Category Archives: Systems of Support

President’s Message: Welcome all students back to school — and plan to keep them there

7 Aug
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We cling to the last days of summer, but the passage of time is relentless and unsentimental. Vacation has already ended for some school districts and county offices of education; others will open their doors in the coming weeks. This is a critical time as children transition back to the schedules and rigors of school life. Educators have to be ready to welcome students from day one, and we must also keep that same energy and engage all students —...

Professional development institute with spotlight on whole child draws 3,000 educators

2 Aug
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From counseling services to chronic absenteeism to disciplinary alternatives, more than 3,000 education professionals converged in Long Beach from July 28–31 to home in on equitably supporting every student with a whole-child approach. Those topics were among the many covered at the third annual California Multi-Tiered System of Support Professional Learning Institute. The institute’s theme of “All Means All: Know My Name, Face and Story” was present throughout, with speakers and presenters sharing their life and educational stories as examples...

Blending the systems: ESSA and California’s System of Support

18 Mar
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By Tom Armelino, executive director, California Collaborative for Educational Excellence Over the past month, as I met with educators across the state, school district administrators and board members have shared questions and concerns about what is required of them if schools in their districts are identified for Comprehensive Support and Improvement under the federal Every Student Succeeds Act. Although the California Collaborative for Education Excellence is a statewide agency and does not have a direct role with the federal ESSA...

State Board explores System of Support’s impact at the local level

15 Mar
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Despite the California State Board of Education’s recent focus on System of Support implementation, some State Board members have voiced concerns about whether the new approach is reaching all districts and schools with demonstrated need. The system aims to assist local educational agencies and schools by promoting partnerships, building capacity and focusing on continuous improvement rather than turning to punishment and mandates. Officials from the California Department of Education, California Collaborative for Educational Excellence and lead agencies have likewise understood...

Learning Policy Institute report outlines need for greater funding to bolster state reforms

22 Feb
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Nearly six years after California’s K-12 educational system entered into the era of the “California Way,” with the Local Control Funding Formula at its foundation, a Learning Policy Institute report finds that greater funding is needed to fully realize the state’s goals. The institute’s report, “The California Way: The Golden State’s Quest to Build an Equitable and Excellent Education System,” highlights both gains and shortfalls during the state’s overhaul of its educational finance and accountability systems. The report’s release coincided...

State Board adopts new requirements for districts in LCAP process

16 Jan
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Interim changes are coming to the Local Control Accountability Plan template, but a much larger revision is likely still a few years out. As part of that process, the State Board of Education approved a new LCAP section at its January meeting. The revision is designed to comply with the federal Every Student Succeeds Act’s rules for improving low-performing schools. District with schools targeted for assistance through the California School Dashboard must now verify that each school’s LCAP includes a...

CCEE outlines structure, timeline for Community Engagement Initiative networks

10 Dec
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Kids together
After announcing lead partners and launching the program in November, the California Collaborative for Educational Excellence outlined the next steps for its Community Engagement Initiative at its Dec. 6 board meeting. The effort will include a series of multi-year professional learning networks that build district and community collaboration, with a focus on student outcomes. Josh Daniels, CCEE director heading the initiative, said in his presentation (PDF file available here) that the timeline calls for an initial professional learning network to...

California School Dashboard arrives with new indicators, look for 2018

6 Dec
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The fall 2018 version of the California School Dashboard is now live and brings with it several additions and changes for board members to be aware of, namely the presence of a new indicator measuring grades K-8 chronic absenteeism for schools, districts and county offices of education. Due to the changes, 374 districts qualify this year for differentiated assistance through the System of Support, compared to 228 districts in 2017. Ninety-three districts that qualified for differentiated assistance last year are...

CCEE partners selected to help lead Community Engagement Initiative

14 Nov
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mother and child at door
A major component of California’s new System of Support launched Nov. 1 when the California Collaborative for Educational Excellence announced three partners to lead its new Community Engagement Initiative. The multi-year effort — which is part of the new school accountability system ­—will help school communities facilitate the kind of conversations and collaboration that improve teaching and learning. The San Bernardino County Superintendent of Schools office, the California Association for Bilingual Education and Families In Schools emerged from an application...