✏️ Spotlight Schools Newsletter: Feb. 2025
O.C. Schools Respond to Immigration Crackdown Plans // 🧡 Support for L.A. Fire Victims // 💯 Celebrating the 100th Day of School
THE LATEST ON TK-12 EDUCATION IN ORANGE COUNTY
Things are changing in 2025. But Spotlight Schools remains committed to its journalistic mission to serve Orange County with unbiased, original, hyperlocal reporting on the education issues you care about. We want this newsletter to be a welcome addition to your inbox. Collaborate with Spotlight Schools and let us know what you want to see covered by responding to this email or sending a message to hello@spotlightschools.com.
No matter what's happening, Spotlight Schools is focused on the Orange County community, examining how students, teachers, families, and other stakeholders connected to TK-12 education are being impacted. This month we look at how local school districts and families are responding to a shift in federal immigration policy that allows Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers to arrest people at schools.
I also want to take this opportunity to personally thank the people that donated to our Giving Tuesday drive in December. It’s because of you that we can continue our work producing stories that you won't find anywhere else! 🧡 Remember you can support our O.C.-centered newsroom all year long here.
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Yours in knowledge,
Jeannette Andruss, Co-founder of Spotlight Schools
Amid Concerns, O.C. School Districts Respond to Changing Federal Immigration Rules
President Donald J. Trump is issuing executive orders and changing policies to deliver on his campaign promise to carry out “the largest mass deportation operation in American history of illegal criminals,” as White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt recently reaffirmed.
One action directly impacts schools: Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers are now allowed to make arrests and carry out operations on or near TK-12 campuses which is a shift in Department of Homeland Security policy.
“Criminals will no longer be able to hide in America’s schools and churches to avoid arrest,” a DHS statement from Jan. 21 reads.
Although it remains unclear whether school raids are planned, the idea of ICE operations near campuses has many families in Orange County, home to large immigrant communities, seeking guidance and support.
According to the Migration Policy Institute, an estimated 12,000 school-aged children in Orange County lack legal status, and many more have a parent that is undocumented.
In response to community concerns, many of Orange County’s 28 public school districts and the Orange County Department of Education (OCDE) are emphasizing that all children, regardless of immigration status, are entitled to a public education under state and federal laws.
The Santa Ana Unified School District, which serves around 36,000 students, reaffirmed its more than 50 schools as “safe havens” for students.
“We will always stand with our students and families facing any immigration enforcement,” SAUSD Superintendent Jerry Almendarez said in a Jan. 16 video.
The district has developed an “Immigration Support Plan,” which includes training staff on how to respond if immigration officials appear on campus.
The Fullerton School District, a TK-8 district serving roughly 11,000 students, has been proactive about responding to families' concerns. The district maintains a robust resource page and recently hosted workshops titled “Supporting Families with Immigration Concerns.”
At one meeting, FSD Superintendent Robert Pletka, Ed.D., reassured families of their rights and stressed the district does not collect any information that shows a student's immigration status.
“We're here as advocates to make sure that you feel safe and know that we're here and will support you all the way through,” Dr. Pletka said, even sharing his personal cell phone number for families needing direct support. The FSD is holding a workshop on Feb. 5 on how to make a Family Preparedness Plan.
The Orange County Department of Education released this overview about current legal protections for immigrant students. The department is monitoring federal developments.
“Recognizing that Orange County is home to many families with varying immigration statuses, we are closely examining federal policy changes related to immigration and their intersection with existing state laws,” Orange County Superintendent of Schools Stefan Bean, Ed.D., wrote in an email statement.
Dr. Bean, himself an immigrant to the U.S., emphasized the importance of compliance with both state and federal laws while ensuring schools remain safe and supportive environments "where every student can thrive."
Anaheim resident Dulce Sotelo, a parent of two students, said there is ongoing fear in her community. “There is a lot of worry about what could happen next,” she said. “We know that kids can’t learn when they are afraid.”
Bethany Anderson, a FSD parent and Director of Camino Immigration Services, which offers counsel on immigration matters, advised families to get their passports in order, update emergency contacts on school forms, and to look out for potential scams. But she also cautioned people not to panic.
“The media likes to sensationalize what's going on, and you're going to hear little bits and pieces of what is actually true,” she said. Anderson encouraged families to seek information from trustworthy sources, like school districts.
Read the whole story at SpotlightSchools.com.
More coverage of Trump administration directives involving education:
- Here are Trump’s first-week actions that could affect schools // EdWeek
- Trump signs executive order promoting School Choice; Ending funding for K12 programs that promote "Indoctrination" // K-12 Dive; (See the "Indoctrination" order at WhiteHouse.gov and the CA Dept. of Education’s response.)
- Trump Education Department reverse Biden-era Title IX sex discrimination rules // Chalkbeat; (CA Dept. of Education response to the Title IX changes)
- Education Department rescinds Biden-era book ban guidance // K-12 Dive
O.C. Schools Become Hubs for Humanitarian Aid for L.A. Fire Victims
Local school districts open doors to L.A. students displaced by the disasters
Tens of thousands of people across Southern California are being impacted by the deadly fires that ravaged Los Angeles County last month, decimating thousands of structures, including schools.
In Orange County, schools have become hubs for humanitarian aid. Students and educators across the region are leading relief efforts, big and small, to help our neighbors to the north.
