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SchoolSafety.gov recently released an issue brief highlighting the harmful effects of substance use on student health and outlining actionable prevention strategies for K-12 schools. This resource provides clear steps to support students and address drug and alcohol use while fostering a safer, more resilient school environment.

This toolkit has been created to help local districts in their evaluation and adoption of new instructional materials that align with the 2008 Health Education Standards, the 2019 Health Education Curriculum Framework, and current CA Education Code and State Statutes. Local educational agencies (LEAs) – school districts, charter schools, and county offices of education – have the authority and the responsibility to conduct their own evaluation of instructional materials and to adopt the materials that best meet the needs of their students. This toolkit will​​​ help guide that process.

California faces a rapidly growing fentanyl epidemic affecting youth and adults that predates COVID-19 by nearly a decade. Fentanyl deaths accounted for more than 80 percent of all drug-related deaths among California’s young people in 2021. Most of our young victims ingested fentanyl accidentally, thinking they were using something less dangerous. The State Superintendent of Public Instruction is encouraging all local educational agencies (LEAs) to take immediate steps to educate students, staff, and families so that we can prevent unintended use of this deadly drug. Read more in the October 27, 2022, CDE letter from Superintendent Thurmond to LEAs, and access comprehensive resources in the flyer HERE​.

The Menstrual Equity for All Act (AB 367 of 2021) makes access to free menstrual products for students of all genders in public schools a reality. The Menstrual Equity for All District Handbook will help guide school districts and school communities in implementing a robust menstrual product program that supports all students who menstruate and helps remove the stigma around menstruation. It includes an overview of the law, a 101 on menstrual products, information on how to fund menstrual product programs for schools, tips for engaging your school community, an FAQ of commonly asked questions, and much more.

The California Department of Education (CDE) has announced that the Providing Relevant, Inclusive Support that Matters (PRISM) training is now available, starting July 1, 2025. 

This is a cultural competency training for school employees, supporting school staff to appropriately include students who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and questioning plus (LGBTQ+) in an educational environment. 

The PRISM curriculum contains six courses that address all the topics listed in ​ EC 218.3(b)(3). Learn more at https://www.prismcalifornia.org​.