Fourth graders at Franklin Elementary, part of the Santa Ana Unified School District, got a taste of democracy with a delicious twist this week.
Led by teacher Iris Correa, students participated in a mock election featuring two “candidates” — sugar cookies and chocolate chip cookies. The exercise gave students a hands-on lesson in voting, with each campaign rallying support before the class cast ballots.
The idea for the election came after students arrived Tuesday morning with questions about the upcoming presidential election.
“We read a book that described the election process, but they were unfamiliar with most of the terms and events listed,” Correa said. “I came to the conclusion that the best way for my students to understand this democratic process would be to experience it firsthand.”
The class elected a president and vice president to represent each cookie candidate. These student leaders delivered speeches to champion their cookie of choice — chocolate chip, known for its simplicity and lower sugar content, or sugar cookie, celebrated for its customizable toppings.
“I’d choose chocolate chip cookies because they have less sugar than sugar cookies,” a fourth-grader said in a video posted on Franklin Elementary’s Instagram account. “If you eat sugar cookies, you’ll get hyper.”
During the in-class debate, students actively listened, asked questions and even explored topics such as voting etiquette, casting ballots and identifying credible information sources.
“I was amazed by how engaged my students were throughout the entire lesson,” said Correa. “I felt proud as they voiced their excitement to be able to vote one day!”
In the end, chocolate chip cookies collected the most votes, earning a sweet victory in Correa’s mock election.
Here are the other stories we’ve been following this week:
- Orange County Superintendent of Schools Dr. Stefan Bean encouraged educators, staff and community partners to vote in a special Election Day message that touched on his own path to U.S. citizenship and the importance of civic participation.
- Janet Dicker, a teacher in OCDE’s Deaf and Hard of Hearing program, was honored as Educator of the Year by California Educators of the Deaf for her dedication to accessible education and student success.
- The Jewish Federation of Orange County’s Student to Student program, which enlists high school ambassadors to share experiences of Jewish life and values to counter antisemitism, was recognized by the Orange County Board of Education following a presentation by program leaders and student members.
- Starting in 2027, the U.S. Department of Agriculture will eliminate processing fees for low-income families on school meal payments — addressing a financial burden that disproportionately affects them — according to a Consumer Financial Protection Bureau report.
- Orange Unified School District Superintendent Ernie Gonzalez will step down on Nov. 15 to take a senior administrative role focused on supporting students and staff, while the board begins its search for a new superintendent.
- During his State of the District address, Los Alamitos Unified Superintendent Dr. Andrew Pulver emphasized the district’s commitment to “extraordinary” moments for all students, celebrating achievements both big and small and highlighting the community’s support through the Los Alamitos Educational Foundation.
- Nine school districts and a community college district in Orange County are seeking taxpayer support for school construction projects — including new facilities, technology upgrades and safer campuses — with most bond measures showing likely approval, according to the Orange County Register.
- At the 2025 Orange County Teachers of the Year gala hosted by OCDE at the Disneyland Hotel, 61 educators were honored for their transformative contributions, receiving accolades, cash awards and special tributes in recognition of their commitment to student success and resilience.
- California State University is piloting a direct admission program for high school seniors in Riverside County, offering eligible students conditional admission to select campuses without requiring a formal application.
- Proposition 2, a $10 billion statewide bond measure to fund repairs and upgrades for California’s K-12 schools and community colleges, was leading in early returns Tuesday night, with $8.5 billion allocated for K-12 facility improvements and $1.5 billion for community colleges.
- The Newport Harbor High girls’ flag football team will compete against Orange Lutheran for the first CIF Southern Section Division 1 championship, marking a historic moment in the sport’s rapid growth.
- Following former President Donald Trump’s election victory, California education leaders pledged to maintain safe and inclusive campuses while acknowledging the potential impacts of policy changes, according to an EdSource report.
- After last month’s dismissal County Superintendent Mary Ann Dewan, the Santa Clara County Office of Education said it will investigate allegations of public fund misuse and cooperate with any federal inquiries.
- The Los Angeles Times reported that Mater Dei High School’s $1.8 million funding request to Santa Ana highlighted community tensions and revealed ties to USC’s former admissions process favoring well-connected applicants.
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