OCDE Newsroom

Extreme heat expected across Orange County this week

Ian Hanigan August 24, 2026

Pacific Drive Elementary School students enjoy oat muffins and fruit during class as part of the Fullerton School District Breakfast in the Classroom initiative. (Fullerton School District)

Weekly roundup: Free breakfast is served at third Fullerton School District campus, and more

Madeline Gray August 21, 2026

Graphic that says "A note from Dr. Bean" with image of Dr. Stefan Bean

Dr. Bean: A shared call for the year ahead — All. Together. Now.

Stefan Bean August 20, 2026

California students and educators participate in the Parade of States during the opening ceremony of the 2026 National History Day National Contest at the University of Maryland.

OCDE to launch 2026-27 National History Day season with virtual kickoff

Vicky Nguyen August 19, 2026

Logan Thielen poses at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library after earning first place in the California National Civics Bee. The Brea Junior High School seventh-grader will represent California at the National Civics Bee Championship in Washington, D.C., in October.

Brea Junior High student prepares to represent California at National Civics Bee

Vicky Nguyen August 18, 2026

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...

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 California’s delegates at the 2023 National Youth Science Camp. Sophie Andersen, a recent graduate of Dana Hills High School in...

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...

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...

Warner Middle School exit interviews handshake

Weekly roundup: Warner Middle School holds exit interviews for students, Newport-Mesa Unified announces key personnel changes, and more

Vicky Nguyen June 23, 2023

The Westminster School District added exit interviews to Warner Middle students’ eighth-grade promotion experience. On June 15, the district enlisted assistance from professional mixed martial arts fighters, Los Angeles Rams cheerleaders and Angels staff members along with city employees to...

Reggae musician Julian Marley spoke to students on June 13 as a guest speaker for the Careers Without Borders series. (Courtesy of Julian Marley's Facebook page)

Artist Julian Marley reflects on music and his father’s legacy with ACCESS students

Vicky Nguyen June 22, 2023

Two-time Grammy-nominated artist Julian “JuJu Royal” Marley spoke with Orange County students, who he considers to be society’s promising future,...

A.I. and Education: OCDE to host three-day professional development series on artificial intelligence

Ian Hanigan June 20, 2023

The Orange County Department of Education will present a three-day professional learning series this fall to help educators better understand...

Alex Linza, third from left, is pictured with FC Cologne recruiter Herbert Biste, coach Jorge Caceres and coach Herbert Zimmerman. (Courtesy of the Linza family)

Weekly roundup: FC Cologne invites Ocean View High student to train overseas, OCDE’s new associate superintendent, and more

Vicky Nguyen June 16, 2023

A rising junior from Ocean View High School was offered a spot on the prestigious FC Cologne International Talent Squad this fall in Germany, but he needs help getting there. 16-year-old Alex Linza attended a soccer showcase at El Camino...

Capistrano Unified announces Long Beach educator as its next superintendent

Ian Hanigan June 15, 2023

The Capistrano Unified School District is officially welcoming its new superintendent. Following an extensive five-month search, trustees this week announced...