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.

In This Issue...

The "Quiet" Work of CAPSO (video)

Beyond Seat Time and the Carnegie Unit

AB 1955 Heads to Court

US DOE Releases AI Guidance

Oaklahoma Supreme Court Denies Religious Charter school

No Cost Private School PD Available

Legislative Call to Action

What I've Been Reading

Beyond Seat Time and the Carnegie Unit

Stanford, CA and Princeton, NJ (April 17, 2023) — The Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching and ETS have announced a groundbreaking partnership aimed at revolutionizing educational assessment throughout the United States. Working in collaboration with educators, policymakers, and stakeholders nationwide, the initiative seeks to develop a comprehensive suite of assessment and analytic tools. These tools are intended to accurately measure the full spectrum of skills necessary for American students to excel in K–12 education, postsecondary education, and beyond.

For over a century, the Carnegie Unit, or "credit hour," has been central to the educational landscape, defining learning benchmarks and shaping how educational outcomes are assessed. However, as educational needs evolve in the 21st century, there is growing recognition that traditional metrics based on seat time alone do not adequately reflect the diverse range of skills and competencies required for success in today's economy.

Read the Full Article: ETS Press Release

AB 1955 Heads to Court



While AB 1955 does not apply to private schools in California, the legislation signed into law on July 15 has created a stir across the state with ripples of commentary across the nation.

The Chino Valley Unified School District and a group of parents have filed a lawsuit against California concerning parental notification rights for transgender students undergoing social transitions at school.

Governor Gavin Newsom signed Assembly Bill 1955 into law on July 15, which prohibits schools from disclosing information about a student's gender identity or expression without their consent. The law is scheduled to take effect on January 1, 2025.

In their lawsuit, filed on Tuesday, the plaintiffs argue that AB 1955 violates parental rights under the First and 14th Amendments, as well as the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). They have petitioned the US District Court for the Eastern District of California for an injunction to prevent enforcement of the law.

Read the Full Article: Bloomberg Law

US DOE Releases AI Guidance

The U.S. Department of Education released new guidance focused on AI and Education (July 8) titled Designing for Education with Artificial Intelligence: An Essential Guide for Developers. The guidance provides comprehensive recommendations tailored for both vendors and school district administrators, advising educators to collaborate closely with vendors and technology developers to navigate the risks associated with integrating artificial intelligence into schools.

The guidance acknowledges the complex position that companies and tech developers find themselves in regarding AI. While many are eager to innovate, there is a strong emphasis on proceeding cautiously by incorporating educator feedback, ensuring rigorous testing, and avoiding the reinforcement of societal biases or dissemination of inaccurate information.

Read the Full Article: Education Week

Access the Guidance Here

Oaklahoma Supreme Court Denies Religious Charter School

The Oklahoma Supreme Court (June 2024) has ruled that a proposed Virtual Catholic Charter School, St. Isidore of Seville, is unconstitutional. The state's highest court emphasized concerns about the violation of the state constitution's prohibition against using public funds for religious purposes due in large part to the proposed model, wherein the school would be funded with public dollars as a charter school but controlled by the two Catholic dioceses of the state. The court's verdict affirms the separation of church and state and sets a landmark precedent in Oaklahoma's educational system that is predicted to impact the regulation and funding of charter schools with religious affiliations moving forward.

Read the Ful Article: Education Week

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 courses available to schools and teachers in an on-demand format. In addition, the annual conference has returned August 1-2, 2024 with both in-person and virtual attendance options. More information can be found here: https://educationspeakersnetwork.com/CAPSPD24/

Learn More About CaPSPDNow

Legislative Call to Action

Invite Your Legislators to Come Visit Your School

WHAT: Extend an invitation to your legislative representatives to come visit a special event at your school site.

WHY: It is imperative as private schools that we remain present in the minds of our legislators. Further, there often needs to be more understanding about the demographics and needs of private schools in the California political landscape. You can help! Senate and Assembly representatives are often willing to visit schools for special events- but they need to be invited well in advance. If you have a special event coming up or want to offer a tour and a chance to connect with constituents, consider contacting your legislators and inviting them to your campus. It will be a great experience for your students and a great way to remind them that you are active and attuned to their role as your representative.

WHEN: Legislative calendars fill quickly, so early planning and inviting well in advance will give you the greatest chance of success.

HOW: Use the button below to locate your representatives. You can have students send letters, or you can send a letter as the head of the school.

What I've Been Reading...

An important component of my position is to read rigorously to stay current with all happenings that potentially impact private schools in California. A few articles always stand out as worthwhile, firsthand reads for private school leaders in California.

These articles do not necessarily represent the perspective of CAPSO; they are resources to represent the diversity of thinking impacting and influencing the political and academic climate.

Have a few moments? Consider the following recommended links to What I've Been Reading...

AI Essay Grading Reveals Asian American Bias:

https://hechingerreport.org/proof-points-asian-american-ai-bias/

Arizona School Vouchers and the Budget Meltdown:

https://www.propublica.org/article/arizona-school-vouchers-budget-meltdown

The National Center on Education and the Economy Releases an AI Framework:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1VGz60Af9pMSAwJDkAawjQDzYqs6YzdaI/view

California District Court Rules on Tax Exempt Status and Title IX

https://www.lcwlegal.com/news/california-district-court-rules-on-tax-exempt-status-and-title-ix-what-california-private-and-independent-schools-need-to-know/

Exempt Free Speech, Hate Speech, and Censorship Envy

https://www.policyed.org/policy-stories/free-speech-hate-speech-and-censorship-envy/video