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

Orange County students gear up to the compete in day one of the Orange County Academic Decathlon on Jan. 25 at Westminster High School.

Weekly roundup: High schoolers prepare for Super Quiz Relay, Troy High senior hosts student-led drone competition, and more

Madeline Gray January 31, 2025

On Saturday, Feb. 1, high school teams representing 34 campuses with go head-to-head on day two of the Orange County...

Applications open Feb. 18 for programs providing free summer meals to children

Vicky Nguyen January 30, 2025

More than 15 million free meals were served to children across California last summer through the state’s Summer Food Service...

WATCH: OCDE’s Connections launches first of its kind DHH with disabilities program

Nathaniel Martinez January 29, 2025

For decades, the Orange County Department of Education (OCDE) has served both students who are deaf or hard of hearing and those with disabilities through the creation of comprehensive, specialized programs. But where can parents turn when their child is...

Orange County schools mark Lunar New Year with cultural celebrations

Vicky Nguyen January 29, 2025

With the Year of the Snake beginning Wednesday, Jan. 29, schools across Orange County are celebrating Lunar New Year with...

White House rescinds federal funding freeze that raised questions for educators

Ian Hanigan January 29, 2025

The White House on Wednesday rescinded a widespread freeze on federal grants and loans, one day after a federal judge...

Weekly roundup: Eight OC schools earn College Board’s Female Diversity Award, NAMM Foundation celebrates music education in Anaheim, and more

Vicky Nguyen January 24, 2025

Eight campuses in Orange County have been recognized by the College Board for expanding opportunities for female students in computer science courses. Buena Park High School in the Fullerton Joint Union High School District, Ocean View and Huntington Beach high...

OC student leads community effort to aid LA fire victims, kicking off Great Kindness Challenge

Nathaniel Martinez January 23, 2025

Sometimes, all it takes to show someone kindness is a simple smile, which is exactly what schools throughout Orange County...

OCDE announces Dr. Sandra Lee as associate superintendent of Educational Services

Ian Hanigan January 22, 2025

Dr. Sandra Lee, a distinguished educator and forward-thinking leader with a proven track record of advancing student achievement, has been...

Los Alamitos High School students and staff organize donations for fire victims on Sunday, Jan. 12.

Weekly roundup: Los Alamitos High organizes donations for students affected by Eaton fire, Fullerton colleges honored for civic participation, and more

Madeline Gray January 17, 2025

Since igniting on Tuesday, Jan. 7, the Eaton fire in Altadena has destroyed thousands of structures and displaced tens of thousands of residents — including more than 350 students from the California School of the Arts — San Gabriel Valley....

Five OC students present at Johns Hopkins’ Global Health Leaders Conference

Vicky Nguyen January 17, 2025

Five students from Orange County were selected to speak last summer at the Global Health Leaders Conference led by Johns...