What’s Happening is a community service from the San Diego County Office of Education (SDCOE) to connect families, students, and educators with free and low-cost opportunities and resources, including educator grants and scholarships/contests for students. Helpful information is updated regularly on this page with highlights published at the start of each month as an e-newsletter.
Email communications@sdcoe.net if you have an opportunity to share with educators, students, and families in San Diego County.
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Free and low-cost opportunities for educators and students
The San Diego Foundation is hosting two Annual Common Scholarship Application (CSA) Guidance Summits on Dec. 18 and Jan. 22. These sessions will support counselors, advisors, and teachers with the tools and knowledge to navigate the CSA process successfully.
National Rainbow College Fund is hosting two scholarship overview webinars on Dec. 19 and Jan. 23. in preparation for the inaugural 2025-26 National Rainbow College Fund scholarship application that opens Jan. 15. Learn valuable insights for teachers, counselors, coaches, and student-serving professionals.
The South County Economic Development Council is hosting the Young Entrepreneurs Academy (YEA) program in South County. Students in grades 6 to 12 can get empowered to navigate the journey of building and opening their very first business. The program includes a robust curriculum and connects students with community business leaders as mentors.
The San Diego Festival of Science and Engineering's Expo Day returns on March 1 to Petco Park. This free event is packed with hands-on learning and exploring activities for children and families.
SDSU Aztecs invite K-8 students, teachers, and chaperones to this season's women's basketball Field Trip Days. Reserve your tickets now for the next game on Feb. 19.
The City of San Diego Winter Civics Internship and Training Program application is open now through Dec. 20. This six-week, paid program gives youth ages 16 and older valuable work experience and an introduction to public service as a career option.
Kids for Peace, home to The Great Kindness Challenge, invites your school to help create a culture of kindness through their weeklong kindness celebration, Jan. 23 to 27. Show the world that kindness has the power to bring people together!
The Bank of America Student Leaders program provides qualifying high school students with the opportunity to have a paid summer internship that has a focus on serving the local community, and a trip to Washington, D.C. next summer. Applications are open through Jan. 17.
The Explore.Act.Tell Program and student challenge is a civic engagement program from Albertsons Companies Foundation that is free for educators to implement. Students in grades 6 to 12 work on projects focused on fighting hunger and food insecurity in their community.
Parents and caregivers can learn about tools and strategies to support their children with mental health challenges through a free webinar series hosted by SDCOE and experts with the Transforming Mental Health Initiative at Rady Children’s Hospital-San Diego.
The winter holiday season can be a joyful time, but they can also bring added stress to adults and young people alike. SDCOE’s mental health and wellness team gathered tips for a healthy holiday season.
High school juniors and seniors have the opportunity to connect with historically black colleges and universities with potential for on-the-spot college scholarships and acceptances awarded to qualifying students at the 2025 Black College Expo Jan. 30.
By creating classrooms that support civil discourse on current issues and events, students learn how to be engaged citizens now and in the future. SDCOE has gathered resources to help educators teach about voting and elections.
We have gathered input from community, staff, and experts to help teachers, parents, and students create a safe, welcoming environment for all members of the community, including and especially those impacted by the the attack perpetrated by Hamas against Israel on Oct. 7, 2023; resulting declaration of war by Israel against Hamas in the Gaza Strip; ongoing hostage crisis; and widening conflict across the Middle East.
Principals and school leaders are invited to learn more about the California Purple Star Designation application and best practices during an informational webinar with SDCOE staff members this month.
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The San Diego County Credit Union is proudly honoring local teachers through SDCCU Classroom Heroes, launched in partnership with SDCOE. Three teachers are recognized every quarter.
There are many local scholarship and contest opportunities available for students in San Diego County. For more student awards and free or low-cost opportunities, visit SDCOE's What's Happening webpage.
The online Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form is officially open and available to all students and families at FAFSA.gov. The agency is actively processing submissions and sending them to higher education institutions. The paper form is also available for students to submit.
The 2025-2026 Common Scholarship Application (CSA) opens Jan. 15. In just one application, the CSA provides students access to more than 130 scholarship opportunities with awards ranging from $1,000 to more than $5,000. The deadline to apply is March 5. Learn more at the San Diego Foundation website.
The Kyoto Symposium Organization and San Diego Foundation, in collaboration with Japan’s Inamori Foundation, have made applications available for the 2024 Kyoto Prize Scholarships. The scholarships, based on the annual Kyoto Prize categories of Advanced Technology, Basic Sciences, and Arts and Philosophy, will assist three San Diego County and three Tijuana-area students with higher education. They are valued at up to $10,000 each. The deadline to apply is Jan. 7. Learn more and apply at the San Diego Foundation website.
The National Rainbow College Fund is powered by San Diego Foundation, one of the largest community foundations in the U.S. and the largest provider of scholarships of any community foundation in California. The mission of the National Rainbow College Fund is to lessen the financial burden for young people who identify as LGBTQ+ or who are grappling with the secrecy of remaining in the closet. The groundbreaking fund addresses the unique challenges LGBTQ+ students face such as social acceptance, mental health issues and family rejection that can hinder their ability to afford college that in turn impacts long-term economic earning power. This $2,500 award per student may be used for tuition, books, fees, room and board, and other educational expenses and does not need to be repaid. The application period is Jan. 15 to March 5. Learn more and apply at the National Rainbow College Fund website.
The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) invites K-12 students to participate in an art contest to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the Civil Rights Act. This contest is intended to highlight the accomplishments, challenges, and legacy of the Civil Rights movement through the minds of our children, showcasing young voices dedicated to change. Winning art will be displayed at the EEOC headquarters in Washington, D.C., their website, and/or social media. Visit the contest webpage for details. The application deadline is Jan. 20.
The EngineerGirl website, presented by the National Academy of Engineering, challenges students in grades 3 to 12 to write an essay about "Innovating Smarter" — how they would design a smart household object, taking into consideration the risks and implications. Prizes range from $100 to $1,000 within each of three grade categories. Visit the contest page for full details. Submissions are due Feb. 1.