Sacramento County Education Digest

Advocates supporting a constitutional amendment guaranteeing a right to a high-quality education say they want to hold schools accountable. But critics fear its vague language could unleash a barrage of lawsuits.

Not a single voting member of the Sacramento City Council, California Legislature or U.S. Congress identifies as ethnically Pacific Islander. A local community group hopes to change that with classes and activities, including visits to the state Capitol.

Srishti Prabha of CapRadio reports on how the Robla Unified School District, district with 84% of its families lower-income, provides visual arts education for every student once a week—more than what many other students in Sacramento County receive.

As hot days become more extreme and common, California education researchers are urging that school districts be required to develop heat plans to keep students safe, just as they have policies for severe storms and active shooters.

Jonathan Luke Wood envisioned he would become the president of Sacramento State back when he was a student there more than 20 years ago, pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Black history and politics. Wood will return to his alma mater to become the institution’s ninth president, and second Black president.

The arguments made by the Los Angeles Unified School District to fight a 2021 lawsuit attempting to reopen schools sparked a campaign to enshrine a constitutional right to a high-quality education. Let the politics begin.

Last year, California created a $500 million program to help prepare students for careers. With the state facing a $31.5 billion budget deficit, lawmakers want to claw back $400 million of the program.

Country music legend Dolly Parton’s international library program is expanding in California, Gov. Gavin Newsom’s office announced. Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library already provides free books to children under the age of 5 in 30 counties across the state; by 2028, it will serve all 58.

A founding member of the Sacramento Black Chamber of Commerce, who served as president from 1996 to 1998, Clarence Williams held a bachelor’s degree from Sacramento State in economics.

Whatever challenges and obstacles faced by many of Sacramento State’s 31,000 students—more than 13,000 of them Black and Latino—there’s a good chance incoming President Dr. Jonathan Luke Wood has been there.

Governor Newsom has revealed that Elk Grove Unified School District libraries will not be participating in any book bans, and the same will be true around the state. The school district may face legal consequences if they ban books under the new mandate.

With a conservative Supreme Court expected to rule this summer in favor of ending or restricting affirmative action in college admissions, California’s private universities are worried about the potential impact on campus diversity. College administrators are revamping admissions and doing more high school outreach, while student activists are campaigning against a potential ban.

Workers who lost their jobs during the COVID-19 pandemic and are enrolling in a college program have until June 15 to apply for a California relief grant to receive up to $2,500 as state lawmakers seek to cut programs to plug a budget hole.

Proposed cuts stemming from California’s budget deficit mean community colleges may be unable to improve AC and heating, make safety upgrades or follow through on major programs and infrastructure projects.

California State University trustees appointed J. Luke Wood, an alumnus of Sacramento State and a Northern California native, to become the ninth president of Sacramento State. Wood is set to take the helm this summer.

Jessica Lopez objected to school officials initially rejecting her son Louie’s desire to represent his Maidu culture at his Pleasant Grove High School ceremony. After legal threats, the school has reversed course—but Lopez’s fight goes on.

Twin Rivers Unified School District celebrated a significant milestone as they broke ground on the Northlake TK-8 School, located in the North Natomas area of Sacramento. The groundbreaking ceremony, held on May 23, marked the beginning of construction for the state-of-the-art facility.

The UC Student Association is calling for California to spend millions more on disability services at the university, as disabled students report long wait times to access the academic accommodations they say they need to succeed.

As the state moves to require dyslexia screening in public schools, experts say teachers need to embrace the “science of reading” approach that emphasizes phonics.

Newsom is closing and downsizing prisons across the state, putting the future of over a thousand incarcerated students at risk. College administrators say they have few resources to help.

Sacramento County and Galt Joint Union High School District took some time on May 10 to recognize some hardworking young people within the district who are making the transition from school to employment while overcoming disabilities.

Transitional kindergarten is an optional program for children between preschool and kindergarten that provides additional preparation for school. This support allows for students to build social and academic skills they will need for future educational success.

The Fair Oaks Library is closed for renovations until mid-June. It’s the first major upgrade of the building since 1976, and improvements will include fresh paint, new carpet, and upgraded computer stations.

With thousands of homeless and food-insecure students, state legislators funded new programs to offer support to community colleges. CalMatters explores how it’s going.

Dr. Lisa Cardoza will be the new president of American River College, with her appointment reaching the Los Rios Board of Trustees on May 10. Among other notable positions, Dr. Cardoza previously served as the vice president for university advancement at Sacramento State.

The Natomas Unified school board voted 3-1 to hold a special election to fill a vacant seat. The vacancy was created when former trustee Cindy Quiralte resigned her position on April 19.

Sixteen years and an estimated 3.5 million visitors later, the Folsom Public Library is getting new carpet. The library will be closed from May 9-25 and will reopen just in time to kick off its Summer Reading Challenge.

To combat the barriers to attending the high school dance, some of Sacramento’s local organizations and schools are attempting to reframe the experience by reducing costs and allowing for self-expression.

The School of Veterinary Medicine will open a new emergency room and intensive care unit on May 3, doubling in size to accommodate rapid growth. The caseload has doubled since immediately before the pandemic and is up tenfold since 2013.

A state bill could end suspensions for students who defy teachers’ orders, disrupt school activities, or engage in other types of “willful defiance”—requiring teachers to de-escalate such incidents instead of forcing a child from the classroom.

Rep. Doris Matsui presented a check for $1.05 million to the students and faculty of Leataata Floyd Elementary in Sacramento. The funds will be used to develop the one-acre Floyd Farm on the center’s grounds.

As the Galt Joint Union Elementary School District announced the near-complete payment of a bond debt and rolled out a new vision statement, sides debated including the word “equitable” in said statement. The term tends to exclude students instead of include, according to some of the board members.