OCDE Newsroom

From left, Lynne Pentecost, CEO of Schoolhaus Advisors Inc.; Sara Ludovise and Yarib Dheming of OCDE’s Inside the Outdoors; Orange County Board of Education Trustee Mari Barke; Orange County Superintendent of Schools Dr. Stefan Bean; board Clerk Dr. Ken Williams; board President Tim Shaw; Inside the Outdoors Operations Manager Stephanie Smith; and Robert Demmond, associate principal with tBP/Architecture, gather for the Rancho Soñado groundbreaking.

OCDE breaks ground on new Rancho Soñado education center, marking a long-awaited return

Ian Hanigan October 6, 2026

Saddleback High School students learn about plants and growing techniques during a Sept. 21 event celebrating the school’s $10,000 Future Innovators Initiative grant from Hyundai.

$10,000 Hyundai grant supports Saddleback High’s plans for outdoor STEM learning

Vicky Nguyen October 6, 2026

Attendees pose with Carl the Collector and OCDE Language Services Coordinator Natalia Abarca, in orange, during the department’s International Translation Day celebration at PBS SoCal studios in Costa Mesa.

OCDE celebrates International Translation Day at PBS SoCal studios

Vicky Nguyen October 5, 2026

Stacey Middle School students perform El Baile de las Cintas, or the dance of the ribbons, at the City's Fall Festival Culture Night on Sept. 24 honoring Hispanic Heritage Month. (Photos courtesy of Westminster School District)

Weekly roundup: Westminster students honor Hispanic Heritage Month through music and dance, and more

Madeline Gray October 2, 2026

New podcast in English and Spanish guides Orange County families through educational landscape

Madeline Gray October 1, 2026

Students perform excerpts of Disney musicals at the Segerstrom Center for the Arts at a past celebration. (Courtesy of the Segerstrom Center for the Arts)

Weekly roundup: Local students bring Disney musicals to life on Segerstrom Center stage, Nixon Library hosts first OC civics bee, and more

Madeline Gray March 14, 2025

Students from four Orange County elementary schools showcased their newfound musical talents at the Renee and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall...

Title with star Orange County Classified School Employees of the Year

These are the 2025 Orange County Classified School Employees of the Year

Vicky Nguyen March 14, 2025

A school safety assistant, a painter, a nutrition operations supervisor and a data systems technician are among this year’s Orange...

Beacon Park School educators receive a $24,000 grant for their innovative project titled "Amplifying the Future: Empowering Student Musicians." (Courtesy of Lisa Hu Chen Photography)

Irvine Public Schools Foundation funds 17 campus projects to enrich educational innovation

Madeline Gray March 13, 2025

Seventeen Irvine school projects have been awarded nearly $200,000 in grants to support adaptive recess equipment, upgraded theater lighting systems, student-run news broadcasts, graphic novel festivals and more. Each innovative project — whether new or ongoing — will receive up...

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...

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 to nominate exceptional educators for the 2025 Outstanding STEM Educators awards. This recognition program honors individuals who advance STEM education...

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...

IUSD Sierra Vista MS Science Olympiad Team

Top Orange County teams advance to Southern California Science Olympiad

Vicky Nguyen March 5, 2025

Six middle schools and six high schools from Orange County will advance to the 2025 Southern California Science Olympiad, set to take place on April 12 at Caltech. The competition brings together top-performing teams from across the state to showcase...

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.

WATCH: Hundreds of participants connect with Orange County’s career pathways

Madeline Gray March 4, 2025

Orange County students took the stage to present their career-ready technical skills and innovative projects at the OC Pathways Showcase...