On March 17, Assemblymembers Dr. Darshana Patel (D-San Diego), Rhodesia Ransom (D-Tracy) and Al Muratsuchi (D-Torrance) joined CSBA CEO & Executive Director Vernon M. Billy, CSBA President Dr. Debra Schade and Hope Elementary School District Superintendent Melanie Matta at the Capitol to unveil the SOS for Student Achievement: Close the State Accountability Gap campaign and related legislation. The campaign aims to improve overall student performance, close achievement gaps and establish comprehensive state-level support for local school districts and county offices of education.

The California Collaborative for Educational Excellence (CCEE) board convened Feb. 26 for its first meeting of 2026 to discuss challenges and successes in providing direct technical assistance (DTA) and ongoing projects.

Staff presented on challenges related to providing DTA, such as having multiple partners and pathways to support districts.

Walk into any public school in California and you will see possibility everywhere. A kindergartner sounding out their first words. A middle school student discovering a love of science. A high school senior beginning to imagine life beyond graduation.

CSBA’s flagship state legislative advocacy event, Legislative Action Week, has come to a close for 2026, and more than 300 school district and county office of education board members brought their collective voice to the State Legislature from March 17-19. Bringing their lived experience to nearly 120 meetings with assemblymembers and senators, their collective advocacy helped increase attention to pressing issues facing schools and students.

Dozens of attendees gathered in San Diego March 11-12 for the CSBA Counties Governance Workshop where the focus of sessions and micro-trainings was a core responsibility of county boards — serving at-promise students such as foster youth.

CSBA President Dr. Debra Schade, a San Diego County local who serves as a trustee in Solana Beach School District, highlighted the critical part that COE governance teams play in California’s education landscape, and explained how their role stretches far beyond responsibilities related to oversight and compliance.

The CSBA Candidate Review Committee encourages CSBA members to participate in this year’s election process for the offices of CSBA Vice President and President-elect.

The criteria used to evaluate potential officer candidates is as follows…

CSBA’s Research and Education Policy Development (REPD) Department has released new resources to aid local educational agency governance teams in better supporting some of California’s most vulnerable students and customizing their own professional development to meet the needs of their community.

Senate Bill 848, which became effective Jan. 1, 2026, is broad legislation intended to enhance student safety by preventing childhood sexual assault at schools. SB 848 requires the governing boards of districts and county offices of education (COEs) to adopt, by July 1, 2026, written policies that promote safe environments for student learning and engagement that address professional boundaries and establish appropriate limits on contact, during or outside of the school day, that do not otherwise include a student’s parent/guardian.