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

OCDE students express gratitude for veterans in Memorial Day Essay Contest

Madeline Gray May 5, 2023

Century Day School student Sheyla M. decided to join her grandmother’s church group to help feed the homeless one Saturday...

Weekly roundup: OC Artists of the Year named, OCDE students win agricultural awards, and more

Madeline Gray May 5, 2023

From a pool of 721 nominees, seven talented students were selected as this year’s Orange County Artists of the Year....

8 OC schools considered models for civic learning by California chief justice

Vicky Nguyen May 3, 2023

California Chief Justice Patricia Guerrero will personally visit two Anaheim Union High School District campuses this fall, as they are among three honorees receiving the 2023 Civic Learning Award of Excellence. Chief Justice Guerrero and State Superintendent of Public Instruction...

OCDE Adult Transition Program students win agricultural awards at OC Fair’s Imaginology

Madeline Gray May 3, 2023

What started out as an after-school activity for students at OCDE’s Harbor Learning Center campus has hatched into a popular...

7 OC districts among NAMM Foundation’s best communities for music education

Vicky Nguyen May 2, 2023

Seven Orange County districts have been recognized among the Best Communities for Music Education by the NAMM Foundation, which also...

Saddleback Valley Unified School District teacher Laura Blackie

VIDEO: Relive the moment six educators were named the 2024 Orange County Teachers of the Year

Madeline Gray May 1, 2023

On Thursday, April 27, OCDE representatives made their way to school campuses across the county via a big yellow school bus to announce the 2024 Orange County Teachers of the Year. Joined by camera crews, sponsors and reporters, OCDE Deputy...

Angels Luis Rengifo signs hat for student.

Weekly roundup: Los Angeles Angels adopt five OC schools, Teachers of the Year honored, and more

Vicky Nguyen April 28, 2023

Donning their bright red shirts and baseball jerseys, students and staff from Jefferson Elementary excitedly welcomed Los Angeles Angels infielder...

Esencia teacher Leslie Whitaker accepts her award among OCDE representatives and her colleagues.

OCDE announces the 2024 Orange County Teachers of the Year

Madeline Gray April 27, 2023

Six educators received a welcome surprise in their classrooms Thursday as they found out they were selected as 2024 Orange...

Melinda Heights student qualifies for national and international geography bees

Vicky Nguyen April 26, 2023

A sixth-grade student attending Melinda Heights Elementary School will travel to Arlington, Virginia in June to compete in the final round of the National Geography Bee. To get to this point, 11-year-old Ritvik Swamanathan completed a qualifying geography exam, where...

OCDE partners with OC Health Care Agency to host fentanyl awareness forums on May 9

Ian Hanigan April 25, 2023

In recognition of National Fentanyl Awareness Day on May 9, OCDE is teaming up with the Orange County Health Care Agency to...