OCDE Newsroom

Four education leaders pose at the Fullerton School District Board of Education meeting on July 27, 2026, holding a large ceremonial $525,000 check from OCDE’s Innovation Funding Initiative.

OCDE opens second round of Innovation Funding Initiative, offering up to $525,000 per project

Ian Hanigan October 7, 2026

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

A Pacifica High School and a kindergarten student

Christmas comes early for nearly 400 Garden Grove kindergartners at Pacifica High’s Adopt-A-Child event

Ian Hanigan December 12, 2024

It was beginning to look a lot like Christmas for nearly 400 kindergartners in the Garden Grove Unified School District,...

Alumni return to University High’s Deaf and Hard of Hearing Program to share career journeys

Nathaniel Martinez December 12, 2024

For some students, including those with disabilities, a bright future can often feel difficult to imagine. That’s why the Connections...

Dr. Bean: 5-3-1 Strategic Plan adds up to OCDE’s path forward

Stefan Bean December 11, 2024

The holiday season is a natural time for reflection. For organizations like ours, it’s a chance to assess progress, refine approaches and pursue new opportunities for innovation. With 2024 coming to a close, and as I near the six-month mark...

Orange County Superintendent of Schools Dr. Stefan Bean meets with students and staff from Los Alamitos Unified School District at the OC Pathways K-16 Collaborative Engagement Exhibition on Dec. 2. (Los Alamitos Unified School District)

Weekly roundup: OCDE hosts 140 community members at K-16 career education exhibition, Fullerton College launches drone technology program, and more

Madeline Gray December 6, 2024

More than 140 community members, educators and students gathered on Tuesday, Dec. 2 for the K-16 Collaborative Engagement Exhibition. Hosted...

Language services receiving golden bell.

Orange County education programs shine with 12 Golden Bell Awards

Nathaniel Martinez December 6, 2024

The California School Boards Association has awarded the Orange County Department of Education and 11 local school districts with Golden...

group photo of Outstanding STEM educators

OC STEM Initiative honors local educators for excellence in STEM education

Nathaniel Martinez December 5, 2024

The OC STEM Initiative, a longtime partner of OCDE, recently recognized 12 educators through its Cox Communications-sponsored Outstanding STEM Educators program for their exceptional work in providing inquiry-based STEM learning opportunities. A ceremony was held on Dec. 3 at The...

2024 Counselor of the Year Brandon Irvine Gernux presents at the 10th OC Counselor Symposium earlier this year.