Education Archives

Canvas returning online for some schools, including College of the Desert, after nationwide cyberattack

May 8, 2026 1:20 PM Timothy Foster

PALM DESERT, Calif. (KESQ) – Canvas was slowly coming back online this afternoon for some schools and universities across the country, including College of the Desert, after a nationwide cyberattack disrupted access for millions of students and educators during finals week. Canvas, a cloud-based platform used by millions of students and educators, experienced widespread outages Thursday

Palm Valley School saved by anonymous donor after financial crisis

May 7, 2026 12:38 PM Garrett Hottle

RANCHO MIRAGE, Calif. (KESQ) One day after KESQ News Channel 3 reported Palm Valley School was facing a severe financial crisis, the Coachella Valley’s only non-religious college-prep private school says it will stay open thanks to an anonymous donor. Board Chair Dr. Sarah Dunn confirmed to KESQ Thursday that an unnamed family has stepped forward

Coachella Valley Teachers Union accuses school board of misleading public, fueling ongoing dispute

May 1, 2026 6:18 PM María García

COACHELLA, Calif. (KESQ) — A growing dispute is unfolding between the Coachella Valley Teachers Association and the Coachella Valley Unified School District Board of Trustees, with union leaders accusing board members of making misleading public statements and undermining union leadership. The controversy centers around remarks made by trustees, including Jesus Gonzalez and Joey Acuna, who

Palm Springs Friends of Philharmonic summer camp and scholarships now open

April 30, 2026 3:03 PM Jesus Reyes

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) – Young musicians, listen up. Applications are now open to valley students for summer music camp and college scholarships sponsored by Palm Springs Friends of Philharmonic. Four-year scholarships are available to any accredited college or university and so are scholarships to any eligible music camp across the country. The organization says

California Desert Association of REALTORS awards $15K worth of scholarships to local students

April 27, 2026 3:23 PM Jesus Reyes

Palm Desert, Calif. (KESQ) – Five outstanding local students will receive $3,000 scholarships to support their pursuit of higher education at the college, university, or trade school of their choice, thanks to the California Desert Association of Realtors (CDAR). The selected recipients represent a diverse group of driven and accomplished students from across the Coachella Valley,

Nine students honored with Do the Right Thing awards

April 16, 2026 8:22 PM Jesus Reyes

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) – Local students are being recognized with this month’s Do the Right Thing award, which is a partnership between Palm Springs police and News Channel 3. Nine students received the honor this month from elementary to high schools valley-wide: Joseph Fonseca Sophia Andrede Castellano Mauricio Huerta Villalba Valentina Macías Esparza Gabriel

PGA West Education Fund helping shape ‘The Future’

March 27, 2026 8:29 PM John White

LA QUINTA, Calif. (KESQ) – PGA West and La Quinta are working to send employees and their families to school. News Channel 3 takes a look at how the PGA West Education Fund is changing lives with an event they call “The Future.”

Impact Grant: Cal State San Bernardino Palm Desert Campus

March 24, 2026 9:51 PM Peter Daut

News Channel 3 and the H.N. and Frances C. Berger Foundation presented another Impact Grant to improve lives and help those in need. A $25,000 charitable gift was awarded to the Cal State San Bernardino Palm Desert Campus to strengthen food access for students. At the college, freshmen Sebastian Bautista and Emiliano Barajas find it

Cielo Vista Charter School recognized as Palm Springs’ first Blue Zones school

March 19, 2026 12:02 PM Dakota Makinen

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ)- Cielo Vista Charter School in Palm Springs has been designated the city’s first Blue Zones–approved school, earning recognition for building a culture focused on well-being for students, staff, and families. The designation highlights the school’s efforts to promote healthier lifestyles through community-driven changes. Blue Zones, a broader health initiative, works with

BNP Paribas awards $20K college grants to local students

March 12, 2026 8:12 PM Dakota Makinen, KESQ News Team

LA QUINTA, Calif. (KESQ) – BNP Paribas awarded $20,000 college grants to 10 local students at a special event on Thursday. The 11th Annual BNP Paribas Open Awards were held Thursday morning at La Quinta High School. Recipients were overjoyed to receive the money and said that being rewarded for their hard work is an

