California School Boards Association

Submissions for student performances for this year’s Annual Education Conference and Trade Show, happening in San Diego Dec. 3-5, are being accepted through June 24. Find guidelines, the application form and other important AEC-related info: https://ow.ly/Rxl950Z7bEn

AEC attracts thousands of members from California’s diverse education community, creating a meaningful platform to celebrate student success in the arts and showcase the state’s talent. All performance styles and traditions are encouraged to apply. Selected groups will take the stage during General Sessions on Thursday, Dec. 3, or Friday, Dec. 4, for performances that will run approximately 8 to 10 minutes.

Reminder: Nominations in all CSBA Golden Awards categories are due June 26! Learn more: awards.csba.org/

The Golden Awards honor the hard work and dedication of governing boards and LEA staff who create innovative programs that improve student achievement and well-being in the state’s preK-12 public schools. The Golden Bell Awards recognize outstanding programs and governance practices of school boards, the Golden Gavel Awards recognize individual school board members and governance teams who exemplify best practices in effective governance and boardsmanship, and the Golden Quill Awards celebrate the important role education journalists play in creating awareness in the community.

Shout out to 2025 Board Member of the Year Suzie R. Swartz of Saddleback Valley Unified School District and the 2025 Governance Team of the Year from Napa Valley Unified School District, pictured here!

May was another busy month for CSBA President Dr. Debra Schade! In addition to multiple visits to Sacramento for the Board of Directors and Delegate Assembly meetings and budget-related advocacy efforts, she attended a convening of the Los Angeles County School Trustees Association and toured sites in Cajon Valley Union School District to learn about local programs.

Ahead of Pride Month celebrated each June, the Petaluma City Schools Board of Education unanimously approved a resolution directing all campuses in the district to fly the Pride flag throughout the school year. Specifically, the district will now fly the Progress Pride flag, designed in 2018 as an update to the traditional rainbow flag to emphasize inclusion and intersectionality within the LGBTQ+ community.

“At the end of the day, it’s a symbol. It doesn’t change policy or it doesn’t magically make bullies not bully, or make homophobic adults not be homophobic or transphobic, but it does signal that the district is thinking about inclusion, that the adults on campus are committed to that, and that school should be a safe place," said Petaluma City Schools trustee Caitlin Quinn. Learn more: https://blog.csba.org/pride-month-2026-1/

Looking for some weekend reading material? Check out CSBA's May newsletter, which includes a breakdown of Gov. Gavin Newsom’s May Budget Revise, as well as CSBA advocacy to demand Prop 98 education funding be protected in the final budget; progress related to the legislative package; and a recap of the Coast2Coast Federal Advocacy Trip! The latest edition of California School News also includes information on newly developed resources about supporting foster youth and the release of the Board Policy Development Toolkit, legal updates related to student free speech, a message from CSBA President Dr. Debra Schade on the importance of honoring students’ educational journeys as the academic year ends and more. Read it here: https://publications.csba.org/california-school-news/may-2026/

May is National Foster Care Awareness month, and CSBA has released several resources in recent weeks including briefs and the spring edition of California Schools magazine which features a deep dive into the new briefs and Riverside County Office of Education's Foster Youth Success Initiative, as well as a discussion with CSBA Vice President Jackie Thu-Huong Wong, a Washington Unified School District trustee with extensive experience working with foster youth at every level of policymaking.

"I encourage all school board members and LEA leaders to read the briefs, learn more about the needs of foster youth, and support foster youth and their caregivers and families in their communities," said CSBA Principal Research Manager Angela Asch, who oversaw the development of the new resources. "An awareness month is also an opportunity to review and update board policies and administrative regulations regarding specific student groups to ensure they are up to date." Read the magazine feature, which includes links to CSBA's new resources: https://publications.csba.org/issue/spring-2026/foster-youth-in-california-schools/

Join industry experts from CSBA and the Public Agency Retirement Services (PARS) for a webinar at 11 a.m. on June 4 covering the latest updates from the Governor’s 2026–27 May Budget Revise and its potential impacts for LEA budgets. Learn more and register: https://ow.ly/T6jB50YZR9S

As LEAs face ongoing fiscal uncertainty, participants will gain insight into how the Governor and the Legislative Analyst’s Office are working to manage budget pressures and sustain education funding. While many external factors remain beyond an LEA’s control, this session will focus on equipping school districts and COEs with the right tools for the job. Explore practical strategies to build a fiscal toolbox, including a resilient rainy-day fund, identifying cost-saving opportunities, and proactively addressing long-term liabilities such as other post-employment benefits (OPEB) and pensions. Leave with actionable, ready-to-use fiscal tools to help navigate uncertainty, strengthen financial stability and plan confidently for the future.

Your new favorite resource has arrived! Introducing CSBA’s Board Policy Development Toolkit — designed to support and enhance board governance, helping trustees assess and improve their policy literacy, engage with community stakeholders, and create robust and equitable policies for their LEAs. Bookmark csba.org/policytoolkit now!

The toolkit contains a Policy Framework, which provides board members with guidance on policy development, review and implementation, along with a shortened framework document; an individual board member reflection tool, which helps trustees assess their own policy literacy and practices; a board policy process evaluation tool, a comprehensive rubric for evaluating existing board policy practices; and a policy principles quick reference guide, which helps board members understand how to engage in high-quality policy review and discussion at the dais.

In opposition of the Governor’s proposed withholding of $3.9 billion in constitutionally guaranteed school funding — equating to roughly $643 per student — CSBA and a coalition of California’s leading education organizations gathered today on the West Steps of the State Capitol to urge the Legislature to reject the continued manipulation of voter-approved Proposition 98 as featured in the May Budget Revise.

"That dollar figure comes with a real cost for our schools. It means larger class sizes, fewer teachers in classrooms, fewer counselors and instructional aides supporting students, and reduced mental health and student support services,” said CSBA President Dr. Debra Schade. “To make the best decisions for kids, school boards need funding transparency, but this withholding introduces uncertainty for boards and instability for kids. As school board members who have to make tough budget decisions, the administration’s withholding forces us into terrible choices that result in fewer opportunities for students who already face enormous challenges.”

Other speakers included leaders from the Association of California School Administrators, California Association of School Business Officials, California County Superintendents, CFT - A Union of Educators and Classified Professionals, California School Employees Association (CSEA), California State PTA and California Teachers Association. Collectively, the group asserted that the ongoing manipulation of the Proposition 98 constitutional formula sets a dangerous precedent, sidesteps the law and weakens public trust while harming students, educators and the public interest. Prop 98 was created to guarantee stable, predictable funding for schools — especially during periods of fiscal uncertainty. A full recap of the event will be available soon!