Shows / ACSA Legislative Lunch Break
ACSA Legislative Lunch Break
The ACSA Legislative Lunch Break looks at important topics in California public education. Every week, Naj Alikhan and Edgar Zazueta discuss the up-to-the-minute information from the California State Capitol and the California Department of Education. They'll also bring on special guests to help analyze subjects impacting educators around the state.
Episodes
- ACSA Legislative Lunch Break
Why U.S. Department of Education Is Investigating California Schools
The ACSA Legislative Lunch Break is back as Naj and Edgar examine new federal investigations involving California public school districts and student surveys…
- ACSA Legislative Lunch Break
California's Student Data Breach
The ACSA Legislative Lunch Break is back as Naj and Edgar break down the student data breach involving ETS, California’s statewide assessment contractor. ETS…
- ACSA Legislative Lunch Break
California’s New 70-Day Substitute Rule
The ACSA Legislative Lunch Break is back as Naj and Edgar break down California’s new 70-day substitute rule and what it means for school districts. Our…
- ACSA Legislative Lunch Break
The $3.9 Billion Prop 98 Lawsuits
The ACSA Legislative Lunch Break returns as we break down the lawsuits against the state over the $3.9 billion shortfall in Proposition 98 funding for…
- ACSA Legislative Lunch Break
AI Threats and School Safety
The ACSA Legislative Lunch Break returns as we examine how AI-generated threats, online impersonation and social media are creating new challenges for school…
- ACSA Legislative Lunch Break
Rethinking Cell Phones in Schools
The ACSA Legislative Lunch Break is back as Naj and Edgar examine what we're learning about limiting student cell phone use in schools. Researcher and…
- ACSA Legislative Lunch Break
How School Districts Can Prepare for Paid Pregnancy Leave
The ACSA Legislative Lunch Break is back from a summer hiatus as Naj and Edgar examine California’s new paid pregnancy leave law and what districts need to…
- ACSA Legislative Lunch Break
What's In California's Final State Budget?
The ACSA Legislative Lunch Break is back as Naj and Michael break down California's newly signed state budget and what it means for school leaders. From…
- ACSA Legislative Lunch Break
A Deep Dive into the May Revise
The ACSA Legislative Lunch Break is back as Naj and Edgar take a deeper look at Gov. Gavin Newsom’s May Revise. John Gray from School Services of California…
- ACSA Legislative Lunch Break
Breaking Down Gov. Newsom’s May Revise
The ACSA Legislative Lunch Break is back for a special edition as Michael and Edgar take a first look at Governor Gavin Newsom’s May Revise. We examine what…
- ACSA Legislative Lunch Break
What to Watch Ahead of May Revise
The ACSA Legislative Lunch Break is back as Naj and Michael break down where California’s education budget stands right now. With the Legislature weighing in…
- ACSA Legislative Lunch Break
Federal Pullback on Education Funding
The ACSA Legislative Lunch Break returns as Naj and Edgar examine the federal government’s pullback on education funding and what it signals for public…
- ACSA Legislative Lunch Break
Supreme Court Ruling on Transgender Parental Notifications
The ACSA Legislative Lunch Break is back with a jam-packed episode breaking down the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling allowing parental notification policies…
- ACSA Legislative Lunch Break
The Growing Role of Special Education in District Budgets
The ACSA Legislative Lunch Break is back after a brief hiatus as we explore how special education has become a central issue in collective bargaining and…
- ACSA Legislative Lunch Break
The $5.6 Billion Prop. 98 Fight
The ACSA Legislative Lunch Break is back after a week off as Naj and Edgar examine Governor Gavin Newsom’s proposal to withhold $5.6 billion in funding…
- ACSA Legislative Lunch Break
Inside the 2026–27 California Budget Proposal
The ACSA Legislative Lunch Break returns with a special edition as Naj and Edgar break down Governor Newsom’s proposed 2026–27 state budget. The proposal…
- ACSA Legislative Lunch Break
California’s 2026 State Budget Outlook
The ACSA Legislative Lunch Break returns for the final show of the year as Naj and Edgar take a close look at California’s 2026 state budget outlook. With…
- ACSA Legislative Lunch Break
How 2025 Changed California Schools