La Quinta school recognized as one of state’s model continuation high schools

March 11, 2026 7:34 PM City News Service

LA QUINTA, Calif. (KESQ) – More than 50 continuation high schools throughout the state were recognized today as “Model Continuation High Schools” by the California Department of Education, including Summit High School in La Quinta. “Today, we celebrate 59 commemorate schools for their tremendous efforts as alternative campuses of learning,” State Superintendent Tony Thurmond

Alyssa Burno of Palm Springs Friends of Philharmonic discusses expanding music programs

March 10, 2026 4:52 PM Peter Daut

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) – The Palm Springs Friends of Philharmonic is looking to expand, support, and also financially boost music programs in schools across the valley. The organization just created the position of education and events coordinator. Alyssa Burno will be the conduit to music teachers and students alike. News Channel 3’s Peter Daut

CVUSD board move forward with position cuts

March 2, 2026 5:03 PM Shay Lawson, Jesus Reyes

THERMAL, Calif. (KESQ) – The Coachella Valley Unified School District voted to cut several positions as it seeks to deal with a budget shortfall. The decision comes as the district moves forward with a $25.4M budget reduction plan over three years. The plan includes cuts of $9.4 million in 2026–27, $8 million in 2027–28, and

Meet at the 50: Palm Desert High School celebrates literacy across generations

March 3, 2026 10:20 AM Dakota Makinen

PALM DESERT, Calif. (KESQ) – Palm Desert High School brought together its youngest learners and graduating seniors for “Meet at the 50,” a symbolic literacy celebration reflecting the District’s Portrait of a Graduate vision. Students from Reagan Elementary, Carter Elementary, Lincoln Elementary, and Washington Charter School visited Palm Desert High School Tuesday morning, where they

CVUSD students win awards at County Science Fair

March 2, 2026 6:17 PM Jesus Reyes

RIVERSIDE, Calif. (KESQ) – Several Coachella Valley Unified School District students received awards at the 2026 Riverside County Science & Engineering Fair over the weekend. This year’s competition featured 367 projects representing approximately 530 students from across Riverside County. Medals were awarded in 22 scientific and engineering categories, recognizing exceptional achievement in research, innovation, design,

One Class at a Time recognition highlights the influence of Puente Program at DMHS

February 27, 2026 6:35 PM Dakota Makinen

DESERT MIRAGE, CALIF. (KESQ) – A $777.77 donation sparks a heartfelt moment for a campus program changing students’ lives. For more than a decade, the Puente Program at Desert Mirage High School has helped students pursue higher education and expand their futures beyond the classroom. This week, the spotlight turned to one of the program’s

Palm Springs Unified to host teacher recruitment fair

February 27, 2026 12:15 PM Timothy Foster

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) – Palm Springs Unified School District (PSUSD) is inviting prospective educators to its 2026–2027 Teacher Recruitment Fair on Saturday, March 7, from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at the District Service Center. The district is seeking applicants across all subject areas who currently hold a teaching credential or will be eligible for one

CVUSD Superintendent, Assemblymember discuss district budget cuts

February 20, 2026 4:27 PM Shay Lawson

THERMAL, Calif. (KESQ) – Getting answers as the Coachella Valley Unified School District faces $25.4 million in budget reductions. A fiscal stabilization plan to address shortfalls at the CVUSD. As we reported earlier this month, district leaders say the plan will be phased in over three years, and they’re working to minimize impacts to the classroom

Xavier College Prep wins competition at CSUSB Palm Desert Campus

February 18, 2026 9:07 PM City News Service

PALM DESERT, Calif. (KESQ) – Students from Xavier College Preparatory High School in Palm Desert won the 21st annual Academic World Quest competition, which challenges students’ knowledge of world affairs, hosted at Cal State San Bernardino Palm Desert, officials announced today. Team members MacKenzie Johnson, Haleigh Liles, Luke Macwan and Trey Morrison won first place

CVUSD approves fiscal stabilization plan that includes $25.4M budget reduction over three years

February 13, 2026 5:06 PM Jesus Reyes

THERMAL, Calif. (KESQ) – More budget cuts are coming to the Coachella Valley Unified School District. On Thursday, the CVUSD Board of Education approved a fiscal stabilization plan. The plan includes multiyear reductions of $25.4 million — $9.4 million in 2026–27, $8 million in 2027–28, and $8 million in 2028–29 The Riverside County Office of