OCDE Newsroom

Mariachi members prepare to welcome students and staff on the first day of school at Thomas Edison Elementary in Anaheim. Pictured from left are student Kiara Ramon, music teacher Grace Kwon, student Rita Polo, student Lupe Estrada, student Victoria Limones and music teacher Christina Flynn.

Weekly roundup: Anaheim Union launches mariachi music program at junior high campus, and more

Madeline Gray July 17, 2026

Sam Darnold posing with his retired jersey alongside Head Coach Jaime Ortiz at the Triton Hall of Fame Golf Tournament at the Talega Golf Course in San Clemente.

San Clemente High School alumnus Sam Darnold has jersey retired and is inducted into school’s Hall of Fame

Nathaniel Martinez July 16, 2026

Recipients of the 2025 Outstanding STEM Educator Awards gather for a group photo following last year's awards celebration at the Orange County Department of Education Conference Center in Costa Mesa.

OCDE announces 2026 Outstanding STEM Educators

Vicky Nguyen July 15, 2026

Natalia Abarca, coordinator of OCDE’s Language Services unit, welcomes guests to the 2025 Interpreters and Translators Conference.

Language access professionals to celebrate 10 years of growth at OCDE conference

Vicky Nguyen July 14, 2026

Students in the inaugural Certified Nursing Assistant cohort celebrate completing the tuition-free program offered through a partnership between Orange Unified School District and Santiago Canyon College. Participants completed coursework and hands-on clinical training while still enrolled in high school.

Weekly roundup: Orange Unified, Santiago Canyon College celebrates first certified nursing assistant cohort, and more

Vicky Nguyen July 10, 2026

Weekly roundup: KTLA spotlights Academic Decathlon champs, Sowers Middle School gets a new campus, and more

Ian Hanigan February 23, 2024

KTLA 5 Morning News reporter Megan Telles was live in Irvine on Wednesday morning to help Woodbridge High School celebrate...

Los Alamitos High School sophomore sets sail for Olympic dream

Jennifer Nguyen February 22, 2024

Los Alamitos High School student Stewart McCaleb is flying out to Miami, but he won’t be there for a vacation....

Artificial intelligence in OC schools: It’s not about the tech, it’s about the approach

Ian Hanigan February 21, 2024

As OCDE’s new administrators of artificial intelligence and innovation, Wes Kriesel and Kunal Dalal stand at the edge of an uncharted educational frontier. But their work isn’t so much about teaching others to use a new technology as it is...

2024 Orange County Counselor Symposium awards seven K-12 school counselors, one K-12 counseling advocate, one community college counselor and one community college counseling advocate on Feb. 7 at the Hilton Anaheim.

10th OC Counselor Symposium awards eight counselors and two counseling advocates

Madeline Gray February 21, 2024

More than 800 educators counselors, administrators and school staff gathered at the 2024 Orange County Counselor Symposium to learn new...

University High’s legal eagles soar to victory in OC Mock Trial, set sights on state finals

Ian Hanigan February 19, 2024

There’s no appealing this courtroom ruling. Showcasing their legal acumen and public speaking skills, students from University High School in...

OC high school students visit booths hosted by arts organizations, higher education institutions and school districts at the Orange County College and Career Pathways in the Arts event on Feb. 9.

Weekly roundup: Local arts educators share career pathways with families, Woodbridge students earn seventh decathlon title, and more

Madeline Gray February 16, 2024

Regional arts leaders representing 28 school districts, arts organizations, colleges and universities came together on Feb. 9 to give high school students a peek into potential career paths available in the field of arts education. The first-of-its-kind Orange County College...