Superintendent's Update - January 9, 2026

Jan 9 2026

From the Office of the Superintendent

Board Agenda Calendar

View Calendar of Board Items 2025-26

Superintendent Austin’s Message . . .

The new semester has started, and we have some interesting things ahead of us. The governor is releasing information about the state of finances, including school funding. It will take us a little while to review, especially since our funding system is different from most of the state. Tied to finances, we will also routinely update our webpage for "negotiations" with our partners from PAEA and CSEA. This will be of interest to some people, as we have learned in the past. We will do our best to provide context. Please reach out if there is public information that would be helpful.

PAEA leadership has asked us to review high school start times. The request is to begin high school fifteen minutes earlier. It looks like that can happen without creating unintended consequences. While this is not official yet, I wanted to foreshadow the potential minor adjustment for next year.

We have received some questions and concerns about electric bikes. As a community member and parent, I share some of the concerns as well. We want to work in coordination with the City of Palo Alto and have started conversations. Electric bikes are not all the same. We want to be thoughtful about any revisions to policies before making moves. For now, bikes of any kind and to be walked on campuses. You can all expect an update in the near future.

Happy School Board Appreciation Month!

This January, we honor the dedicated leaders who help shape the future of our schools. Thank you to our PAUSD Board of Education for your steadfast commitment to student success, thoughtful governance, and vision that moves our district forward.

Spring 2026 PAUSD Middle School Validation

For Spring 2026, rising sixth-, seventh-, and eighth-grade students who wish to accelerate beyond the already compacted middle school math program may participate in the Math Validation Process, effectively covering five years of math in three years. In late January, registration information will be provided to parents of current grade 5, 6, and 7th-grade students via Parent Square. Students must register to participate. The test will be administered in March (current grade 6 & 7 on March 23; current grade 5 on March 25).

The Math Validation Process consists of one paper-and-pencil assessment. This assessment will evaluate the readiness of the grade-level math course the student would like to challenge, in addition to the student's knowledge of the topics and skills covered in the course. In late January, registration information will be provided to parents of current grade 5, 6, and 7th-grade students via Parent Square.

These assessments are aligned to the state-adopted mathematics content standards. They consist of multiple-choice (MC) and free-response questions (FRQ). The assessments were developed in partnership with WestEd , a national leader in research, development, and service, alongside PAUSD Math Instructional Leaders.

Interested students may opt in to take the test.
The test will cover the grade-specific standards and concepts for mastery.
Students successful in the Math Validation Process may only accelerate one additional year in the PAUSD middle school pathway.
Students may participate more than once if they do not pass the assessments in a previous validation process.

Showcasing Student Talent: Explore PAUSD’s Career Technical Education Pathways

The PAUSD community is warmly invited to attend the Annual Career Themed Pathways Showcase on Wednesday, January 21, 2026, from 3:00–4:30 p.m., at the Media Arts Center at Palo Alto High School. This districtwide event highlights the outstanding Career Technical Education (CTE) programs offered across all PAUSD secondary schools and provides an opportunity to explore the many ways our students engage in real-world, future-ready learning.

CTE pathways represented will include: Arts, Media & Entertainment; Business & Finance; Education & Child Development; Engineering & Architecture; Fashion & Interior Design; Health Science & Medical Technology; Hospitality, Tourism & Recreation/Culinary Science; Information & Communication Technologies; and Transportation/Automotive Technology.

In addition to student showcases, attendees will have the opportunity to connect with vendors at a job fair, meet local industry partners, and learn more about Palo Alto Middle College High School and NAFTrack pathways.

Building AI Literacy in PAUSD’s Elementary Schools

Between January and March, all PAUSD elementary schools will participate in professional learning focused on artificial intelligence. Teachers at Addison, Escondido, Briones, Nixon, and Hospital School have already engaged in this training during the January 5, 2026, Staff Development Day. These sessions are designed to support educators in making informed instructional decisions about this emerging technology and exploring how AI can enhance teaching and learning in meaningful, responsible ways.