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

OCDE launches online training to support families experiencing homelessness, raise McKinney-Vento awareness

Madeline Gray July 13, 2023

The Orange County Department of Education has launched an online training to connect community organizations with supports and resources to...

OCDE joins Orange County Business Council to launch 10 Education Essentials for local families

Madeline Gray July 10, 2023

From tracking students’ grades to helping them apply for colleges, understanding the education system can be a key ingredient for...

Weekly roundup: Student artists with disabilities to be featured at Bowers Museum, teacher hosts summer story time, and more

Madeline Gray July 7, 2023

Through the month of July, the Bowers Museum in Santa Ana will be home to artwork designed by student artists with disabilities from the Orange County area. Created in partnership with the Orange County Department of Education’s OC Arts and...

More than 500 educators, law enforcement representatives expected to attend 14th annual Safe Schools Conference

Ian Hanigan July 6, 2023

The annual Safe Schools Conference returns to Orange County this month, bringing together hundreds of educators, school workers and law...

Teacher Leslee Milch reads to children and families

Buena Park teacher celebrates 25 years of reading to children during summer breaks

Vicky Nguyen July 5, 2023

This June marked the 25th year of teacher Leslee Milch reading to hundreds of children each week, as her commitment...

Santiago High School unveils new state-of-the-art athletic facility.

Weekly roundup: Garden Grove unveils new state-of-the-art athletic facility, governor signs budget, and more

Vicky Nguyen June 30, 2023

Santiago High School’s home and rivaling teams will have a new state-of-the-art athletic facility to play on in the next school year. On Monday, the Garden Grove Unified School District’s Board of Education hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the new...

ACCESS Graduation ceremony for areas 1, 2, 3

OCDE celebrates hundreds of new graduates at ACCESS commencement ceremony

Ian Hanigan June 28, 2023

Perseverance and purpose were recurring themes during a commencement ceremony for hundreds of students enrolled in OCDE’s Alternative Education program,...

Dana Hills High School gradute Sophie Anderson

Dana Hills High graduate selected as National Youth Science Camp Delegate

Vicky Nguyen June 28, 2023

State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond has included one Orange County scholar as he named three outstanding students as...

MIT Solve semifinalists Lisa McAllister and Virginia Reischl

MIT Solve names educators from OCDE and Cal State Fullerton as semifinalists in the 2023 Global Challenges initiative

Vicky Nguyen June 27, 2023

An OCDE coordinator and a regional director from Cal State Fullerton were recently named semifinalists for MIT Solve’s 2023 Global Challenges, which seeks social entrepreneurs who are using technology to solve today’s most pressing problems. Orange County Department of Education...

Five Irvine students take home top honors at National History Day finals

Madeline Gray June 26, 2023

Three student-produced websites and documentaries from Irvine placed with top honors at the National History Day National Contest in Maryland...