On October 1, 2026, the Orange County Department of Education (OCDE) announced a podcast and video series called Leading Educational Attainment, produced with the Orange County Business Council. The series has 10 episodes in English and Spanish and covers college and career preparation, financial aid, grading systems, and honors and Advanced Placement (AP) courses. The Irvine Unified School District (IUSD) is part of Orange County, so the series is aimed at Irvine families as well, but there is no Chinese-language version.
Who Is Affected by the OCDE family education podcast
Orange County families who want to understand how the American school system works, especially parents going through the application process for the first time. The release schedule:
- Episode 0 and Episode 1 are available now on Spotify and YouTube.
- Episode 2 is released on October 13, with a new episode every other Tuesday through February 2, 2027.
- Each episode features conversations with educators, community leaders, and parents offering practical guidance.
Orange County Superintendent of Schools Stefan Bean said in the announcement that the podcasts will help families understand the complexities of education, and he noted that the content goes beyond academics to workforce preparation.
What to Do Now About the OCDE family education podcast
Treat it as an introduction to the system, not an application guide. The series explains how California public schools work in general; course offerings, weighting rules, and college outcomes at a specific school still come from that school’s own materials. Courses and college data for Orange County public high schools are in the Orange County Top 10 Public High School Guide, and the five Irvine high schools are covered in the Irvine High School Guide.
Check financial aid content against official dates. The series discusses financial aid; the specific FAFSA and California state deadlines are in Brief: FAFSA Is Open, California Deadline Is March 2.
Families who need Chinese-language guidance should use another channel. The series is available only in English and Spanish. EDUBUS advisors explain the American college application process and each college’s requirements in Chinese; see College Admissions Planning.
Sources
- CSU Transfer Priority Filing Ends Nov. 30CSU priority filing for fall 2027 transfer applicants ends November 30, 2026; $70 per campus. ADT admission guarantee, upper-division requirements, and next steps.
- Notre Dame REA Nov. 1; Tests Required Fall 2028Notre Dame Restrictive Early Action closes November 1, 2026. Scores stay optional this cycle; SAT or ACT is required for fall 2028 entry. Dates, essays, and rules.
- Pomona Two Essays, Early Decision Due Nov. 8Pomona College Early Decision I closes November 8, 2026, decisions by December 15. Two supplement prompts of 150 and 250 words, plus recommendation and testing rules.
- Portola High Financial Aid Workshop Oct. 19Portola High School holds a mandatory financial aid workshop for all seniors on October 19, 2026, led by Irvine Valley College, with FSA ID creation. Parent steps first.