For weeks, Los Alamitos High School sophomore Era Berani and the student-led Bright Hearts Club have been collecting items for L.A. fire victims. She has made trips to deliver the donated supplies of toiletries, clothing, food, and more.
"Seeing my school community come together has been so inspiring," Era said.
Read more at SpotlightSchools.com.
O.C. Districts Support Displaced Families
O.C. school districts are also seeking to support students displaced by the Eaton, Palisades, and other fires. After Governor Gavin Newsom suspended residency requirements for affected students in L.A. County during the 2024-25 school year, the Westminster School District offered immediate in-person school transfers for short-term or long-term enrollment.
"WSD is here to help you attend school in-person without interruption," WSD Superintendent Gunn Marie Hansen, Ph.D., said in a news release. "Any student displaced by the wildfires is welcome to enroll with us, even on a temporary basis. We have plenty of resources to share with your family."
The Newport-Mesa Unified School District was part of a recent event to welcome new families to the area. Around 30 families affected by the Palisades fire have enrolled their children in the NMUSD, KCAL news reported.
"We have welcomed families displaced by the recent fires," NMUSD Public Information Officer Annette Franco wrote in an email. "We have the resources in place to support their transition and we look forward to helping every student succeed."
Read more at SpotlightSchools.com
Is your district enrolling students displaced by the recent L.A. County fires? We want to hear from you! Email us at hello@spotlightschools.com.
Grant Funds Fuel Innovation in the Los Alamitos Unified School District
In the Los Alamitos Unified School District, the district’s non-profit partner the Los Alamitos Education Foundation (LAEF) is having a tremendous impact in bringing new technology to classrooms.
LAEF’s mission is to “prepare every child in our district for college and beyond.” To date, it has granted more than $702,000 in support of STEAM and innovation across the district. This past summer, the 40-year-old organization reimagined how it awards its Innovation Grants.
After years of offering the grants solely to STEM teachers, LAEF opened up the application to all staff members at the district’s nine campuses in Los Alamitos, Rossmoor, and Seal Beach. And the results were pleasantly surprising.
A drama teacher, a physical education teacher, and a club adviser were among the 112 applicants. They were also among the 54 recipients of the grants that totaled $150,975.
Oak Middle School P.E. teacher Laura Velasco used her LAEF grant to purchase 40 heart rate monitors for students. Her hope is that the new tools prompt kids to think differently about physical fitness.
“I'm really just hoping that it kickstarts some of them who think that they don't like running, to realize that you don't have to run fast to work your heart, to push your heart, and to increase your fitness level,” Velasco enthused in a recent phone interview, her passion for P.E. palpable.
Read more about the creative ways teachers are tapping into technology through LAEF’s Innovation Grants at SpotlightSchools.com.
Editor's Note: The co-founder of Spotlight Schools is a donor to LAEF.
National News Literacy Week
National News Literacy Week kicks off on Feb. 3. The program, in its sixth year, is a collaboration between the News Literacy Project, The E.W. Scripps Company and USA Today. It focuses on "providing educators with the tools and resources they need to help students more skillfully navigate today’s information landscape."
According to a 2024 report from the News Literacy Project, 94% of teens said that schools should be required to teach media literacy.
Teachers can click here to learn more about National News Literacy Week and find plans, like strategies for vetting a news source, that can be incorporated into classroom lessons.
Other Stories We're Reading
Note: some links may have a paywall or require a subscription to read.
- Santa Ana school board votes to lay off around 280 teachers, counselors, and other staff // The Orange County Register
- National Assessment shows CA students still lagging behind pre-pandemic math and reading scores // EdSource
- Teens arrested for setting fire at Huntington Beach middle school // KTLA
- Los Alamitos HS girls water polo to miss CIF-SS playoffs after forfeiting 8 wins // The Orange County Register
- Vacant seat on NMUSD’s Board of Education filled by former Newport Harbor High PTA president // Daily Pilot
- Anatomy of a divided school board's vote on Ethnic Studies // EdSource
- Newport-Mesa Unified offers after-school swim program // Daily Pilot
- Former O.C. Superintendent of Schools passes away // OCDE Newsroom
- California Lottery raises $2.25 billion for public schools in 2024 // Fullerton Observer
- Orange County schools mark Lunar New Year // OCDE Newsroom
🎉 Happy 100th Day of School!
Students in the Garden Grove USD, Fullerton School District, and Los Alamitos USD mark the 100th day of school. Photos from GGUSD, FSD, and McGaugh Elementary.
This past week marked a milestone that's become an annual event at some Orange County campuses – the 100th day of school.
Several schools celebrated with teachers and students dressing up as 100-year-olds complete with gray wigs, glasses, suspenders, and even some canes. Kindergarten students took part in math-themed activities involving counting to 100.
In the Garden Grove Unified School District, it "was a day filled with laughter, excitement, and plenty of 'old-school' charm as the school community came together to reflect on the first 100 days of learning," reads an Instagram post.
"We’re proud to be 100 days smarter, 100 days stronger, and 100 days closer as a school community," wrote the Fullerton School District.
In the Los Alamitos Unified School District, students at Rossmoor Elementary got a visit from Zero the Hero, a super hero figure based on a book. (Zero was played by Los Alamitos school board member Chris Forehan.)
"Here’s to being 100 days smarter!!" reads a post from the district.
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