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

person viewing website for homeless education

OCDE develops online training to help schools support students experiencing homelessness

Ian Hanigan January 30, 2023

The Orange County Department of Education’s HOPES Collaborative has created an online training to help educators better understand the McKinney-Vento...

Weekly roundup: Newport Harbor freshman presents at global festival, OC schools celebrate Lunar New Year, and more

Madeline Gray January 27, 2023

Newport Harbor High School student Ryan Honary will host a panel discussion and present on the systems behind his environmental...

Westminster High School students perform in the annual Tet Fair and Show.

Here’s how OC schools and districts celebrated the Lunar New Year

Madeline Gray January 26, 2023

Students, educators and community members across Orange County began the Lunar New Year by participating in cultural performances, playing games and sharing meals. Lunar New Year starts with the first new moon of the lunar calendar and is recognized by...

OC’s Discovery Cube invites educational community to celebrate Teachers Night Out on Feb. 9

Ian Hanigan January 25, 2023

Discovery Cube in Orange County is hosting its latest “Teachers Night Out” event from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. on Thursday,...

Arts festival celebrating Orange County artists with disabilities returns with a new look

Vicky Nguyen January 24, 2023

VSA Orange County, which has existed since 1976, has a new name. This week, the program now known as Orange...

Weekly roundup: Seven OC schools earn College Board’s Female Diversity Award, career technical education opportunities, and more

Vicky Nguyen January 20, 2023

Seven schools in Orange County were recognized by the College Board for their work toward equal gender representation by engaging more female students in computer science. Troy High School in the Fullerton Joint Union High School District, Cypress High School...

OC schools get set to take on the Great Kindness Challenge

Ian Hanigan January 17, 2023

Schools across Orange County are getting to ready participate in the Great Kindness Challenge, which kicks off Monday, Jan. 23....

Weekly roundup: OC students make list of America’s top 300 teen scientists, governor proposes budget, and more

Vicky Nguyen January 13, 2023

Three high school students from Orange County were named finalists in the Society for Science’s list of the top 300...

#kindness1billion: Here’s a photo collection of schools creating holiday cheer for families in need

Vicky Nguyen January 11, 2023

In the spirit of holiday giving, many schools in Orange County held donation drives for food and toys to help students in need feel included during the break in December. In Garden Grove, Pacifica High School “adopted” approximately 300 kindergarteners...

A student on an Academic decathlon team holds up two numbers indicating his team answered a question correctly

Academic event season has arrived. Here are some important dates in 2023.

Ian Hanigan January 9, 2023

A new year is upon us, and that means we’ve officially entered academic event season. Over the next six months,...