OCDE Newsroom

Kari Adams speaks onstage at the 2025 Thompson Policy Institute Summit on Disability and Inclusion at Chapman University, standing in front of a presentation screen displaying the words “Inclusive Leadership.”

OCDE and Chapman University partnership aims to strengthen inclusive leadership in schools

Ian Hanigan May 27, 2026

An aerial view shows emergency crews cooling a large industrial storage tank with water at the site of the Garden Grove chemical leak as mist rises from the facility.

Chemical tank update: Evacuation orders lifted as officials declare no further risk to public

Staff reports May 26, 2026

Lainie Rowell, Dr. Stefan Bean and David Blair stand together on the set of the FutureCurrent podcast studio at the Orange County Department of Education.

FutureCurrent: Bright Futures Foundation leader David Blair discusses student-centered innovation

Ian Hanigan May 26, 2026

From left, State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond, Raelene Velasquez, Command Sgt. Maj. Richard Aller, Sunburst Youth Academy Director Lt. Col. Sarah Rambo, Principal Dinah Ismail, OCDE Executive Director of Special Education Dr. Amita Cloke and OCDE Manager of Human Resources Support Services Lorena Villa pose for a photo during the 2026 California Classified School Employees of the Year recognition ceremony in Sacramento.

Sunburst Youth Academy paraeducator honored as California Classified School Employee of the Year

Vicky Nguyen May 26, 2026

Sierra Vista Middle School students Aryan Shah, Krish Marfatia, Kaito Yamashita and Davis Barbee win the Stephenson Family Award for Sports History at the NHD-CA contest earlier this month.

Orange County claims state-leading honors at National History Day, sends 21 students to finals

Madeline Gray May 22, 2026

Weekly roundup: Two OC campuses named Model Continuation High Schools, Westminster student spells her way to victory, and more

Madeline Gray March 8, 2024

Cesar E. Chavez High School in Santa Ana and Hillview High School in Tustin were named 2024 Model Continuation High...

Irvine Public Schools Foundation fuels innovation with $200,000 in local project grants

Jennifer Nguyen March 7, 2024

Intentional play areas, innovative STEM technology and high-energy reading competitions are making their way to campuses in the Irvine Unified...

Orange County students perform during the OC Music and Arts Administrator Awards on Feb. 27 at the Segerstrom Center for the Arts.

Orange County music and arts educators applauded at annual awards ceremony

Madeline Gray March 7, 2024

Local visual and performing arts leaders gathered on Feb. 27 at the Segerstrom Center of the Arts’ Samueli Theater to recognize the outstanding arts instruction and leadership implemented this year by Orange County’s arts educators and advocates. The 2024 Orange...

Student J.D. Cavalluzzi from El Dorado High School in the Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified School District presented at the 2023 OC Civic Learning Celebration.

OC Civic Learning Celebration empowers youth for community change

Vicky Nguyen March 5, 2024

The Orange County Department of Education is once again hosting the OC Civic Learning Celebration to promote and support civic...

From the desk of Ramon Miramontes, Ed.D.

Miramontes: OCDE doesn’t have ‘County Office’ in its name. Here’s why.

Ramon Miramontes March 4, 2024

Here’s a question we often hear: Why is our organization known as the Orange County Department of Education when other...

Kaitlyn Nguyen Orange County Spelling Bee winner 2024

Spellbound in OC: County’s new spelling bee champ is headed to Scripps

Ian Hanigan March 2, 2024

Orange County crowned a new spelling bee champion on Saturday. Katelyn Nguyen, a seventh-grader from Stacey Middle School in the Westminster School District, emerged victorious in the 20th round of the Orange County Spelling Bee by correctly sequencing the letters...

Los Alamitos Unified Purple Star School designation group photo

Weekly roundup: Los Alamitos Unified campus receives Purple Star Schools Distinction, Fountain Valley hosts robotics competition, and more

Vicky Nguyen March 1, 2024

McGaugh Elementary in Seal Beach is among 30 campuses in the state to receive the prestigious Purple Star Schools distinction...

These 38 OC campuses just became California Distinguished Schools

Ian Hanigan February 29, 2024

Add another 38 California Distinguished Schools to Orange County’s long list of educational accolades. On Thursday, State Superintendent Tony Thurmond...

National History Day at 50: Orange County’s young historians to showcase projects on March 9

Ian Hanigan February 29, 2024

This year, National History Day isn’t just commemorating history — it’s making history, with the celebration of its own 50th anniversary. On Saturday, March 9, National History Day-Orange County will welcome nearly 350 students from 29 schools for its golden...

Student innovators collaborate and compete in robotics challenge at Fountain Valley High School

Ian Hanigan February 28, 2024

The robotics engineering pathway program at Fountain Valley High School recently played host to the SoCal First Tech Challenge, a...