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News Briefs | FYI
February 9, 2026
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Schools with low vaccination rates to be audited The state of California has announced that schools with more than 10 percent of kindergarten or 7th-grade students who are not fully vaccinated will be subject to audit in the 2025-26 school year.
According to reporting from EdSource, 428 schools are subject to an audit due to low vaccination rates and another 80 schools will be audited for not reporting vaccination information to the state.
According to the California Department of Health audit webpage, schools found to have improperly admitted students that do not meet immunization requirements may be subject to docking of ADA payments for those children.
Read the full EdSource story at edsource.org/2026/california-audits-428-schools-with-low-vaccination-rates.
LAO: Enrollment-based funding model should stay The nonpartisan Legislative Analyst’s Office is recommending California keep its ADA-based funding for schools after determining a switch to an enrollment-based funding model would likely result in lower student attendance.
The analysis, which was mandated by a 2024 bill (SB 98), looks at how a shift to funding based on enrollment would impact four different areas: amount and distribution of funds, attendance, school planning, and administrative burden.
“Overall, our analysis finds that shifting to enrollment‑based funding would be somewhat more predictable and reduce some administrative burdens for LEAs, but likely would have a negative effect on student attendance over the long run,” according to the report.
The LAO found that shifting to an enrollment-based methodology would increase LCFF costs by approximately $6 billion each year. The report noted that LCFF increases would be greater for districts with higher proportions of low‑income students.
However, concerns that decoupling funding from average daily attendance would remove districts’ financial incentives to perform attendance improvement activities ultimately led to the LAO’s recommendation to keep the current funding structure.
“We do not expect LEAs would stop conducting all these activities or immediately reduce programs under enrollment‑based funding, as they understand the importance of regular attendance on student outcomes,” according to the report. “Over time, however, LEAs may not prioritize these initiatives to the same degree as they did under ADA‑based funding, particularly when faced with limited resources.”
The analysis also looked at three alternatives that would maintain the ADA-based system and boost the LCFF base and supplemental grant rates.
Read the full report at https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5100#LAO_Assessment.
Commission releases 2026 Girls Agenda to guide policy The California Commission on the Status of Women and Girls announced the release of the 2026 Girls Agenda, a comprehensive statewide policy roadmap created by the commission’s Youth Advisory Council. Developed by 17 youth commissioners representing communities across California, the Girls Agenda outlines urgent priorities in education and workforce development, health and access, and safety and prevention. Each section is grounded in current data, lived experience, and the realities girls face every day.
The Girls Agenda highlights the systemic barriers that continue to affect the lives of girls statewide and identifies gaps in existing policy implementation. Key recommendations include:
  • Expanding access to computer science and STEM courses,
  • Strengthening childcare support for teen parents,
  • Improving nutrition and eating disorder education in schools,
  • Enforcing menstrual equity laws,
  • Increasing mental health resources, and
  • Enhancing Title IX protections and violence prevention education.
“Our Youth Advisory Council has done extraordinary work,” said Executive Director of the CCSWG Darcy Totten, in a news release. “Their leadership, insight, and honesty have shaped a powerful blueprint for change. The Girls Agenda is a reminder that when we listen to girls, we can help them create policies that reflect their lived realities and support our collective future.”
Read the report at women.ca.gov.
Teaming up to end hunger ACSA and SPG Therapy & Education, an ACSA Partner4Purpose, made a donation to the Jacobs & Cushman San Diego Food Bank during the Every Child Counts Symposium, which was held Jan. 12-14. The Jacobs & Cushman San Diego Food Bank is the largest hunger-relief organization in San Diego County. Last year, the Food Bank distributed more than 50 million pounds of food and served an average of 400,000 people per month. ACSA regularly partners with a local charity to highlight community needs in the areas where its conferences take place. ACSA members wishing to donate to the Jacobs & Cushman San Diego Food Bank can visit bit.ly/ECCFoodBankDonation.
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Eric Culqui with SPG Therapy & Education and Margarita Cuizon-Armelino, deputy executive director of ACSA.
FYI
Deadline to return Safe Schools survey extended
The deadline to submit Equality California’s 2025 Safe and Supportive Schools Report Card Survey has been extended through Feb. 27. Educational leaders once again have an opportunity to gauge their respective successes and challenges in implementing LGBTQ+ inclusive programs and policies by responding to the survey. The Safe and Supportive Schools Survey Report Card gives administrators, community members, and other stakeholders the opportunity to look at the data and determine the level of progress being made in the implementation of important state-approved and/or mandated LGBTQ+ inclusive programs and policies. If you would like more information, please contact Equality California at safeschools@eqca.org.
All are welcome at ACSA virtual assembly on Feb. 19
All ACSA members should have received an e-mail invitation to register for the upcoming virtual Leadership Assembly, which will be held from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Feb. 19. All school leaders, including ACSA members and non-members, are invited to join ACSA’s upcoming governance meeting and hear the latest updates on key issues affecting school leadership across California. If you still need to register or would like to invite another education leader to register, visit acsa.org/about-us/virtual-leadership-assembly.
Institute to end hate will be held March 2 in Sacramento
Applications are open to attend the second annual School Leadership to End Hate Winter Institute on March 2 in Sacramento. Read more and learn how to apply at www.cde.ca.gov/nr/ne/yr25/yr25rel53.asp.