OCDE Newsroom

An aerial view shows emergency crews cooling a large industrial storage tank with water at the site of the Garden Grove chemical leak as mist rises from the facility.

Garden Grove chemical leak: OCFA says explosion threat eliminated at compromised tank

Staff reports May 25, 2026

Sierra Vista Middle School students Aryan Shah, Krish Marfatia, Kaito Yamashita and Davis Barbee win the Stephenson Family Award for Sports History at the NHD-CA contest earlier this month.

Orange County claims state-leading honors at National History Day, sends 21 students to finals

Madeline Gray May 22, 2026

Students participating in the OC GRIP program gather at Angel Stadium before the Los Angeles Angels’ May 19 game against the Oakland Athletics.

Weekly roundup: Sports Illustrated highlights OC GRIP mentorship event at Angel Stadium, and more

Vicky Nguyen May 22, 2026

From left, Rebekah Rylant of Don Juan Avila Middle School in the Capistrano Unified School District, Rolando Vivar of Fulton Middle School in the Fountain Valley School District and Pam McShea of Dysinger Elementary School in the Centralia Elementary School District were recognized with 2025-26 Outstanding PAL Advisor Awards from the Orange County Department of Education.

OCDE PAL team honors six campuses, three advisors for building positive school environments

Vicky Nguyen May 21, 2026

Student from Connections at University High DHH program brings artistic ASL to school musical

Nathaniel Martinez May 20, 2026

Los Angeles Angels shortstop Zach Neto and sports radio host Roger Lodge visit College Park Elementary students in Costa Mesa May 9. (Angels Baseball Foundation)

Weekly roundup: Los Angeles Angels bring star power to College Park Elementary, ten school districts named best in music education, and more

Madeline Gray May 16, 2025

College Park Elementary in Costa Mesa was buzzing with excitement last Friday as students and staff rolled out a warm...

OCDE’s Connections partners with Fullerton Head Start to expand DHH with disabilities program

Nathaniel Martinez May 15, 2025

Quick look: OCDE’s Connections program has expanded its Deaf and Hard of Hearing with Disabilities services to preschoolers through a...

OC students recognized for raising mental health awareness through film

Madeline Gray May 14, 2025

Quick look: Six short films created by Orange County students were honored for spotlighting mental health and suicide prevention at the regional Directing Change Film Contest awards, with two advancing to the statewide competition later this month. Through personal storytelling,...

Governor’s plan maintains key education funding as state addresses $12 billion shortfall

Ian Hanigan May 14, 2025

Quick look: Gov. Gavin Newsom’s latest budget plan for 2025-26 preserves funding for key K-12 programs — including expanded learning...

Young Ken Kafton operating a printing press alongside Lin Trestrail in the San Joaquin School District print shop, early 1970s

Still printing after all these years: Irvine Unified employee has seen it all since day one

Ian Hanigan May 14, 2025

Quick look: Ken Kafton began working in Irvine Unified before the district was officially established. More than 50 years later,...

McGarvin Intermediate School students from the Garden Grove Unified School District read and answer questions as a team during the Super Quiz round of the 2025 Orange County Academic Pentathlon, held May 3 at Bolsa Grande High School.

Five Orange County teams heading to the United States Academic Pentathlon competition

Vicky Nguyen May 12, 2025

Quick look: Five middle school teams from Orange County will represent the region at the United States Academic Pentathlon National Finals, taking place May 15 through May 17 at the San Antonio Marriott Riverwalk in Texas. The competition, themed “Our...

Two AVID Senior Standouts pose with bouquets ahead of the 2025 OC AVID Senior Standout Recognition and Scholarship Presentation, held April 23 at the Irvine Barclay Theatre.

2025 OC AVID senior standouts honored with more than $475,000 in scholarships

Vicky Nguyen May 12, 2025

Quick look: More than $475,000 in scholarships was awarded to 52 graduating seniors during the 2025 AVID Senior Standout celebration,...

U.S. Presidential Scholars Program medallion from YoungArts

Weekly roundup: 14 OC students named semifinalists for U.S. Presidential Scholars Program, Artists of the Year take center stage, and more

Vicky Nguyen May 9, 2025

Fourteen Orange County high school seniors have been named semifinalists in the 2025 U.S. Presidential Scholars Program, placing them among...

Retired U.S. Rep. Grace Napolitano and Orange County Superintendent of Schools Dr. Stefan Bean cut the ceremonial ribbon to officially open the Grace F. Napolitano Outdoor Learning Center at Sunburst Youth Academy.

Sunburst Youth Academy dedicates outdoor learning center in honor of Rep. Grace Napolitano

Ian Hanigan May 9, 2025

Quick look: Sunburst Youth Academy dedicated a new outdoor learning center in honor of retired Congresswoman Grace Napolitano, recognizing her decades of advocacy for at-promise youth. The $500,000 project was funded in partnership with OCDE, the California National Guard and...