Across California, at least 5,000 school employees received preliminary pink slips this spring as districts scramble to close budget gaps caused by falling enrollment and rising costs. Oakland Unified plans to eliminate counselors, case managers and attendance clerks as part of sweeping layoffs to address a $103 million deficit. Counselors and mental health staff are high on the list of cuts across the state. The timing could not be worse. Across the country, educators are reporting something troubling: Fewer students are showing up to class, and they’re carrying more fear when they do. A fall 2025 survey from the EdWeek Research Center found that nearly half of educators surveyed say students have expressed increased fear or anxiety related to immigration enforcement. Twenty-four percent reported declines in attendance. Twenty-one percent said more students are seeking counseling support — just as districts implement budget cuts that reduce counselor positions. School counselors, already managing caseloads far beyond recommended ratios, are being asked to do more with less. As education advocates have warned, this climate of fear continues to take its toll on students’ sense of safety and belonging nationwide. Across the country, educators are reporting something troubling: Fewer students are showing up to class, and they’re carrying more fear when they do. In California, state leaders have taken important steps to protect students, including strengthening safe-haven school policies intended to keep immigration enforcement off campus. These policies matter. They send a clear message about the values of the schools and rights of students.…
