Category Archive for "Resources"

Implementing the new state Dyslexia Guidelines

11 Sep

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by Leslie Lingaas Woodward Dyslexia is the most common learning disability, affecting up to 20 percent of the population. This means that, statistically, every classroom in California has several students with dyslexia who struggle to acquire literacy skills. In 2015, the California State Legislature passed Assembly Bill 1369, which required that the California Department of Education create state Dyslexia Guidelines to assist teachers and parents in identifying, assessing and supporting these students. The guidelines were developed with input from an...

Getting the lead out: Free lead testing for schools

15 Aug

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California schools are encouraged to take advantage of a free program to test water taps for toxic metals. Triggered by increased public awareness of lead contamination in schools, the California Water Resources Control Board and the California Department of Education launched the free testing program for schools in January 2017. Lead contamination has been linked to neurological disorders and impaired cognitive ability. The free testing is available until Nov. 1, 2019. A new San Francisco Chronicle investigation found that “two-thirds of the...

Stay connected with CSBA on Facebook

22 Jan

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Facebook recently announced a change to their algorithm that gives precedence to content from family and friends over pages like news sites and organizations. From breaking news to fact sheets and governance briefs, staying up to date with all of CSBA’s Facebook updates only takes a few clicks. Here’s a step-by-step guide to ensure you keep seeing our posts: On a Desktop or Laptop First, make sure you “Like” CSBA’s Facebook page. Then, next to the “Like” button, you’ll see the...

Encourage an hour of coding instruction during Computer Science Education Week

6 Dec

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This week, December 4–10, schools all over California — and the world — are celebrating Computer Science Education Week with an hour of coding instruction. Hour of Code is a grassroots campaign reaching students in more than 180 countries, and is supported by over 400 partners and 200,000 educators worldwide. One-hour tutorials are available on a variety of partner sites (code.org, csedweek.org, hourofcode.com) in more than 45 languages. The week is designated to encourage students, school staff and administrators to...

Cyber thieves target school districts

15 Nov

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Schools and districts are being advised to safeguard against cyberattacks. The latest threat is from cyber bandits threatening to release student records if schools do not pay a ransom to retrieve their records. In some cases threats of violence have also been used. According to the U.S. Department of Education, the FBI is investigating the scheme. The hacking targets schools with weak data security using malicious software or through phishing attacks against district staff or employees. Phishing involves using an...

CSBA video and governance brief resources on CAASPP scores

3 Nov

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In September, the California Department of Education released the results of the 2016–17 Smarter Balanced English language arts/literacy and mathematics assessments. Compared to the previous year’s results, scores remained relatively flat across all grade levels and student groups, while troubling achievement gaps persist. To help board members make sense of the scores, CSBA has released a new video and governance brief focusing on the 2016–17 CAASPP scores. CSBA Education Insights Video Grappling with CAASPP: Strategies for board members “Grappling...

Natural disaster resources for schools and districts

10 Oct

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This week’s wildfires in Northern California and Southern California have left school districts and students in a state of emergency. These devastating fires have destroyed neighborhoods, forced many schools to remain closed, displaced families and students and are an ongoing concern. In response, state and local authorities are working to provide relief and public safety. At the state level, the California Department of Education has said it will help schools and districts recoup Average Daily Attendance funds. The CDE also said...

The DACA Repeal: Resources for school districts and Dreamer teachers

13 Sep

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Roughly 5,000 teachers in California are caught in the crosshairs of President Trump’s plan to cancel the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, joining hundreds of thousands of individuals across the state and the country facing an uncertain future. Known as DACA, the Obama administration program provides undocumented immigrants who were brought to the United States at a young age by their parents with temporary protection from deportation and permission to legally work. As the program heads to Congress with...

Supporting undocumented students & families after DACA decision

6 Sep

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In light of the Trump Administration’s announcement to suspend the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, commonly known as DACA, school board members are encouraged to remember that despite changes to federal policy, school districts’ and board members’ responsibility to serve all students remains unchanged. “The President’s decision to end the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program is a disheartening development with serious implications for more than 200,000 Californians, most of them children and young adults,” said CSBA President Susan...

Stop Holding School Bond Funds Hostage And Start Supporting Students

11 Aug

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by CSBA President Susan Henry If we want our students to achieve, we must first create conditions that are conducive to success. California voters honored this principle in the November 2016 election when, over the objections of Gov. Jerry Brown, they approved $9 billion in school construction bonds, with $7 billion earmarked for K-12 schools. More than 55 percent of voters cast their ballots for Proposition 51, an important down payment on the investment needed for safe, healthy schools that...

Category Archives: Resources