Candidate Forum And More Voter Info
The League of Women Voters of San Luis Obispo County will moderate a forum for candidates for the San Luis Coastal USD Board of Trustees on Wednesday, October 14, from 5:30 to 7 pm. in the library at Los Osos Middle School, 1555 El Moro Avenue. The forum will be livestreamed on SLO-Span by AGP Video and available for later viewing on SLO-Span and on the League’s YouTube channel.
Community members are encouraged to attend the forum and to submit questions for the candidates. Questions should be on the issues and applicable to all candidates.
For additional information contact the League of Women Voters at (805) 242-6990 or info@lwvslo.org.
The League encourages everyone to register and vote. Visit www.slovote.gov to check your registration status, register to vote, or change your address. When checking their registration status, voters can sign up for “Where’s My Ballot” to track their ballots.
The General Election is Tuesday, November 3, and SLO County voters have a big ballot: 14 statewide propositions and local measures that vary by community, plus federal, state, county, and city races. SLO to the Polls, lwvslo.org/voter-info-2026, is the League’s nonpartisan campaign to get every county voter ready, has key dates, registration help, and a rundown of your ballot on the Voter Information page.
Dates to Know
October 5: Ballots sent out and early voting begins at SLO Elections Office
October 6: Drop boxes open
October 19: Last day to register online or by mail
October 20 to November 3: Same-day (conditional) registration at the County Elections Office in SLO, or at any polling location
October 26 to November 3: Same-day (conditional) registration at Atascadero satellite Elections Office
November 3: Election Day; polls are open 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
November 10: Last day for mailed ballots to arrive (they must be postmarked by November 3)
Mail Early: SLO County’s nearest postal hub is in Goleta, more than 50 miles away. Mail your ballot 7 to 10 days early, ask for a hand-stamped postmark inside a post office, or use an official drop box.
Poly Ranked #1 in West
Cal Poly has again ranked No. 1 overall in the West among public and private master’s-level universities in U.S. News & World Report’s 2027 Best Colleges rankings. The recognition marks the fourth consecutive year Cal Poly has earned the top overall position in the region of 15 western states and the 34th as No. 1 among regional public institutions.
Cal Poly also earned No.1 regional rankings for Best Colleges for Veterans (for the seventh straight year) as well as for Best Value for In-State Students (a new ranking).
“Cal Poly’s continued recognition in these and other rankings reflects the dedication of our students, faculty and staff in pairing rigorous academics with hands-on learning, resulting in graduates who are ready to address the pressing problems of California, the nation and the world,” said Cal Poly President Jeffrey D. Armstrong in a news release.
This year’s rankings also place Cal Poly at No. 1 in computer engineering and electrical/electronic/communications engineering programs, tied for first in civil engineering, and at No. 2 in mechanical engineering and aerospace/aeronautical/astronautical programs.
And this year, the university is tied for 55th place regionally in enrolling and supporting lower income students — up 17 places from 2025.
The 2027 U.S. News Best Colleges rankings evaluated more than 1,700 higher education institutions nationwide on indicators that measure student outcomes (including retention and graduation rates as well as graduate earnings); peer assessment; faculty resources; and other factors. For more on the 2027 rankings, visit U.S. News & World Report at https://bit.ly/4rFe978.
Early Childhood Educators to Get Federal Tax Deductions
A new law will allow early childhood educators to claim the same federal tax deduction currently available to K-12 teachers.
Supporting Early-Childhood Educators’ Deductions (SEED) Act led by United States Representative Jimmy Panetta (CA-19) was signed into law in September.
“I’m proud that our bipartisan, bicameral SEED Act has been signed into law, delivering long-overdue tax relief to early childhood educators,” said Rep. Panetta in a new release. “Pre-K teachers routinely dip into their own pockets to purchase classroom supplies, but until now, they were denied the same educator expense deduction available to K-12 teachers. This new law closes that gap and recognizes the essential role early childhood educators play in giving our youngest learners a strong start.”
Research shows that educators spend an average of $895 annually on supplies for their students. Yet, until the SEED Act became law, early childhood educators could not deduct those out-of-pocket expenses. The SEED Act will correct this and provide tax relief to the teachers working with America’s youngest learners.
The new legislation will expand the above-the-line $350 educator expense deduction, established for K-12 teachers in 2002, to also include pre-K and early childhood educators.
“This deduction helps offset the hundreds of dollars teachers spend out of their own pockets each year on classroom supplies, books, and learning materials,” Panetta said.
The SEED Act is supported by a broad coalition of education and child advocacy organizations, including the Center for American Progress, the American Federation of Teachers, Teach For America, the First Five Years Fund, and Trying Together.
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