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

Buena Park School District selects Dr. Julienne Lee as new superintendent

Madeline Gray May 25, 2023

The Buena Park School District will soon welcome Dr. Julienne Lee as its next superintendent, pending approval from the Board...

Language acquisition, literacy skills for English learners are the focus of Project GLAD® Spring Institute

Ian Hanigan May 24, 2023

Educators from across the region gathered in Costa Mesa last month to share strategies for improving language acquisition and literacy...

Eighth-grade students from Fairmont Private Schools’ Historic Anaheim Campus

Orange County schools earn 29 medals at the 2023 USAD National Academic Pentathlon

Vicky Nguyen May 23, 2023

More than 250 students from all over the country participated in the 2023 USAD National Academic Pentathlon at the Hyatt Regency Orange County in Garden Grove, where local students and teams earned a total of 29 medals. The eighth-grade team...

Orange County student filmmakers win statewide awards for raising mental health awareness

Madeline Gray May 23, 2023

Persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness are reportedly common for high school students in the US, with 4 in 10...

Mijares: OC’s classified school employees ensure schools run smoothly and students thrive

Al Mijares May 22, 2023

How do we begin to measure the importance of our classified school employees? If you’re not familiar with the term...

Title with star Orange County Classified School Employees of the Year

Honoring Orange County’s classified school employees of 2023

Vicky Nguyen May 22, 2023

Nine school workers from local districts earned the title of 2023 Orange County Classified School Employee of the Year for their exceptional dedication to the well-being of their students and unwavering commitment to going above and beyond their assigned responsibilities....

Westminster High celebrates FFA anniversary

Weekly roundup: Future Farmers of America program turns 50, California MTSS conference extends early registration, and more

Vicky Nguyen May 19, 2023

Westminster High School celebrated the 50th anniversary of its Future Farmers of America program with a gathering to recognize the...

Twice in three years: OC math teacher is again a finalist in Presidential Awards program

Ian Hanigan May 17, 2023

An Irvine math teacher has, for the second time in three years, been named a finalist in the prestigious Presidential...

6 questions (and answers) about this summer’s California MTSS Professional Learning Institute

Ian Hanigan May 17, 2023

This summer, the Orange County Department of Education and the Butte County Office of Education are teaming up to host the sixth annual California MTSS Professional Learning Institute at the Anaheim Convention Center. Spanning three days from July 18 through July 20,...

OC FNL Excellence Panorama Elementary School

OC Friday Night Live Partnership presents awards to three school chapters, one advisor

Vicky Nguyen May 16, 2023

Recognizing efforts to implement best practices in youth leadership while leading alcohol and drug prevention initiatives, the Orange County Friday...