OCDE Newsroom

Weekly roundup: Students with disabilities curate exhibit at Huntington Beach Art Center, and more

Madeline Gray November 13, 2026

A laptop on a desk displays an Outlook-style email icon with a red warning symbol, with a coffee mug, potted plant and stacked books with an apple in the background.

Nationwide Microsoft outage disrupts email services for OCDE, other organizations

Ian Hanigan November 12, 2026

OCDE and County of Orange Social Services Agency staff gather for a ribbon-cutting ceremony Nov. 24, 2025, celebrating the transformation of four spaces at the Orangewood Children and Family Center into welcoming, trauma-informed environments for children and families.

OCDE, County of Orange Social Services Agency team up to encourage more families to foster

Vicky Nguyen November 10, 2026

Veterans, families and students in group photo

PHOTOS: Veterans Day takes on special meaning in Los Alamitos Unified

Ian Hanigan November 10, 2026

FutureCurrent: Christine Olmstead on belonging, engagement and redesigning schools

Ian Hanigan November 10, 2026

Defying the odds: OCDE’s alternative education program celebrates nearly 700 graduates

Nichole Pichardo June 30, 2021

Language divides, homelessness, pregnancy, single parenting, and social and academic challenges are just some of the hurdles the 2021 graduating...

Lowell Joint School District Jim Coombs outside the district's offices

Welcome to OC! Lowell Joint becomes the first school district in California to switch counties

Ian Hanigan June 28, 2021

Along with running its own alternative and special education programs, the Orange County Department of Education provides support and fiscal...

Weekly roundup: Costa Mesa students place second at national engineering competition; Newport-Mesa USD appoints a new interim superintendent; and more

Nichole Pichardo June 25, 2021

The Math Engineering Science Achievement — better known as MESA — team from Costa Mesa Middle and High School recently placed second overall at the National Engineering Design Challenge, which was held June 21-22 at the University of Arizona. High...

Irvine middle schoolers take top honors at virtual National History Day finals

Nichole Pichardo June 22, 2021

A pair of middle schoolers from Irvine has earned first place in the 2021 National History Day competition, which was...

Fullerton Joint Union High School District offices

New superintendent announced for Fullerton Joint Union High School District

Ian Hanigan June 21, 2021

The Fullerton Joint Union High School District has found its next superintendent. The district announced that Dr. Steve McLaughlin has...

Weekly roundup: OC spellers shine at Scripps National Spelling Bee, students win energy-efficient vehicle competition, and more

Ian Hanigan June 18, 2021

A pair of eighth-graders from Orange County advanced all the way to the quarterfinals of the 2021 Scripps National Spelling Bee, correctly spelling words such as “meiosis,” “scintillation” and “copestone.” Baominh Le and Sophia Lin, both from The Pegasus School...

2021 Tustin Unified Voices United Honor Choir

Voices United: Tustin Unified fifth-grade honor choir celebrates resilience during a challenging year

Nichole Pichardo June 17, 2021

While looking back at graduations, celebrations and promotions from across the county, OCDE Newsroom staff recently came across a...

Superintendent Mafi and Sebastian Lozano

In the news: Harvard-bound student credits success to Garden Grove superintendent’s mentor program

Nichole Pichardo June 14, 2021

A Spectrum News 1 crew recently highlighted the inspiring story of a Garden Grove student’s journey to Harvard University and...

Raymond Tran-Nguyen First Place Painting, “Unity” (L to R: Congresswoman Michelle Steel (CA-48), CMHS Student Raymond Tran-Nguyen)

Weekly roundup: Two OC students win top honors at Congressional Art Competition; Corona del Mar senior writes book on global water crisis; and more

Nichole Pichardo June 11, 2021

Two Orange County students recently received top honors in the annual Congressional Art Competition. Senior Raymond Tran-Nguyen of Costa Mesa High School earned the People’s Choice award in the 48th congressional district, and Catherine Liu of Oxford Academy was recognized...