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Nevada County Education Digest



Fraud in California Community Colleges Triggers Call for Trump Investigation

04/24/2025

Following CalMatters reporting, California’s Republican representatives are calling for the U.S. Department of Education and Attorney General Pam Bondi to investigate how California’s community colleges are handling financial aid fraud.

Nevada Union High School and Ghidotti Students Walk Out on April 22

04/22/2025

Following a school board vote against the 'Every Student Belongs' resolution, several hundred Nevada Union High School and Ghidotti students staged a walk out.

UC  Has Been Enrolling More in-State Students. Proposed State Cuts May Halt That Growth

04/22/2025

The UC has grown its enrollment of California undergraduates by 16,000 in the last five years. University officials say they won’t be able to continue that growth if state funding is cut.

Osher Lifelong Learning Institute Offers Adult Classes

04/18/2025

The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at Sierra College offers a number of classes and field trips for Nevada County residents ages 50 and older.

Osher Lifelong Learning Institute Offers Adult Classes

04/18/2025

The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at Sierra College offers a number of classes and field trips for Nevada County residents ages 50 and older.

Map: MMR and Full Vaccination Rates in California Kindergartners

04/16/2025

This interactive map shows kindergartners’ vaccination rates at more than 6,000 public and private schools across California. According to the state health department, at least 95% of students need the MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) vaccine to maintain herd immunity and prevent outbreaks. Yet in many parts of the state — including areas around Sacramento, Oakland, the Central Valley, and Los Angeles — vaccination rates fall short of that threshold, raising concerns about community vulnerability.

Trump Policy Targeting Immigrants Shuts California Students Out of Federal Programs

04/16/2025

Federal programs offer financial aid and counseling to low-income and first-generation college students. California was allowed to include students without legal status, which the Trump administration is now ending.

More High Schoolers Are Taking College Classes — But No Surprise Which Students Benefit Most

04/15/2025

Dual enrollment courses are growing on high school and college campuses but access gaps linger, particularly for students in rural areas of California as well as for Black and Hispanic male students.

Trump Canceled Millions in California School Grants. The State Is Suing to Reclaim the Money

04/10/2025

Schools had until March 2026 to spend remaining COVID relief money. The U.S. Department of Education cut those funds, amounting to about $200 million for California K-12 schools.

Wide School Disparities Persist 54 Years After California’s Landmark Funding Decision

04/10/2025

In 1971 California’s Supreme Court issued one of its most important and far-reaching decisions, declaring that the state’s system of financing public schools — primarily via locally levied property taxes — was unconstitutionally unfair.

How We’re Helping Students Spot Violations at California Career Colleges

04/04/2025

It’s hard to find the disciplinary history of for-profit colleges regulated by California. CalMatters is making it easier.

Free Forest Entrepreneurship Bootcamp April 26-27

04/03/2025

A free two-day forest business entrepreneurship workshop hosted by the Sierra Business Council and Sierra Commons is being held April 26 and 27 in Nevada City.

Fight Over Phonics: Will California Require the ‘Science of Reading’ in K-12 Schools?

04/03/2025

Nearly 60% of third graders aren’t reading at grade level. A new bill would require schools to use a phonics-based approach to teach students

California’s Schools Chief Has a $200,000 Salary and a Side Gig

04/01/2025

Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond has regularly worked side jobs at Bay Area nonprofits to earn extra income because he says the state pay is insufficient.

Nevada County Library Card Design Winners Celebrated on April 10

04/01/2025

The winners of the Nevada County Library Card Design will be announced at a celebration on April 10.

Inside a $17 Billion Maintenance Backlog Plaguing California’s Universities

03/31/2025

Infrastructure issues at California’s public universities are hindering students and faculty’s ability to learn and work on campus. Lawmakers and system leaders are hoping more state support can help them bring down the $17 billion price tag to fix their academic buildings.

