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 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...

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...

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, on June 13. Logging into Zoom from Miami, Marley was the most recent guest speaker to be featured in a...

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...

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 the selection of Dr. Christopher Brown, who is currently the assistant superintendent for research, assessment and school improvement in the...

Marina High School students passive solar house build

VIDEO: Marina High School students incorporate passive solar design in tiny home project

Vicky Nguyen June 14, 2023

In the middle of Marina High School, a wooden framework of a tiny house sits as a potential solution for...