OCDE Newsroom

Mesa View Middle School students took part in an aerial art project, creating a live image of a humpback whale for the Art for the Sky program. (Screenshot courtesy of Daniel Dancer)

Weekly roundup: Mesa View students create 130-foot whale art in campuswide project, and more

Madeline Gray December 5, 2025

SVUSD Board President Suzie R. Swartz with a plaque

Longtime SVUSD trustee Suzie Swartz named CSBA’s 2025 Board Member of the Year

Ian Hanigan December 5, 2025

OCDE budget outlook remains stable but state faces long-term challenges

Ian Hanigan December 4, 2025

Sunny Hills High School students helped organize 93 baskets of Thanksgiving groceries to donate to local nonprofit Pathways for Hope at their food drive event. (Courtesy of Fullerton Joint Union High School District)

OC schools bring meals and more to local families this giving season

Madeline Gray December 4, 2025

Innovation Funding Initiative officially launches, offering up to $525,000 for bold ideas in OC schools

Ian Hanigan December 3, 2025

California has extended its college financial aid deadline to April 2

Ian Hanigan March 12, 2025

College-bound students have an extra month to apply for state financial aid after the California Student Aid Commission extended the...

Los Alamitos High School students win first place in the "mental health" and "through the lens of culture" categories at the 2024 Directing Change Film Program and Contest awards on May 21. (Courtesy of Los Alamitos Unified School District)

OCDE’s student-led SAMH program transforms mental health awareness across OC

Nathaniel Martinez March 12, 2025

Five years ago, OCDE’s Youth Development program asked itself how it could create a mental health program for students that...

A photo from 1893 showing students at Garden Grove School

OCDE’s origin story dates back to this day in 1889

Ian Hanigan March 11, 2025

Today quietly marks an important anniversary for Orange County — and the Orange County Department of Education. On March 11, 1889, California Gov. Robert Waterman signed a bill that paved the way for Orange County to split from Los Angeles...

group photo of Outstanding STEM educators

OC STEM Initiative seeks nominations for 2025 Outstanding STEM Educators

Vicky Nguyen March 10, 2025

The OC STEM Initiative, in partnership with the Orange County Department of Education and Cox Communications, is inviting community members...

Weekly roundup: Educators gather in Merced to explore Hmong history, OC schools join nationwide Read Across America celebrations, and more

Vicky Nguyen March 7, 2025

More than 200 educators, scholars and community members from across California and beyond gathered at the University of California, Merced,...

Dr. Bean: Inside the Outdoors celebrates 50 years of learning, discovery and renewal

Stefan Bean March 6, 2025

For five decades, Inside the Outdoors has served as a gateway to discovery, inspiring generations of students to connect with the natural world in meaningful ways. Since its inception in 1974, this Orange County Department of Education program has provided...