OCDE Newsroom

The Portola Singers from Irvine Unified School District perform “Measure Me, Sky!” by Elaine Hagenberg during the 2026 Orange County Music and Arts Administrators Awards. The ensemble is directed by Adrian Rangel-Sanchez, the 2025 OCMAA Award recipient for Secondary Vocal Music.

OCDE seeks nominations for 2026-27 Orange County Music and Arts Administrators Awards

Vicky Nguyen September 14, 2026

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

Light up that halo: Dr. Bean joins law enforcement and Angels to celebrate student success

Ian Hanigan April 24, 2025

Angel Stadium was the site of a big-league celebration on Wednesday as 1,600 OC students were recognized for making positive...

In a predawn salute, OCDE educators deliver lawn signs to celebrate 44 Distinguished Schools

Ian Hanigan April 23, 2025

Late Monday night and early Tuesday morning, a covert crew of OCDE educators carried out a predawn mission. Call it...

2025 AP in the OC Summer Institute opens for teacher registration

Vicky Nguyen April 23, 2025

The Orange County Department of Education is inviting Advanced Placement educators to participate in the 2025 AP in the OC Summer Institute, a 30-hour hybrid training experience taking place online from July 21 through July 25. Endorsed by the College...

A Laguna Beach Unified student uses a trash picker to sort compost during a districtwide waste audit focused on reducing landfill waste.

Orange County schools and districts recognized with 2025 California Green Ribbon Awards

Vicky Nguyen April 22, 2025

Framed by coastal hills and just steps from the Pacific Ocean, the campuses of the Laguna Beach Unified School District...

Inside the Outdoors celebrates Earth Month with community events

Vicky Nguyen April 22, 2025

Inside the Outdoors, the Orange County Department of Education’s hands-on environmental education program, is once again embracing the spirit of...

Orange County Superintendent of Schools Dr. Stefan Bean, OCDE director of career education Kathy Boyd and more celebrate the 12th annual OC Pathways Showcase with students from 16 local school districts.

OC Pathways earns state recognition in California’s career education master plan

Madeline Gray April 21, 2025

The OC Pathways program, led by the Orange County Department of Education, has been recognized in California’s new Master Plan for Career Education as a model for preparing students for success through high-quality career education and work-based learning. Released by...

Community event will honor the life and legacy of former County Superintendent Dr. Al Mijares

Ian Hanigan April 18, 2025

Educators, community members and civic leaders will gather on Tuesday, April 22, to celebrate the life and legacy of former...

Los Alamitos Unified School District staff and Los Alamitos High School CTE instructors received a national certification plaque from the Law and Public Safety Education Network. (Los Alamitos Unified School District)

Weekly roundup: Los Alamitos High School emergency response pathway named national program of excellence, and more

Madeline Gray April 18, 2025

Every school day, students in Los Alamitos High School’s emergency response pathway are gaining hands-on experience — responding to mock...

Alex Yang, program specialist at OCDE, co-leads a session titled "Empowering Young Minds: Embracing Cultural Identities in Educational Settings" on Nov. 16 during the Cambodian American Model Curriculum Conference in Long Beach.

Summer institute to help educators implement OCDE’s Model Curriculum Projects

Vicky Nguyen April 15, 2025

Educators across California are invited to attend the Model Curriculum Summer Institute, a four-day professional learning event hosted by the Orange County Department of Education. Scheduled for July 28 through July 31 at the Hilton Irvine/Orange County Airport, the institute...

From left to right, Mindy Daffron, Dr. Edgar Arce and Jason Claros of OCDE’s Crisis Response Network pose for a team photo.

OCDE’s Crisis Response Network supports schools during their most difficult days

Vicky Nguyen April 14, 2025

When the Altadena fire forced the closure of schools in the Pasadena Unified School District earlier this year, the Orange...