OCDE Newsroom

Orange County Superintendent Dr. Stefan Bean meets former heavyweight boxing champion James "Buster" Douglas and his wife, Bertha Douglas, during their visit to OCDE's Otto Fischer School.

Students from OCDE’s Fischer School learn about resilience from heavyweight boxers

Madeline Gray October 15, 2025

Former heavyweight boxing champions James “Buster” Douglas and Lamon Brewster visited OCDE’s Otto A. Fischer School, encouraging students residing in Orange County Juvenile Hall to work hard and persevere to overcome any obstacle.

Sunburst Youth Academy opens with its largest class yet

Nathaniel Martinez September 12, 2025

Sunburst Youth Academy’s Class 36 is the largest in the program’s history — and the first in nearly a decade...

Ortega taking a picture of Sunburst Youth Academy service dog.

Behind the lens of the Sunburst Youth Academy media team

Nathaniel Martinez July 24, 2024

“Turn your head a little to the left, and now keep your hands to your side,” graduate Armando Ortega of...

Fullerton School District students learn how to build in one of the district's Encore programs.

Weekly roundup: Fullerton district targets learning loss with summer programs, student-led nonprofit offers free math tutoring, and more

Nathaniel Martinez July 12, 2024

This summer, Fullerton School District students are keeping mentally active through the district’s Encore Program. Spectrum News recently featured FSD...

Activist Dolores Huerta spoke with students and staff from OCDE's alternative education division on March 15 as part of the Careers Without Borders series. (Courtesy of Dolores Huerta's Facebook page)

Careers Without Borders: Activist Dolores Huerta inspires students to enact change

Madeline Gray April 9, 2024

In 1972, civil rights activist Dolores Huerta inspired members of the United Farm Workers union to chant “Si, se puede,”...

Voices of ACCESS with Tom Kostic and former students

WATCH: Annual gathering bridges past and present for ACCESS teacher

Vicky Nguyen April 1, 2024

Over the years, students enrolled in the Orange County Department of Education’s Alternative Education Division — also known as ACCESS...

ACCESS program