Education

Contraband in schools.  From prohibited substances to dangerous items – this issue poses significant risks to both students and staff. “We’re seeing a reduction in students bringing things to school that they shouldn’t bring,” said Laura Meusel, executive director for student services for the Palm Springs Unified School District. Meusel said every school in the

The Coachella Valley Rescue Mission hosted its annual “backpack bonanza,” donating about 2,500 backpacks to low-income families Wednesday morning. The backpacks were filled with school supplies with folders, markers, calculators and more. They were handed out to students ranging from Pre-K all the way to high school.  CVRM did it with the support of the community and

Palm Springs Unified School District is back to school today! Thousands of students will begin their school year this morning, from kindergartners to High Schoolers.  The district has been preparing for the 2024-2025 year all summer, and they’ve had facility on 28 school campuses for weeks.  Palm Springs Unified prides themselves on their academic excellence,

As students return to school, experts say it’s important that families discuss bullying and harassment prevention with their students. New data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention indicates significant health disparities, among LGBTQ+ high school students, who report higher rates of violence, poor mental health and suicidal thoughts and behaviors than their peers. Nearly 3

With the new school year just around the corner, officials are reminding everyone to be vigilant. Increased traffic, especially around schools, calls for heightened awareness and caution. “Everyone is excited about getting back to school and we want to make sure everyone’s first day is a great day,” said Alex Borrego, PSUSD’s director of security

The proportion of college students who are men is now at a record-low at 41%, according to the Department of Education. Men are also more likely than women to drop out of college. One Future Coachella Valley is working to address this gap through its Gents Alliance program, a program developed to improve college access

As the 2024-2025 school year approaches, parents of students at Bubbling Wells Elementary School in Desert Hot Springs are raising concerns about on-campus safety, particularly for students with special needs. New Channel 3’s Jennifer Franco talked with two mothers of special needs students at Bubbling Wells who say they are nervous about what the new

The FAFSA for the 2024-2025 award year is now open. The application for federal student aid can grant students more than $7,000 in financial aid that can be used at any college of their choice. The FAFSA is aimed at students eligible for federal student loans, grants, or federal work-study, and often qualifies them for

A partnership between Converse and The Foundation, a nonprofit under the Palm Springs Unified School District, gives new shoes to students in need each year. This year, they raised over $85,000 for shoes for 2,500 students. The district’s Student Services department assembles the list of students based on need. Students will receive the shoes at

The Coachella Valley United School District (CVUSD) voted on a new superintendent in a board meeting tonight following the recent retirement of Dr. Luis Valentino. After a two-hour closed session meeting, board members of CVUSD returned saying that they took action to appoint Doctor Frances Esparza. Doctor Esparza is currently the Assistant Superintendent of Educational

Students from the Palm Springs Unified School District held their own film premieres today at the Mary Pickford theater. The Young Creators Student Film Program, launched this summer, led students from each grade at every PSUSD middle school to create their own short films. Filmmaker Christian Sesma and Program Director Lilly Sesma collaborated with over

With a $1.5 million grant, College of the Desert (COD) is launching an educational initiative aimed at young adults who have been through juvenile detention systems.  The program is expected to start on campus in the fall of 2024. The California Community Colleges’ Rising Scholars Network is funding the program with a $1.5 million grant.