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.

Groundbreaking marks the return to Rancho Soñado for OCDE’s Inside the Outdoors

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

ACCESS offers canvas for student expression through Art4Healing program

Vicky Nguyen March 19, 2024

Students from the Orange County Department of Education’s Alternative Education division — or ACCESS — are finding a canvas for...

Title with star Orange County Classified School Employees of the Year

These are the 2024 Orange County Classified School Employees of the Year

Ian Hanigan March 18, 2024

A school bus driver, a head custodian, an office coordinator, a cook and a library media technician are among this...

Dr. Clint Harwick to retire as HBUHSD superintendent, ending 36-year career in education

Ian Hanigan March 18, 2024

Long before he became the award-winning superintendent of the Huntington Beach Union High School District, Dr. Clint Harwick got his start as a school custodian. His passion for helping students and staff fueled his drive to further his education, and...

Santa Ana’s REACH Academy featured in inaugural list of Model Community Day Schools

Ian Hanigan March 18, 2024

REACH Academy in the Santa Ana Unified School District has been named one of California’s eight Model Community Day Schools...

Yard signs sprout overnight to celebrate OC’s 2024 California Distinguished Schools

Ian Hanigan March 15, 2024

More than two dozen volunteers from the Orange County Department of Education recently added a little extra landscaping flair to...

Elected officials, superintendents and other participants from the Legislative Roundtable Day

Lawmakers, education leaders convene for second annual legislative roundtable

Ian Hanigan March 15, 2024

The Orange County Department of Education hosted the second annual Legislative Roundtable Day on Friday, bringing together a coalition of superintendents, state legislators and other policy shapers to discuss pressing issues impacting local schools. Participants included State Senator Josh Newman,...

KCAL News visits Los Amigos High School 2

Weekly roundup: Los Amigos High seniors set to graduate with associate degrees in May, ACSA recognizes 15 educational leaders, and more

Vicky Nguyen March 15, 2024

Nearly 60 seniors from Los Amigos High School will not only receive their diplomas at graduation but also earn associate...

Travis Ranch School students play frisbee during the Orange County PE Peer Learning Lab.

WATCH: Orange County peer learning lab promotes unified physical education at Travis Ranch School

Madeline Gray March 14, 2024

From playing jump rope to learning archery with plastic bows and arrows, students of all abilities are taking part in...

Career technical educator Shelley Andros helps students from Buena Park Middle School's Femineer program through the design and building process of their robot.

Buena Park Middle School’s Femineer program empowers future STEM leaders

Vicky Nguyen March 13, 2024

Students enrolled in the Femineer program at Buena Park Middle School aren’t just learning about robotics, they’re building them from the ground up. Sponsored by Cal Poly Pomona’s College of Engineering, the Femineer program aims to inspire K-12 students to...

Four OC middle schools are among California’s ‘Schools to Watch’ for 2024

Vicky Nguyen March 12, 2024

Four middle schools in Orange County had earned renewed statuses in the California Schools to Watch program. The program is...