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

WATCH: Los Alamitos Unified acquires ambulance simulator to elevate emergency response training

Ian Hanigan March 12, 2024

The Los Alamitos Unified School District recently unveiled a realistic ambulance simulator as part of its emergency response career technical...

ACSA Region 17 recognizes 15 Orange County educational leaders for excellence

Vicky Nguyen March 11, 2024

The local Association of California School Administrators chapter unveiled its list of 15 exemplary educational leaders on March 8. Established...

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 Schools among 31 campuses throughout California. On March 5, State Superintendent Tony Thurmond announced the Model Continuation High School Recognition...

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...

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 engagement among youths. Presented at the OC Holocaust Education Center in Newport Beach on April 25 from 4 to 6...

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...

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 by the California Department of Education. Now in its third year, the California Purple Star School Designation Program publicly recognizes...

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...