Category Archives: Education and Training

Education and Training

CCEE turns System of Support focus to mindsets and cultures

11 Feb
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At their Feb. 6 board meeting, California Collaborative for Education Excellence board members and staff discussed ways to ensure the Statewide System of Support is taking root, a continuing theme for the under-resourced organization. The system aims to assist local educational agencies by promoting partnerships, building capacity and focusing on continuous improvement by connecting LEAs with the CCEE and other state resources. Thus far, the CCEE’s task of implementing the system and producing results at the local level has proven...

March 15 layoff notices: What boards should know

10 Feb
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public school building
As a member of a school board governance team, few situations are more sensitive than a district delivering March 15 layoff notices. It is essential for governing board members to be familiar with information about the March 15 notice, its implementation process and the strict legal requirements attached to the process. The March 15 notice is a formal, written announcement from a school district to certificated employees — required by Education Code section 44949 — informing them that they may...

Governance brief focuses on the need for boards to support equity-based decisions

6 Feb
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students taking test
The new year presents a good opportunity for governing boards to reflect on recent achievements as well as unfinished work that districts and county offices of education have ahead of them to ensure that all students have access to an education that prepares them for college, career and life success. To support board members in this journey, CSBA has produced a new governance brief, “Educational Equity: The Need for Boards to Support Equity-Based Decisions.” The brief, authored by CSBA Equity...

Bilingual teacher development grant takes root in 10 districts

17 Jan
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latino student
By Amy Boles, director of educational services at Oak Grove School District In November 2016, California voters overwhelmingly passed Proposition 58, a state ballot initiative that creates more opportunities for students to become bilingual and biliterate. The measure passed with 73.5 percent of the vote and was supported across all 58 counties. A report released in June 2017 by Californians Together, Unveiling California’s Bilingual Teacher Shortage, said that the wide support reflects the high regard that the public holds for...

CEO’s note: The brain and implicit bias

9 Dec
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Recognition is the first step in helping students By CSBA CEO & Executive Director Vernon M. Billy Our brains are fascinatingly powerful tools that have the capacity to go beyond our own imagination. The brain has an unsurpassed ability to create, interpret, suppress and disassociate ideas and feelings. Recently, as I was sifting through my seemingly endless pile of paperwork, I came across several old articles I had flagged about the power and mysteries of the human brain. One article...

Convening highlights keys to supporting immigrant and refugee students

18 Nov
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One in six California K-12 students has at least one undocumented parent and approximately 250,000 of the state’s students ages 3–17 are undocumented. Recognizing the increasingly difficult climate facing these students, Californians Together presented the Statewide Convening for the Support of Immigrant and Refugee Students on Nov. 14 at the Consulate General of Mexico in Sacramento. The event was part of a support project headed by the organization’s Director of Policy and Initiatives Xilonin Cruz-Gonzalez, who also serves as CSBA...

New report shows need for period supplies for low-income youth

7 Nov
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A recent national survey of 1,000 teen girls ages 13 to 19 found that many have missed school because they lacked access to menstrual hygiene products. This was especially true among low-income students. The study, conducted by Harris Insights & Analytics on behalf of Period. and Thinx Inc., found that found one in five teenage girls surveyed said they couldn’t afford to purchase menstrual hygiene products. One in four respondents said they had missed class because they didn’t have access...

Resources can guide leaders through difficult decisions during wildfire season

29 Oct
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A challenging combination of raging wildfires, poor air quality and planned power outages meant to prevent further fires has already led to myriad school closures up and down the Golden State this fall — with significant time left in the state’s wildfire season. California’s dynamic weather patterns, climate change, historic winds and dangerously low humidity will likely pose severe risks well through November, if not beyond. Considering the paramount importance of student and staff safety, school district and county office...

Hispanic Heritage Month: An interview with Joaquin Rivera, CSBA Director-at-Large, Hispanic

14 Oct
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Each year, Americans observe National Hispanic Heritage Month from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15 by celebrating the histories, cultures and contributions of American citizens whose ancestors came from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean and Central and South America. More than half of California’s students are Hispanic and/or Latino and schools play a critical role in preparing these students for success in college, career and civic life. California School News interviewed Joaquin Rivera, CSBA’s Director-at-Large, Hispanic and trustee on the Alameda County...

Continuous improvement: What it takes and where it’s working

8 Oct
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As local educational agencies throughout California strive to boost student outcomes by way of continuous improvement strategies, a new research analysis of the state’s eight CORE districts explores which conditions best support that continuous improvement in districts and schools. The findings also indicate that many educational leaders may not be as successful in implementing the approach as they believe. Through its research partnership with CORE Districts — a nonprofit collaborative of eight urban school districts formed in 2010 — Policy...