SeeCalifornia.com

There are roughly 10,530,000 students (approx. 27% of population) in California, according to US Census Bureau statistics. Nearly one-third of residents are involved in education as students, teachers, professors, educators, administrators and staff. Here are some recent news items relating to California schools:

• FOOD: Marin County students are getting 100% organic lunches; Rattail fish is on the lunch menu in Oakland & Monterey schools; 41 school districts statewide now have Black Bean and California Rice Salad Shaker, hand rolled burritos and Sriracha Cheese Wrap lunch options.
• The passage of a law mandating vaccines for kids in California created a surge in off-campus education which exempts children from 10 vaccines required for public school attendance.
• California is the first in the nation to teach high schoolers about consent, violence and relationships.
• Cancelling the high school exit exam for the Class of 2015 has unwittingly prevented students from graduating.
• UC Irvine (#1) and UC Davis (#2) are the greenest universities in the nation according to Sierra Magazine.
• Miraloma Elementary in San Francisco will offer gender-neutral bathrooms.
• SB707 seeks to remove concealed weapons from school grounds and SB271 will prohibit drones flying up to 350 feet above public schools during school hours.
• Participating McDonald’s restaurants in California offer free breakfast to K-8th grade students on Sept. 15, 2015.
• Several middle schools in Dublin and Pleasanton plan to field cricket clubs this year.