OCDE Newsroom

Wendy Saldivar poses with Orange County Superintendent of Schools Dr. Stefan Bean after receiving her 2027 Orange County Teacher of the Year award during a surprise classroom visit in April.

Loara Elementary teacher named one of five 2027 California Teachers of the Year

Vicky Nguyen October 8, 2026

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

Arts festival to celebrate Orange County artists with disabilities on April 29

Vicky Nguyen April 12, 2023

The 47th annual Orange County Arts and Disability Festival is returning to MainPlace Mall in Santa Ana on April 29...

Westminster STEM student named national winner of Battelle Climate Challenge

Madeline Gray April 11, 2023

With rising sea levels projected to erode two-thirds of California’s coast in the next 100 years, Westminster High School senior...

Secretary of State encourages students to pre-register to vote

Vicky Nguyen April 10, 2023

Young people have a voice in what their future looks like, and that’s what Secretary of State Shirley N. Weber and Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond want students to know as High School Voter Education Weeks approaches. This year,...

Weekly roundup: Westminster students win STEM contest with innovative anxiety treatment, Fullerton opens community center, and more

Madeline Gray April 7, 2023

Approximately 12 million American adults experience panic attacks or a panic disorder at some point in their lives. These are...

FSD Nicolas Community Center ribbon-cutting event

Fullerton School District opens new community center to help families thrive

Vicky Nguyen April 5, 2023

Empty seats were scarce in the multipurpose room at Nicolas Junior High as families packed the room on March 30,...

California school enrollment falls for sixth straight year but numbers may be stabilizing

Ian Hanigan April 4, 2023

California’s public school enrollment has dropped for the sixth straight year, but data released by the state Department of Education suggests the declines are slowing. According to statewide figures released Tuesday, the number of TK-12 students in public schools fell...

Eleven school districts to join OCDE spring Career Fair on April 29

Vicky Nguyen April 3, 2023

Are you considering a career in education, or are you an educator looking for a new opportunity to serve students? ...

Weekly roundup: Power soccer players wow Marina High students, OC Civic Learning Celebration, and more

Vicky Nguyen March 31, 2023

All eyes were on Marina High School sophomore student AJ Lopez as he zipped down the basketball court in his...

OCDE to host OC Civic Learning Celebration on April 27

Vicky Nguyen March 29, 2023

Continuing its support for youth civic engagement, the Orange County Department of Education is partnering with the American Board of Trial Advocates and Constitutional Rights Foundation Orange County to host the OC Civic Learning Celebration from 4 to 6 p.m....

Woodbridge High places third, OC students earn honors at the California Academic Decathlon

Madeline Gray March 28, 2023

With months of academic decathlon preparation in the books, Orange County students reached new heights, placing among the top scorers...