Nationally representative survey data from the Center for Democracy & Technology finds schools subjectively and broadly block students from information online.
K-12 Education
Posted inOpinion from Community Voices
Letter to the editor: We support the Pajaro Valley for Ethnic Studies’ op-ed
In a letter to the editor, a member of Santa Cruz Jews for a Free Palestine calls on Pajaro Valley Unified School District to renew its ethnic studies contract with Community Responsive Education.
Posted inEducation
Small California schools brace for layoffs as Congress slashes funding for rural education
Federal funding for rural schools goes to 39 California counties. School districts in those communities consider the money a lifeline. “It’s a catastrophe that no one knows about,” one educator says.
Posted inOpinion from Community Voices
The voters and the court have spoken — PVUSD needs to bring back its ethnic studies contract
Members of the grassroots group Pajaro Valley for Ethnic Studies and Justice call on the Pajaro Valley Unified School District board to renew its contract with an ethnic studies consultant, which was dropped in September 2023 after vague allegations of antisemitism. The authors cite benefits to students, strong student and community support and a recent court case that dismissed similar antisemitism allegations against ethnic studies educators as reasons for bringing the contract back.
Posted inEducation
It’s 2025 — have pity on the poor social studies teacher
If the 2024 election finally extinguished ideas of American exceptionalism, from what framework can America’s history teachers now make their lesson plans? Wallace Baine wants Santa Cruz County educators to tell him about their approach.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
Can California keep ICE away from schools? Lawmakers want to try as crackdowns loom
California legislators want to limit deportation actions at schools, but they can’t ban immigration officials.
Posted inOpinion from Community Voices
Ag commissioner David Sanford’s mission to protect public health should include discussions of alternatives to toxic chemicals and pesticides
Watsonville resident and environmental justice activist Woody Rehanek believes Santa Cruz County Agricultural Commissioner David Sanford is not doing enough to inform the public about toxic chemicals used on crops in Watsonville. He points to a recent response Sanford made to a grand jury report as evidence and makes a plea for more transparency from the California Department of Pesticide Regulation and from Sanford. Santa Cruz County, Rehanek writes, “has the highest percentage of fumigants by weight of overall pesticide used of counties in the state.”
Posted inEducation
New law inspired by ex-lawmaker’s DUI adds to alcohol education in California schools
California public schools will expand alcohol education in 2025 thanks to a new law. The law’s author, Wendy Carrillo, wrote the legislation following her arrest for driving under the influence, saying she didn’t want students to make the same mistakes she did.
Posted inK-12 Education
As federal pandemic aid ends, Santa Cruz County school districts prepare for budget cuts, layoffs
Facing millions in budget shortfalls, Pajaro Valley and Live Oak school districts expect to make deep spending cuts as pandemic-relief funding expires and they confront the effects of declining enrollment. For PVUSD, that is likely to mean slashing expenses for mental health staff and programs.
Posted inEducation
Santa Cruz City Schools settles $4.5 million sex abuse lawsuit involving former principal
The Santa Cruz City Schools district has agreed to settle a lawsuit with two former students who accused ex-principal Steven Myers of sexual abuse in the late 1980s. The men allege Myers gave students massages, encouraged minimal clothing and provided drugs during a summer program he supervised.