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OCDE Prevention Education Coordinator Stephan Lambert speaks with an attendee during the department’s Thrive Resource Fair on Sept. 25, 2025, at the OCDE Conference Center in Costa Mesa.

Weekly roundup: OCDE staff featured in Educational Leadership article on student digital wellness, and more

Vicky Nguyen September 11, 2026
Person viewing OCDE’s redesigned website on a laptop and smartphone, showing the site’s responsive layout across desktop and mobile devices.

OCDE launches redesigned website with fresh look and improved user experience

Ian Hanigan September 10, 2026
Los Alamitos High School students work behind the microphones during the school’s first student-produced live varsity football broadcast on Sept. 4.

Los Alamitos High students take the controls for first live sports broadcast

Vicky Nguyen September 10, 2026
Mendez Fundamental Intermediate School students in the Santa Ana Unified School District earn special certificates and prizes for completing the 2025 STEAM Race to Space Reading Challenge. (Courtesy of Mendez Intermediate)

Blue Origin astronaut to help launch fifth STEAM Reading Challenge

Madeline Gray September 9, 2026
Attendees make their way to sessions during OCDE’s AI Forward Summit on Aug. 3 at the department’s Conference Center in Costa Mesa.

OCDE Connected Leadership Conference to bring district professionals together Oct. 20

Vicky Nguyen September 9, 2026
civic-celebration-3-1536x1024

Orange County leads state in students earning the State Seal of Civic Engagement

Vicky Nguyen November 18, 2025
Nearly 5,300 Orange County high school students earned the State Seal of Civic Engagement during the 2024–25 school year, according to recently released data from the California Department of Education.
Bright Futures Foundation logo behind smiling children

Introducing the Orange County Schools Bright Futures Foundation: New nonprofit to bolster support for students

Ian Hanigan November 18, 2025
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.
Westminster School District officials including Superintendent Dr. Gunn Marie Hansen and Johnson Middle School Principal Daniel Owens cut the ribbon on the opening of the Helping Hands Food Pantry. (Courtesy of Westminster School District)

Weekly roundup: Westminster food pantry offers helping hand to families, Los Alamitos cheer to represent US at finals, and more

Madeline Gray November 14, 2025
As the holiday season approaches and families feel the strain of rising food costs, the Westminster School District has expanded its resources with the launch of the Helping Hands Food Pantry. The district recently unveiled the pantry to ensure students...

State releases updated California School Dashboard and new data showing student progress

Ian Hanigan November 13, 2025
The state has released the 2025 California School Dashboard and new data showing steady gains in graduation rates and attendance. The dashboard uses color-coded visuals to help families and educators track progress and identify areas for improvement at the school and district levels.
MTSS logo

With support from OCDE and Butte County, a familiar framework is helping L.A. County schools recover from last year’s wildfires

Ian Hanigan November 12, 2025
OCDE and the Butte County Office of Education are partnering through California’s Multi-Tiered System of Support framework to help Los Angeles County schools recover from the Eaton and Palisades fires.
A high school student wearing headphones and holding an acoustic guitar sits at a microphone in a recording studio during the Fender Play songwriting workshop.

USA 250-OC songwriting competition adds new partners, $500 cash prizes for winners

Vicky Nguyen November 12, 2025
Orange County high school students can submit original songs for the USA 250-OC Theme Song Competition, with top entries earning $500 cash prizes. Supported by Fender, Cal State Fullerton and UC Irvine, winning songs will be performed at a countywide July 4, 2026 celebration.

How the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act shaped inclusive education over 50 years

Madeline Gray November 10, 2025
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.
Brea Olinda High School’s Masquerade show choir performs on stage under colorful lighting during the 2026 Orange County Teachers of the Year gala at the Disneyland Hotel, with guests seated at round tables throughout the ballroom.

WATCH: Orange County’s top teachers celebrated in style at Disneyland Hotel

Ian Hanigan November 8, 2025
Quick look: The 2026 Teachers of the Year gala celebrated 62 outstanding educators at the Disneyland Hotel. Hosted by OCDE...
New reading buddies hold “See Marcus Grow” by Marcus Bridgewater.

Weekly roundup: PYLUSD students turn the page on reading and connection, Anaheim Elementary schools unveil book vending machines, and more

Vicky Nguyen November 7, 2025
Students at Ruby Drive Elementary and Kraemer Middle School are proving that some of the best stories happen off the page. The two campuses recently teamed up for the Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified School District’s annual Read for the Record celebration, turning...
Students from Oxford Academy visit Johnson & Johnson as part of Anaheim Union High School District’s AIME program, which provides career mentoring and internship opportunities for students.

OC elementary and middle schools recognized among top campuses in U.S. News rankings

Vicky Nguyen November 6, 2025
Elementary and middle schools across Orange County have again earned top placements in U.S. News & World Reports’ latest analysis of quality campuses statewide.
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