan Bean was named the 2025 Community Pillar of Influence for Education, joining four leaders recognized for strengthening Orange County. He was also recently honored by the Orange County Council of the Boy Scouts of America and the California Association of Asian and Pasifika Leaders in Education.
An independent foundation has launched to help expand educational opportunities for students across the county. The Orange County Schools Bright Futures Foundation will be led by David Blair, who brings more than 15 years of nonprofit leadership experience.
Passed in 1975, the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act guaranteed that every child with a disability has the right to a free and appropriate public education — transforming how schools support students and forming special education for generations.
Sunburst Youth Academy recently celebrated becoming an Orange County Impact School. The OCDE designation promotes an exchange of ideas and best practices between local schools and the county office.
Former heavyweight boxing champions James “Buster” Douglas and Lamon Brewster visited OCDE’s Otto A. Fischer School, encouraging students residing in Orange County Juvenile Hall to work hard and persevere to overcome any obstacle.
OCDE has named a dozen campuses as Orange County Impact Schools, recognizing sites that are leading with innovative practices making a difference for students. The program is designed to foster collaboration and spread effective strategies.
Orange County students once again outperformed their state and regional peers on California’s annual assessments, with English language arts scores nearly returning to pre-pandemic levels and similar gains in math and science.
