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News and views from a private school perspective
CAPSO
Monthly E-Mailer
California Association of Private School Organizations
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The Voice of Private Education in California | |
Mission Statement
The California Association of Private School Organizations (CAPSO) is the voice of K-12 private education in California. Its primary mission is to preserve the independence of California’s private schools and to uphold parental choice in education. CAPSO, independently and in collaboration with other community and governmental institutions, is an advocate, catalyst, and creative leader for strengthening and advancing K-12 private education in California. CAPSO’s mission is based on the belief that a healthy, pluralistic society depends upon educational options, parental choice, and dialogue and collaboration between educational entities.
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In This Issue...
CAPSO Strategic Plan, Stakeholder Survey (please complete)
Legislative Roundup, California Preview
US Supreme Court Cases and Education in America
Parents Weigh Choice in Schools, American School Satisfaction Survey
Policies Without Chevron and Under President Trump
PD Plan for Schools Attending the CapsPD Private School Conference
Apply to Become a Green Ribbon School
*** Please Join Us! CAPSO CO-Presents with the CDE on ESSA/ESEA ***
No Cost Private School PD Available
Legislative Call to Action
What I've Been Reading
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*** Your Response is Requested! ***
CAPSO Strategic Plan Stakeholder Survey
As you may be aware, CAPSO is in the process of conducting a Strategic Plan to inform priorities and organizational design for 2025-2030. This strategy plan is a critical component of securing the future of CAPSO’s powerful advocacy for private schools in California. Especially in these dynamic times, the role of CAPSO as the voice of private education in the state is critical to ensuring continued freedom to operate in a mission-aligned manner.
CLICK HERE TO TAKE THE SURVEY
This survey should take approximately 5-7 minutes. Thank you in advance for your time!
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Legislative Roundup, California Preview
February 21, 2025 marked the deadline for the introduction of bills in California for the 2025 session, and the total count of potential new legislation: 2350 bills--1500 in the Assembly and 850 in the Senate.
CAPSO has been immersed in the details of these introduced bills, monitoring for potential legislation requiring intervention to forestall legislative overreach beyond reasonable regulation of private schools and attending to potential legislation that supports priorities, including school and student safety.
The CAPSO Legislation Tracker is regularly updated to provide visibility on all the legislation that CAPSO is monitoring/potentially supporting/potentially opposing. Presently, 52 bills are being actively watched by CAPSO on behalf of CAPSO Members.
Subsequent E-Mailers will review specific legislation as bills pass through committees and undergo amendments. In the immediate, CAPSO members are encouraged to visit the CAPSO Legislation Tracker to learn more about what the landscape for private schools looks like in 2025 for California.
Visit the CAPSO Legislation Tracker here
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Supreme Court Cases and Education
The Supreme Court's April session will address multiple issues, 10 hours of oral arguments over six days (April 21 to April 30). On the docket include several cases that reveal the national landscape and priorities, including:
Mahmoud v. Taylor (April 22) – Whether requiring children to participate in instruction that violates their parents’ religious beliefs violates parents’ First Amendment right to freely exercise their religion.
A.J.T. v. Osseo Area Schools (April 28) – Whether children with disabilities who allege discrimination in education must show that school officials acted with “bad faith or gross mismanagement” or instead face a less rigorous standard.
Oklahoma Charter School Board v. Drummond (consolidated with St. Isidore of Seville School v. Drummond) (April 30) – Whether Oklahoma violates the First Amendment’s guarantee of the free exercise of religion when it excludes privately run religious charter schools from the state’s charter-school program because they are religious.
Read the Full Article: ScotusBlog
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Parents Weigh Choice in Schools and American Satisfaction with Education Survey
Two articles looking at parent satisfaction in education reveal prevalent dissatisfaction with the national landscape of education. EdSource reveals that more than two-thirds of parents considered changing their child/ren into a new school last academic year, though less than half made a school change. Of the school changes that did occur, 14% selected private schools and 27% selected alternate education, including online school, microschool, or homeschool. EdWeek reveals that recent Gallup polling indicates that American satisfaction with public education has hit a 24-year low, continuing the trend of decreased satisfaction. In an increasingly complicated national landscape for education, these trends add to tensions building as school choice programs gain momentum under President Trump's executive order.
Read the Full Article Here: EdSource
Read the Full Article Here: EdWeek
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Policies Without Chevron and Under President Trump
Several key policy trends are set to shape the education landscape. With Trump's return to office, school leaders can anticipate ongoing policy reversals, particularly around Title VI regulations and student behavior standards. The Supreme Court's 2024 decision to overturn the Chevron doctrine may also lead to increased judicial involvement in interpreting education policies, especially around Title IX protections and other contentious issues. The broadening judicial interpretation of education policies will likely reveal emerging tensions on religious and educational freedoms, potentially sparking broader debates locally and nationally.
Read the Full Article Here: K12 Drive
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Supreme Court Ruling on E-Rate
On February 21, 2025, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in Wisconsin Bell, Inc. v. United States ex rel. Heath, affirming that E-Rate reimbursement requests are “claims” under the False Claims Act (FCA) since the federal government "provided" at least a portion of the money in the fund. The Supreme Court agreed with lower courts, ruling that because the government contributes to the E-Rate fund, the FCA applies to reimbursement claims.
