• Latest News
  • Featured
    • Notes from Dr. Bean
    • OC fire update
  • About the OCDE Newsroom
  • Subscribe for updates
  • OCDE.us
  • About OCDE
  • County Superintendent of Schools
Students from Segerstrom High School’s Class of 2025 take part in their graduation ceremony on May 28.

Weekly roundup: OC districts join CSU Direct Admission Program for fall 2026, and more

Vicky Nguyen December 12, 2025
A note from Dr. Bean

Dr. Bean: OCDE is investing in bold ideas to strengthen student success

Stefan Bean December 10, 2025
mathematics lesson

OCDE to host Math Instructional Materials Fair on Jan. 22

Vicky Nguyen December 9, 2025

SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union opens scholarship application period for student members

Vicky Nguyen December 9, 2025
Mesa View Middle School students took part in an aerial art project, creating a live image of a humpback whale for the Art for the Sky program. (Screenshot courtesy of Daniel Dancer)

Weekly roundup: Mesa View students create 130-foot whale art in campuswide project, and more

Madeline Gray December 5, 2025
Westminster High School students perform onstage during the Saturday program.

Vietnamese American Experiences Model Curriculum Conference draws more than 400 participants

Vicky Nguyen September 30, 2025
More than 400 educators and community members attended the Vietnamese American Experiences Model Curriculum Conference Sept. 26–27 in Garden Grove, featuring 26 sessions, three community tours and keynote presentations.
A sound engineer adjusts equipment while a high school student sits with an acoustic guitar in a recording studio.

Orange County high school students invited to submit original songs for USA 250-OC competition

Vicky Nguyen September 29, 2025
Orange County high school students can enter the USA 250-OC Theme Song Competition by submitting an original song of 250 seconds or less in one of eight genres. Top entries will earn cash prizes and be performed at a countywide July 4 celebration.
Corona Del Mar Middle School eighth-grader Sam Daniel Salhpour is named a finalist in the 2025 Thermo Fisher Scientific Junior Innovators Challenge for his project on renewable energy production. (Courtesy of Society for Science)

Weekly roundup: Corona del Mar eighth-grader named Junior Innovators finalist, Brea student to mark TEDx talk milestone, and more

Madeline Gray September 26, 2025
Thirty middle school students nationwide were selected as finalists in the 2025 Thermo Fisher Scientific Junior Innovators Challenge — including Sam Daniel Solhpour, an eighth-grader at Corona del Mar Middle School. The Junior Innovators Challenge, organized by Society for Science,...

Fullerton Joint Union High School District brings together student trustees for inaugural countywide summit

Ian Hanigan September 25, 2025
Student board members from across Orange County gathered in Fullerton last week for the inaugural Student Board Member Summit, a first-of-its-kind event to connect, collaborate and build a countywide network of student leaders.
Dr. Stefan Bean speaks on stage at the SBHIP Partners Appreciation Luncheon

Orange County partners celebrate progress in student mental health

Ian Hanigan September 24, 2025
Orange County education and health leaders gathered to celebrate local progress tied to a statewide initiative that has expanded student mental health services. Speakers pointed to new wellness spaces, added clinicians and stronger referral systems, while pledging to sustain and grow these supports.
Acaciawood Preparatory Academy students Lucas Menendez, left, and Poiema Bernier at school. The pair earned the $2,000 Outstanding Middle School Project Award in the 2025 Discovery Award competition.

Orange County students earn national award for documentary on housing desegregation

Vicky Nguyen September 23, 2025
Two Acaciawood Preparatory Academy students received the $2,000 Outstanding Middle School Project Award in the 2025 Lowell Milken Center for Unsung Heroes Discovery Award competition for their documentary on Doss v. Bernal, an early Orange County case that challenged housing segregation.
A red Fender Stratocaster guitar is pictured in the foreground as high school students sit at tables in a studio during the Fender Play songwriting workshop.

OC students find their voice at Fender Play workshop as countywide songwriting contest is unveiled

Ian Hanigan September 20, 2025
More than 30 students took part in Orange County’s first free Fender Play songwriting workshop on Saturday at OC Music & Dance in Irvine. The event also launched a new competition inviting local high schoolers to write original songs in celebration of America’s 250th anniversary.
Fullerton School District students participate in a STEM Nation competition on district-issued iPads during the 2025 FSD Fest.

Weekly roundup: Fullerton School District earns Apple Distinction status for all campuses, report shows gains at community schools, and more

Vicky Nguyen September 19, 2025
The Fullerton School District has become the only district west of Texas to have all of its campuses recognized as...
A graduate in a red cap and gown receives a medal and framed certificate on stage during CCPA’s June 2025 graduation ceremony

OCDE program offers adult learners a new pathway to a high school diploma — and it’s free

Ian Hanigan September 17, 2025
College and Career Preparatory Academy, OCDE's free charter school for students ages 16 to 25, has launched a new 155-credit graduation pathway for adult learners that maintains academic rigor while making diplomas more attainable.
The recommended reading lists for the STEAM reading challenge include picture books like "Cicada Symphony" by children's book author Sue Fliess.

Fourth STEAM Race to Space Reading Challenge adds new partners ahead of launch

Madeline Gray September 16, 2025
Before kicking off on Oct. 3, the annual S.T.E.A.M. Race to Space Reading Challenge has welcomed three new science-focused partner organizations to offer unique prizes, educational supports and new ways to inspire young readers.
Load More
101.ocde.us

ocdeptofed

Official Instagram for the Orange County Department of Education | View the OCDE web policy at ocde.us/webpolicy

Follow on Instagram

Categories

  • 5-3-1 Strategic Plan
  • Academic competition
  • ACEs Aware
  • Alternative education
  • Artificial intelligence (AI)
  • Arts
  • Assessments and testing
  • AVID
  • Budget
  • Career technical education
  • COVID-19
  • Deeper Learning Podcast
  • Distance learning
  • District news
  • Early learning
  • Education in the news
  • Elementary schools
  • Featured
  • Featured topics
  • Health
  • High schools
  • History
  • Honors and awards
  • Inside the Outdoors
  • Instruction and curriculum
  • Language services
  • Local Control Funding Formula
  • Mental health
  • Middle schools
  • MTSS
  • OC District Pulse
  • OC Pathways
  • OCDE in 30 Seconds
  • One Billion Acts of Kindness
  • Professional development
  • Safety
  • Science
  • Special education
  • State standards
  • STEM
  • Student profile
  • Summer programs
  • Superintendent Stefan Bean
  • Teachers
  • Technology
  • Top stories
  • Uncategorized
  • Weekly roundup
  • Workshops and trainings

200 Kalmus Drive 
Costa Mesa, CA 92626

P.O. Box 9050 
Costa Mesa, CA 92628-9050

(714) 966-4000

Website publishing policy
Non-discrimination policy
Social media policy

Contact

Thanks for visiting the OCDE Newsroom. Questions and story suggestions should be sent to communications@ocde.us.

If you’re a member of the media in need of information about the Orange County Department of Education, please email communications@ocde.us or call 714-966-4475.

Tags

academic competition ACCESS acts of kindness Al Mijares career exploration college and career readiness Dr. Stefan Bean education contest education in the news education news kindness1billion OCDE ocde weekly roundup OC Pathways one billion acts of kindness Orange County Department of Education project based learning STEM top stories Weekly Roundup
  • Latest News
  • About the OCDE Newsroom
  • Subscribe for updates
  • OCDE.us
  • About OCDE
  • County Superintendent of Schools
Type to search or hit ESC to close
See all results