Weekly roundup: Anaheim students return to class with fanfare and focus on literacy, Newport-Mesa hosts back-to-school expo, and more

The 2025-26 school year officially began Wednesday for students in the Anaheim Elementary School District, which marked the occasion with music, balloon arches and media coverage.

Superintendent Jesse Chavarria joined KCAL News on Tuesday to outline his goals for the year, emphasizing a continued focus on building strong readers, expanding learning opportunities and strengthening the district’s dual language and music programs.

“At Anaheim Elementary, we take pride in our dual language and afterschool programs through the Expanded Learning Opportunities Program, which offers an 11-hour day,” Chavarria said. “We also have a robust music program and a Parent Leader Institute that trains more than 100 parents each year to take an active role in their child’s education.”

Chavarria noted that the district saw positive academic growth over the past year, particularly in literacy, and is looking to maintain that momentum.

Schools across the district welcomed students, families and local news crews on Wednesday. At Edison Elementary School, a ballet folklórico performance greeted families as they arrived. KTLA reporter Omar Lewis spoke with the Acosta family, who have three children enrolled, and a parent who previously attended the school.

“It’s been wonderful to return to this school,” a family member said. “I was here over 25 years ago, and so much has changed — the new building, the incredible principal. There’s a lot of support, and we’re excited to be back. We love it here.”

Edison Elementary Principal Suzanne Nichols said her team aims to create a welcoming environment while continuing to build on academic successes.

“This is the best community,” Nichols said. “These are my families. They are a part of our family. I want to roll out the red carpet for them because they deserve it.”

Nichols also highlighted Edison’s dual language immersion program, which now offers a TK-6 pathway in Spanish after adding sixth grade this year. Every campus in the Anaheim Elementary School District offers a dual language immersion program in Korean, Mandarin or Spanish.

Anaheim Elementary joined the Savanna and Anaheim Union High school districts in resuming instruction on Wednesday. The Cypress School District followed on Thursday. Most other Orange County districts will return between Aug. 11 and Aug. 21.

Here are the other stories we’ve been following this week:

• About 2,000 Newport-Mesa Unified School District students and family members attended a back-to-school event at IKEA Costa Mesa, where local partners provided free supplies, haircuts, shoes and services ahead of the 2025-26 school year.

• More than 2,400 educators gathered in Anaheim for the 2025 California MTSS Professional Learning Institute, where school leaders shared personal stories highlighting how the MTSS framework is transforming campuses, strengthening family partnerships and improving student outcomes across the state.

• Orange County Superintendent of Schools Dr. Stefan Bean, who overcame early life challenges as a refugee and foster child, spoke to Epoch Times’ California Insider about leading education for 450,000 students across 28 districts and how his personal experiences continue to shape his approach to student potential and educational policy.

• A recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling in Mahmoud v. Taylor requires public schools to notify parents and allow opt-outs from classroom instruction that substantially burdens sincerely held religious beliefs, prompting districts to review policies and instructional practices.
  
• Anaheim Union High School District Superintendent Michael Matsuda, whose leadership has been shaped by his family’s World War II incarceration and lifelong commitment to equity, has announced he will retire at the end of 2025 after 11 years in the role and more than two decades with the district.

• Orange County schools are kicking off the 2025-26 year, with most starting in August amid continued enrollment declines, a mixed state budget and a strategic push to improve student outcomes.

• The Anaheim Union High School District welcomed students Wednesday to its newly consolidated Orangeview Western School, combining Western High and Orangeview Junior High into a single campus serving grades seven through 12.

• Traci Green has been appointed assistant superintendent of business services and Matt White has been named the next principal of Edison High School in the Huntington Beach Union High School District, both pending board approval.

• The Laguna Beach Unified School District has approved nearly $200,000 in facility upgrades across three campuses, including pool modernization at the high school, a temporary classroom at El Morro Elementary, and compliance work at two elementary schools to meet state certification standards.

• The Santa Ana Unified School District and Orange County School of the Arts have reached an $8.55 million settlement to resolve a nearly six-year legal dispute over special education funding.

• CalMatters reports that students without legal status could face new barriers to public education if efforts to overturn the Supreme Court’s Plyler v. Doe ruling gain traction under future policies or court challenges.

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