Education

The Palm Springs Unified School District (PSUSD) has decided to offer AP African American Studies as an elective rather than a required history course, a move that has sparked debate within the community. Supporters of the course, including the president of the Palm Springs Black History Committee, had hoped it would be classified as a

Students from the Palm Springs Unified School District are learning more about the arts and inclusion through the Dance into Disability program. More than 44 million people in the U.S. live with disabilities, making up 13.4% of the population, according to the American Community Survey. However, those with disabilities are still underrepresented in the media,

On Jan. 15, Palm Springs Unified School District released a survey to the community seeking input on the best approach for a possible limit or ban on cell phones in district schools. This survey came after a policy release from Governor Gavin Newsom for the Phone-Free School Act, which requires districts to develop a regulation

PALM SPRINGS, CA (KESQ) – Top honors in the Palm Springs Unified District Spelling Bee of Champions on Friday go to Nellie N. Coffman Middle School eighth grader Juniper Donovan. Juniper successfully spelled the word “facetious” in the fifth round and will move on to represent PSUSD at the Riverside County Spelling Bee in Riverside

The Coachella Valley Animal Campus launched a new program that gives kids the chance to sharpen their reading skills while giving shelter animals some companionship. The Pawsitive Readers program began Wednesday and welcomes children of all ages to read aloud to dogs, cats and bunnies. The program continues Wednesdays from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. Organizers

The Palm Springs Leadership Association is honoring a student from each of the Palm Springs Unified School District elementary, middle and high schools Wednesday night. The association is comprised of PSUSD administrators and managers and the student honorees were nominated by their school principal “for success amidst one or more significant obstacles or challenges,” according to

Running Wild – a local store in Downtown Palm Springs – donated over 250 pairs of shoes and socks to Painted Hills Middle School on Monday morning valued at over $30,000. The shoe store partnered with Coachella Valley has Sole, a local organization that collects gently used shoes from Running Wild, the Birkenstock store and

Riverside County Superintendent of Schools named its first Educator of the Year in a surprise visit to the Palm Springs Unified School District on Thursday morning. Erika Barragan, PSUSD’s executive assistant, was named the Confidential Employee of the Year. This honor is awarded to one out of nearly 400 confidential employees each year. Barragan has

College of the Desert’s interim superintendent/president Laura Hope has been placed on administrative leave with pay, and the board of trustees voted on Friday. The board also voted to appoint Val Martinez Garcia as the acting superintendent/president, effective immediately. The board did not disclose exactly why Hope was placed on leave. The school’s search for

The Palm Springs Unified School District Board passed a resolution on Tuesday “Providing All Children Equal Access to Education, Regardless of Immigration Status.” PSUSD Superintendent of Schools Dr. Tony Signoret told families on Friday that the resolution is to let the community know that all students in the District, regardless of their immigration status, have

College of the Desert has stopped its Superintendent/President search process due to a “reported breach of confidentiality by one or more members of the Presidential Search Committee.” School officials said this breach has “compromised the fairness and trust that are fundamental to this process.” There were no details on what the breach was, but it

Palm Springs Unified School District is gifting presents and essentials to 104 families during its annual Community Giving Day on December 21st. Four families from each PSUSD school have been selected for special support, but all district students will have the opportunity to receive a gift as part of the event. 97% of PSUSD families