The ruling doesn't determine if participating in E-Rate qualifies schools as recipients of federal funds under the FCA, but it opens the possibility for future legal claims. CAPSO will be monitoring developments in this matter and will keep members updated. As always, CAPSO cautions private schools to carefully confer with legal counsel before proceeding with any program that may (or will) identify the private school as a recipient of state/federal funds which triggers additional regulations not otherwise applicable to California private schools.
Read the Full Article Here: Law.com
Read the Liebert Cassidy Whitmore Special Bulletin Here
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PD Plan Template for Schools Attending the CapsPD Private School Conference
CAPSO offers a template to assist private schools in fulfilling meaningful consultation requirements when seeking Title funds to support attendance at the annual CapsPD conference.
This adaptable template can be modified by schools for any conference, workshop, or professional development activity. This tool does not guarantee approval; it should be used as part of meaningful consultation.
Access the PD Plan Template for CapsPD Conference Attendance
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Apply to Become a Green Ribbon School!
Did you know that private schools that participate in the Green Ribbon School process have the opportunity to be recognized at both the State and National level?
The Green Ribbon School process is an opportunity to showcase efforts and be recognized for progress towards sustainability across three pillars:
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Pillar I: Reduce environmental impact and costs;
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Pillar II: Improve the health and wellness of schools, students, and staff; and
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Pillar III: Provide effective environmental and sustainability education
Each June, the California Department of Education launches the California Green Ribbon Schools (CA-GRS) application process, inviting public and private schools, districts, and county offices of education to showcase their achievements in sustainability. Participating schools have the opportunity to demonstrate achievement and earn points in pillar categories recognized in one of four tiered levels:
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Bronze Level (Entry Level Commitment): 55-64.9%
- Silver Level (Mid Integration): 65-74.9%
- Gold Level (Full Integration): 75% or better
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Green Achiever: Exemplary Achievement with Full Integration - Green achievers are nominated for Federal recognition in the U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon Program (ED-GRS).
Schools don't need to wait to apply until they have met full integration. Schools that apply will be supported with mentorship and resources, and schools with a 55%+ will be recognized with Bronze achievement by the California Department of Education!
Ready to Learn More?
California Green Ribbon Schools Achievers and Applicants Network: The CA Green Ribbon School Achiever and Applicant Network meets quarterly and aims to unite past, current, and future CA Green Ribbon Schools applicants dedicated to promoting sustainable practices and programs within their school communities. The network gives participants the chance to network with each other to inspire and share best practices.
Upcoming Meeting Dates for the 2024-25 School Year:
The application opens in June and schools are encouraged to begin learning about the application process starting in January. A comprehensive toolkit is available. Use the link below to learn more!
Green Ribbon School Toolkit and Resources
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Please Join Us!
CAPSO CO-Presents with the CDE on ESSA/ESEA
FINAL SESSION IS MARCH 14!
CAPSO is pleased to partner with the California Department of Education to co-present to private school leaders and public school LEAs on Title Programs (ESEA/ESSA) for students and teachers in private schools.
Please see the flyer below for more information. Private school leaders who would benefit from an introductory webinar on the title programs available to private schools are encouraged to attend. This free informational session will have three offerings; visit www.capso.org/essa-collaborative for more information.
Space is limited, and registration is required.
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No Cost Private School PD Available
The California Department of Education receives funds through Title II, Part A Equitable Services to provide no-cost professional development to private school educators.
The website, https://www.capspdnow.com, offers over 1000 no-cost courses available to schools and teachers in an on-demand format. Private school teachers and administrators can join the CaPSPD email distribution list to receive notifications about upcoming development opportunities by sending a blank email to join-private-school-professional-development@mlist.cde.ca.gov
Learn More About CaPSPDNow
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Legislative Call to Action | | | |
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Raise Your Voice with a Letter of Support for ECCA,
the Education Choice for Children Act
WHAT: Write a letter of support for ECCA, the Educational Choice for Children Act.
CAPSO and the Council for American Private Education (CAPE) support ECCA.
WHY: (Source: Invest in Education) "The ECCA provides K-12 scholarships [for] students across America to attend schools that best meet their educational needs as determined by their parents. Under this bill, $10 billion in federal tax credits would be available for individuals and businesses that contribute to non-profit scholarship-granting organizations... Scholarships would be funded with private donations, not federal dollars, and donors would receive a federal tax credit. The ECCA would expand school choice and opportunity while respecting federalism, protecting religious liberty, and ensuring private school autonomy."
WHEN: Please send letters ASAP and no later than March 31, 2025
HOW: Click here for a Letter Template for Completion
(1 letter per recipient on the US Ways and Means Committee- see top of letter for names and email links)
Want to Learn More about ECCA? Resources below.
https://investineducation.org/school-choice/
https://www.mayerbrown.com/budgetreconciliationprimer...
https://www.edweek.org/policy-politics/...
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What I've Been Reading... | | | |
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Questions?
Please don't hesitate to contact us!
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Effective July 1, 2024 CAPSO has a new mailing address and phone number:
CAPSO
PO Box 1077
Novato, CA 94948
(415) 295-6333
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