In the far reaches of Kern’s vast landscape — atop foothills out east and sprawled across the oil and ag land out west — lie eight of the County’s smallest school districts. Together, they serve fewer than 1,000 students. Despite facing unique challenges like social isolation and limited resources, these districts are proving that size is no limitation when it comes to making a big impact.
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Kern County has been awarded a $5.2 million Youth Homelessness Demonstration Program (YHDP) grant, a groundbreaking investment that aims to transform the lives of thousands of young people facing housing instability.
Gloria Rodriguez, a 22-year-old foster youth, was beaming with excitement and hope today as she received her first car — a gently used Ford EcoSport SE — thanks to a community partnership between the Dream Center, Kern County Network for Children (KCNC), and Jim Burke Ford. The donation marks a transformative moment in Rodriguez’s journey toward independence and success.
Applications officially opened for the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) today. Y2LEF teamed up with the Kern Regional K-16 Education Collaborative and the Kern County Superintendent of Schools (KCSOS) to host a news conference highlighting financial aid opportunities here in Kern County. Local education leaders and community officials joined the conference, stressing the importance of access to higher education.
Kern County’s most anticipated holiday tradition, HolidayLights at CALM, is back and brighter than ever. Running from November 30 through January 4, this award-winning event combines breathtaking light displays with festive activities, making it a must-visit for families and friends during the holiday season.
The annual update to the California School Dashboard, the state’s annual report card for K-12 public schools, was released today. It provides a transparent overview of how schools and districts are performing across key indicators.
More than 6,000 students descended on Mechanics Bank Arena today to watch the Bakersfield Condors take on the Abbotsford Canucks for the annual Field Trip Day. Students were bused in from more than two dozen school districts to take part in the event, presented by Valley Strong Credit Union. The Canucks beat the Condors 4-2. The Condors’ next game is on Friday.
Ishmeet Singh, a junior at Stockdale High School, is reshaping how students across California receive critical mental health support. He spearheaded an initiative to integrate QR codes on all school ID cards across the state, linking students directly to the mental health resources they need.
The Embrace Equity Symposium in Bakersfield is honoring three Equity Champions whose dedication to inclusivity is inspiring change in Kern County. This year’s honorees—Salvador Avalos, Raji K. Brar, and Ishmeet Singh—are celebrated for their tireless work to uplift others.
Nearly 500 educators and community members from Kern County and beyond gathered at the Mechanics Bank Convention Center for the 4th Annual EMBRACE Kern Equity Symposium, marking the first day of this impactful two-day event.
As California gears up to offer an entirely new type of teaching credential geared toward pre-kindergarten through third-grade teachers, experts and educators alike are rallying around the idea that play is more than just a break from learning — it is the learning.
Nearly 2,000 students from nine school districts across eastern Kern County gathered Thursday at the Mojave Air and Space Port for the third annual East Kern Career Expo. The event, packed with exploration and learning, provided students from grades six through twelve with a firsthand look at potential college and career paths in their own region.
Standard Middle School and Mt. Vernon Elementary School are Bakersfield’s latest Blue Zones Project Approved Schools. Both campuses celebrated their milestones this week. Over the past year, staff at each school have worked with Blue Zones Project Bakersfield to implement changes to help make their campuses healthier for students.
The Wasco Union Elementary School District held its annual English Language Reclassification Ceremony last week, celebrating the achievements of 127 students in grades K-8 who have successfully transitioned from English Language Learner (ELL) status to reclassified as fluent English proficient students.
November marks Homeless Youth Awareness Month (HYAM). This nationwide effort began in 2007 to highlight the issues faced by young people experiencing homelessness. The Bakersfield-Kern Regional Homeless Collaborative’s (BKRHC) Youth Action Board (YAB) is leading the charge through a series of events all month long. Key activities include the Purple Pie Challenge, a public donation drive, and a Town Hall meeting, all aimed at raising both awareness and resources.
The California Living Museum (CALM) announced today that tickets for the award-winning HolidayLights, now featuring a refreshed logo, are now on sale at www.calmholidaylights.org. HolidayLights will kick-off on Saturday, Nov. 30 and run nightly through Jan. 4, except on Christmas. Guests can enjoy the lights from 5:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., Sundays through Thursdays, and enjoy new extended hours on Fridays and Saturdays from 5:30 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.
KCSOS has introduced a regionalized model for special education, cutting travel times and fostering deeper connections between families and schools. Fruitvale School District’s Endeavour Elementary, a key partner of this initiative, exemplifies the powerful social and emotional impacts of inclusion.
In the halls of Rio Bravo-Greeley Union School District (RBG), school nurse David Tate has made it his mission to bridge the gap between education and healthcare for families going through childhood cancer. Inspired by his son’s fight with leukemia, Tate, alongside the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (LLS), has championed resources aimed at helping schools support children with cancer as they return to the classroom.
The Pledge of Allegiance is no longer just a daily classroom tradition. Through a new initiative called Pledge Across Kern, led by the Kern County Superintendent of Schools (KCSOS) in partnership with KUZZ 107.9 FM, students from all corners of the county are coming together to lead the Pledge not just in their classrooms but over the airwaves.
In the early 1990s, former Kern County Superintendent Kelly Blanton dreamed of moving KCSOS to downtown Bakersfield to create a lively hub of learning and community. His vision became reality in 1994 with the dedication of City Centre, which has since become the beating heart of KCSOS, serving thousands who have worked tirelessly to support Kern County’s children and families over the years. Now, as KCSOS marks 30 years downtown, the addition of the iconic Bell Tower signals an exciting new chapter in Blanton’s enduring legacy.
