OCDE Newsroom

Weekly roundup: ABC7 spotlights Oxford Academy eighth-grader’s AI tool for eye alignment condition, and more

Madeline Gray May 1, 2026

Katrina Edmunds is presented with the Outstanding Career Awareness Educator Award.

OCDE now accepting nominations for Outstanding STEM Educator awards

Nathaniel Martinez May 1, 2026

Dr. Stefan Bean speaks on a stage during The Wooden Floor’s Step Beyond Annual Breakfast, with blue lighting, curtains and a podium in the background.

County superintendent shares message of resilience and support at Step Beyond Annual Breakfast

Ian Hanigan April 30, 2026

Briseyda Cabrera Mejia of Estancia High School poses with family members after being recognized as a 2026 AVID Senior Standout.

2026 OC AVID senior standouts earn $431,000 in scholarships

Vicky Nguyen April 30, 2026

2027 Orange County Teacher of the Year Ryan Healy receives a $25,000 check from the William, Jeff and Jennifer Gross Family Foundation while receiving congratulations from Superintendent Dr. Bean and his Marco Forster Middle School musical theater students.

OCDE announces 2027 Orange County Teachers of the Year with surprise visits

Staff reports April 29, 2026

Erica Alfaro speaks to students from the Garden Grove Unified School District on Sept. 25.

Weekly roundup: Bolsa Grande High’s Hispanic Heritage Month event celebrates stories of resilience, Oak View Project to boost safety for students, and more

Vicky Nguyen September 27, 2024

While her name may not be widely recognized, countless Americans are familiar with Erica Alfaro’s 2019 graduation photo, where she...

Group of staff members watching a presentation

Professional learning spotlight: OCDE to offer training on Universal Design for Learning

Ian Hanigan September 26, 2024

You might have heard the term Universal Design for Learning, or UDL. It’s a teaching method that supports diverse learning...

Cropped AUHSD Civic Learning Award with Guerrero and Thurmond

Chief justice and state superintendent present Kennedy High School with Civic Learning Award of Excellence

Vicky Nguyen September 25, 2024

Students at Kennedy High School in La Palma welcomed two distinguished visitors on Monday, Sept. 23, as State Superintendent Tony Thurmond and California Chief Justice Patricia Guerrero arrived to present the campus with the 2024 Civic Learning Award of Excellence. ...

Orange County decathlon teams earn trophies and medals at the 2024 California Academic Decathlon on March 24.

OCDE recruits school teams for 2024-25 Academic Decathlon and Pentathlon events

Vicky Nguyen September 24, 2024

As the new school year unfolds, the Orange County Department of Education invites middle and high school teams to participate...

Schools to include Mendez v. Westminster case in curriculum based on new law

Ian Hanigan September 24, 2024

Public schools across California will include the landmark civil rights case Mendez v. Westminster in history and social science courses...

Vietnamese American Experiences Model Curriculum Cover Image

Educators to get first look at Vietnamese American model curriculum at San Jose conference

Staff reports September 24, 2024

A new model curriculum that focuses on the history, culture and experiences of Vietnamese Americans will be introduced at a conference in San Jose this week. Developed by the Orange County Department of Education, the Vietnamese American Experiences Model Curriculum, or...

Two Orange County schools earn 2024 National Blue Ribbon honors

Vicky Nguyen September 23, 2024

The U.S. Department of Education has awarded two Orange County campuses the 2024 National Blue Ribbon Schools honor, considered the...

Dr. Bean: AI signals a new era for teaching and learning in Orange County

Stefan Bean September 23, 2024

As an eighth-grader, Ibrahim Memon from Tustin’s Legacy Magnet Academy began working on an AI-powered app designed to allow rideshare...

Weekly roundup: OC seniors named National Merit Scholarship semifinalists, students return to home campuses after fire closures, and more

Vicky Nguyen September 20, 2024

More than 220 high school seniors from Orange County have been named semifinalists in the 2025 National Merit Scholarship Program, placing them among the top 1 percent of U.S. students based on their PSAT scores. These students are part of...