The ACSA Legislative Lunch Break returns as Naj and Edgar look back at the education stories and policy shifts that defined 2025. From ICE raids on school…
- ACSA Legislative Lunch Break
Redrawing California & The Maps Behind Prop 50
The ACSA Legislative Lunch Break is back as Naj and Edgar dive into the maps behind Proposition 50 ahead of California’s November 4 special election. Paul…
- ACSA Legislative Lunch Break
How Schools Are Responding to California’s New ICE Law
The ACSA Legislative Lunch Break is back as Naj and Edgar break down SB 98, California’s new law limiting immigration enforcement on school campuses. We…
- ACSA Legislative Lunch Break
Special Education Cuts & the Federal Shutdown
The ACSA Legislative Lunch Break is back after a week off as Naj Alikhan and Michael Kelly discuss the sweeping federal layoffs that gutted the Department of…
- ACSA Legislative Lunch Break
What California’s New Immigration Laws Mean for Schools
The ACSA Legislative Lunch Break is back as Naj and Edgar take a closer look at California’s new immigration laws and what they mean for schools. Friend of the…
- ACSA Legislative Lunch Break
Newsom Signs ICE Bills & Learning Loss Solutions
The ACSA Legislative Lunch Break returns with coverage of Gov. Gavin Newsom’s newly signed immigration bills that restrict enforcement activities on school…
- ACSA Legislative Lunch Break
The Education Bills Heading to Newsom’s Desk
The ACSA Legislative Lunch Break is back after a brief hiatus as we break down the biggest education bills to come out of the final days of California’s…
- ACSA Legislative Lunch Break
TK Staffing & Implementation
The ACSA Legislative Lunch Break returns after a brief hiatus as Naj and Edgar unpack the challenges of implementing and staffing Transitional Kindergarten…
- ACSA Legislative Lunch Break
Religious Opt-Outs and Legal Landmines for Schools
The ACSA Legislative Lunch Break returns as Naj and Edgar unpack the Supreme Court's ruling on religious exemptions and its impact on curriculum, inclusion…
- ACSA Legislative Lunch Break
Final Push in the State Capitol
The ACSA Legislative Lunch Break is back as Naj and Edgar break down the final push in the State Capitol with our legislative advocates. From high-stakes…
- ACSA Legislative Lunch Break
Trump Freezes $800M in California School Funds
The ACSA Legislative Lunch Break returns at 1 p.m. as Naj breaks down the Trump administration’s decision to freeze $800 million in federal funding for…
- ACSA Legislative Lunch Break
5-Year Anniversary Special & Budget Agreement
This isn’t just another episode. It’s the 5-Year Anniversary Special of the ACSA Legislative Lunch Break! We celebrate the moments that made the show what it…
- ACSA Legislative Lunch Break
ICE Protests in LA, School Safety & State Budget Moves
The ACSA Legislative Lunch Break is back with a new episode as protests continue in Los Angeles following immigration raids and the controversial deployment of…
- ACSA Legislative Lunch Break
Federal Funding Fights and Policy Shifts
This week on the ACSA Legislative Lunch Break, we take you to the Nation’s Capital for a critical federal update with two DC insiders. We break down a…
- ACSA Legislative Lunch Break
May Budget Revision Deep Dive
On this week's edition of the ACSA Legislative Lunch Break, Naj and Edgar take a deeper dive into Governor Gavin Newsom's revised budget proposal. They're also…
- ACSA Legislative Lunch Break
May Budget Revision Analysis
It's a special edition of the ACSA Legislative Lunch Break as Naj and Edgar are looking at Governor Gavin Newsom's May Budget Revision for the 2025-2026 year…
- ACSA Legislative Lunch Break
May Budget Revision Preview
On this week's ACSA Legislative Lunch Break, we look ahead to Governor Gavin Newsom's May Budget Revision. Our good friend John Gray from School Services of…
- ACSA Legislative Lunch Break
Defending DEI in California Schools
On this week's ACSA Legislative Lunch Break, Lake County Superintendent of Schools Brock Falkenberg joins us to discuss his response to a recent federal memo…
- ACSA Legislative Lunch Break
John B. King Jr. on the Future of Public Education in the Wake of Trump’s Executive Order
In the wake of President Trump’s expected executive order to shut down the U.S. Department of Education, former Secretary of Education Dr. John B. King Jr…
- ACSA Legislative Lunch Break
Former Education Secretary Arne Duncan on the Future of Public Education: What’s at Stake?
