California Department of Education

Discover California stories that shaped the nation! 🏞️☀️🐻

To celebrate and the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, California State Parks announced that a special edition Historian Passport is free to download through the Fourth of July weekend!

The Historian Passport is valid for the rest of 2026 at more than 30 state historic parks throughout California, where visitors can immerse themselves in the state’s rich and complex history. Learn more at: https://www.parks.ca.gov/NewsRelease/1533

Today, staff from the CDE Nutrition Services Division gave our summer intern cohort a tour of the Sacramento Distribution Center, which has supported the National School Lunch Program for more than 70 years.

Attention CA teachers — State Superintendent Tony Thurmond and the CDE encourage you to explore “Tell Me a Story: Text Structures and Features,” a Grade 4 English language arts lesson plan in which students discuss a story with a partner or small group to identify and explain examples of text structures and features. Learn more at https://smartertoolsforteachers.org/resource/1827

Note: Tools for Teachers requires an account to view full resources. A free Tools for Teachers account is available for all California public school educators.

While school may be out for the summer, hunger never takes a break.

More than 3.5 million eligible California children will automatically receive EBT cards to purchase groceries this month, and each eligible child will receive $120. Eligible children who are not automatically enrolled will need to apply through their school to get benefits.

Getting and using SUN Bucks does not affect a family’s immigration status. Children who get SUN Bucks can still participate in other food assistance programs, like CalFresh and Summer Meal Programs.

Learn more:

SUN Bucks California’s Summer EBT program, also known as SUN Bucks, provides $120 per eligible child to help families buy food during the summer when school is out.

Attention California educators — State Superintendent Tony Thurmond and the CDE encourage you to explore “Electric vs. Gas Cars: Justify Your Decision,” a high school math lesson where students interpret data and use it to construct chains of reasoning to justify solutions.

Learn more by visiting https://smartertoolsforteachers.org/resource/1962

Note: Tools for Teachers requires an account to view full resources. A free Tools for Teachers account is available for all California public school educators.

Today in Los Angeles, California State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond attended a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new Goldrich Cultural Center at the Holocaust Museum LA. The opening of the Goldrich Cultural Center represents a major expansion of the museum’s campus, enabling it to educate more students about the enduring lessons and relevance of the Holocaust, with a goal of reaching 150,000 students by 2030.

Superintendent Thurmond, a co-chair of the Governor’s Council on Holocaust and Genocide Education, has championed antibias education through his Education to End Hate Initiative. California educators are encouraged to teach about the Holocaust to cultivate empathy and understanding and to combat antisemitism and hate.

It was a great visit yesterday to William Land Elementary School in the Sacramento City Unified School District to read to students! The school, which CDE recognized as a California Distinguished School in 2008 and 2018, also runs a dual-language Mandarin immersion program from kindergarten through 6th grade.

Monday was a school-wide Level Learning Celebration, as students achieved their quarterly literacy growth goals. Great work by the principal, Ellen Lee Carlson, as well as the students and staff. California State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond and CDE are working to raise funds to implement a five-year statewide plan to help all students read by third grade. Superintendent Thurmond’s plan contains key strategies proven to improve literacy and would represent the most significant investment and the first long-term literacy plan in recent California history. The plan includes funding for specialized professional learning and coaching, high-impact tutoring, and screening for reading difficulties.

Healthy students start with healthy meals! 🍓🌱🥦

During National Fresh Fruit and Vegetables Month, we celebrate the fresh foods that help fuel learning, growth, and success in and out of the classroom.

while school may be out for the summer, hunger never takes a break? More than 3.5 million eligible California children will automatically receive EBT cards to purchase groceries this month, and each eligible child will receive $120. Eligible children who are not automatically enrolled will need to apply through their school to get benefits.

Learn more: https://www.cdss.ca.gov/sun-bucks

On World Environment Day, let’s celebrate our beautiful planet and raise awareness about the importance of environmental conservation. ♻️🌎🌿

Celebrate our Golden State during California State Parks Week! 🏞️🌲

Next week is California State Parks Week (June 10-14), an exciting annual event that celebrates the amazing diversity of California’s State Park System and the people who visit and help protect these iconic places.

Through special community events and in-person and virtual programming, California State Parks, Save the Redwoods League, Parks California, and California State Parks Foundation invite all Californians to celebrate the communities and cultures that make our state special, explore new adventures and activities in our shared parks, and discover ways to deepen their relationships with parks and the landscapes they protect!

🌴☀️ Learn more at: https://castateparksweek.org/