No Need to Apply: Cal State Is Automatically Admitting High School Students With Good Grades

03/27/2025

More than 17,400 high school seniors last fall got the sweetest news any anxious student can get: Congratulations, because of your high school GPA, you’re automatically admitted to one of 10 California State University campuses of your choice — and they’re all relatively affordable.

Applying for CalFresh Food Aid Is Complicated. California Colleges Are Trying to Make It Easier

03/25/2025

Across California, only one in five eligible college students receive CalFresh due to complicated requirements and an arduous application process. With two-thirds of students experiencing food insecurity, many campuses have started helping them apply for CalFresh.

Rural California Schools and Roads Lose Millions in Federal Funding After Latest Cuts

03/24/2025

For the last century, the money has gone to counties with large amounts of federal land that can’t be taxed. Congress failed to include it in the upcoming budget.

Nevada County 2025 TechTest Jr. Math Competition Named

03/22/2025

Read on to learn the 2025 winners of the 14th Nevada County TechTest Jr. Math Competition.

Apply to Serve on the Nevada County Youth Commission

03/21/2025

Read on to learn how Nevada County residents ages 14-19 can apply to serve on the Nevada County Youth Commission and advise on issues impactful to local youth.

Parents Can’t Figure Out How California Schools Are Doing. Newsom’s Plan to Fix That Stalls

03/20/2025

In 2019, his first year in office, Gov. Gavin Newsom launched the Cradle-to-Career Data System, a new state entity that aims to track students’ progress from preschool through employment. The data system was supposed to release its first public dashboard last spring.

Schools in This California Town Won Acclaim for Their Pandemic Comeback. How They Did It

03/19/2025

Some of California’s most acclaimed schools right now aren’t in elite suburbs or wealthy urban enclaves. They’re in a small city in the San Joaquin Valley, an outpost on Highway 99 surrounded by almond trees and orange groves.

Students Call on California Colleges to Protect Campuses From Immigration Enforcement

03/18/2025

After the Trump administration threw out policies dating back to 2011 limiting immigration arrests at “sensitive locations,” California colleges and universities are providing resources to support students, but can’t stop immigration enforcement from entering public spaces. Some advocates say more must be done.

California Wants More Kids in Bilingual Classes — But Won’t Spend Enough to Expand Them

03/16/2025

Just one bill invests in bilingual education programs and its focus on instructional materials is a far cry from the systemic change advocates have called for.

Nevada County Schools Holding Job Fair

03/14/2025

Read on for more information about the Nevada County Schools Job Fair scheduled for March 29 in Grass Valley.

California, Other States Sue to Halt Massive Layoffs at U.S. Department of Education

03/13/2025

Under Trump’s directive the Department of Education laid off half its staff. The lawsuit argues Trump has no authority to make such drastic changes.

Grant School Designated a Nevada County Landmark

03/13/2025

The Grant Schoolhouse in Grass Valley was designated a Nevada County historical landmark. Read on to learn more.

‘We’re Out Here Not Getting Paid’: UC Workers Strike Amid Contract Negotiation Stalemate

02/26/2025

University of California laboratory technicians, information technologists, museum and health care workers went on strike Wednesday to protest what they say are staffing shortages and other grievances.

California’s Fund to Build Student Housing Runs Dry — Leaving Community Colleges in the Lurch

02/26/2025

Feather River College is still reeling from the 2021 Dixie Fire, which destroyed hundreds of homes in the surrounding community and warped the housing market. The college is one of many schools that have tried — and failed — to secure state grants to build more student housing.

California Extends State Financial Aid Deadline Until April 2

02/25/2025

California is giving students more time to apply for college aid due to a drop in completed applications.

Trump Deportation Threats Reduce School Attendance

02/19/2025

As the setting for John Steinbeck’s 1950s classic “East of Eden,” Salinas has long been known as a working-class, farming community. Nestled between two mountain ranges and located a few miles inland of Monterey Bay, the city’s geographic location lends itself a beautiful, serene setting.

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