Former U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan joins the ACSA Legislative Lunch Break for a critical conversation on the biggest challenges facing public…
- ACSA Legislative Lunch Break
Trump Administration Threatens K-12 Funding Over DEI
The latest order from the Trump Administration in Washington D.C. calls for federal funding to be stripped from K-12 schools and universities with Diversity…
- ACSA Legislative Lunch Break
Attacks on LGBTQ+ Communities
On a critical edition of the ACSA Legislative Lunch Break, we tackle the ongoing attacks on LGBTQ+ communities and student rights in the wake of President…
- ACSA Legislative Lunch Break
Defunding The U.S. Department of Education
On a jam-packed edition of the ACSA Legislative Lunch Break, we unpack President Trump’s plan to dismantle the Department of Education and its impact on our…
- ACSA Legislative Lunch Break
Immigration Executive Orders
The ACSA Legislative Lunch Break returns this week with an important discussion on President Trump’s recent policy change allowing federal immigration…
- ACSA Legislative Lunch Break
2025 State Budget Release
On this special edition of the ACSA Legislative Lunch Break, Naj and Edgar are joined by the entire governmental relations team to break down Governor Gavin…
- ACSA Legislative Lunch Break
2025 State and Federal Budget Outlook
On the last ACSA Legislative Lunch Break of 2024, Naj and Edgar discuss California and federal budget projections for 2025 with friend of the show, Patti…
- ACSA Legislative Lunch Break
Rights of Undocumented Students
Welcome back to Legislative Lunch Break! The incoming presidential administration has threatened to deport undocumented families, and the California…
- ACSA Legislative Lunch Break
2024 Election Analysis
Welcome to a special 1-hour edition of the ACSA Legislative Lunch Break! This week, we're breaking down the results of the 2024 Election on both the federal…
- ACSA Legislative Lunch Break
Children and Youth Behavioral Health Initiative
This week on the ACSA Legislative Lunch Break, Naj and Edgar are discussing the new Children and Youth Behavioral Health Initiative to support student wellness…
- ACSA Legislative Lunch Break
Legislative Session Recap
On this week's episode of the ACSA Legislative Lunch Break, Executive Director Edgar Zazueta is FINALLY back in the co-host seat! And there's a lot to discuss…
- ACSA Legislative Lunch Break
Dr. Darshana Patel on California State Assembly Aspirations
On this week's episode of the ACSA Legislative Lunch Break, Naj and Iván are joined by Darshana Patel, a scientist and school board member who’s running for…
- ACSA Legislative Lunch Break
Proposition 2 & School Facilities
We are just a few weeks away from the the November election. One of the biggest educational topics right now centers around Proposition 2, the statewide bond…
- ACSA Legislative Lunch Break
Declining Enrollment Strategies
Declining enrollment has had a big impact on California schools in the last several years — and the numbers won't reverse anytime soon. On this week's…
- ACSA Legislative Lunch Break
Legislative Session Update
This week on the ACSA Legislative Lunch Break, our ACSA advocates, Dorothy Johnson and Serette Kaminski have the latest on the legislative session now that…
- ACSA Legislative Lunch Break
Assemblymember Al Muratsuchi Returns
The ACSA Legislative Lunch Break is back after a brief hiatus! This week, Naj Alikhan & Iván Carrillo are chatting with California State Assemblymember Al…
- ACSA Legislative Lunch Break
Transitional Kindergarten and English Proficiency
Welcome back to the ACSA Legislative Lunch Break. Today, we talk with two early education experts about the latest in Transitional Kindergarten assessments…
- ACSA Legislative Lunch Break
Inclusive Early Education Expansion Program Cuts
Gov. Gavin Newsom proposed in his May revised budget to scale back funding to expand preschool for children with disabilities. Join us on this week's…
- ACSA Legislative Lunch Break
Prop 98 Maneuver
The ACSA Legislative Lunch Break returns as Naj and Edgar will discuss Governor Gavin Newsom's proposed budget maneuver around Prop 98. What could it mean for…
- ACSA Legislative Lunch Break
2024 California May Revise Deep Dive
On this week's episode of the ACSA Legislative Lunch Break, we're taking a closer look at Governor Gavin Newsom's 2024 May Revise. Naj and Edgar will be joined…
- ACSA Legislative Lunch Break
2024 California May Revise Pt. 1
Welcome to a special edition of the ACSA Legislative Lunch Break as we unpack Governor Gavin Newsom's 2024 May Revise. We'll take a look at what his latest…
- ACSA Legislative Lunch Break
2024 California May Revise Wishlist
The ACSA Legislative Lunch Break returns with a jam-packed episode. Governor Gavin Newsom is expected to announce his May Revise in the coming days. School…
- ACSA Legislative Lunch Break
Advocacy in Action
We're back with a brand new episode of the ACSA Legislative Lunch Break after a brief hiatus! Naj and Edgar will take a look back at our 2024 ACSA Legislative…
- ACSA Legislative Lunch Break
The Future of AI with Senator Josh Becker
The ACSA Legislative Lunch Break returns with an all-new episode as we're talking the future of AI with California State Senator Josh Becker. We'll discuss how…