The upcoming year promises to be one of challenge and concern as we face a serious $14 billion budget deficit. Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger is already calling for ten-percent across-the-board cuts to all departments and agencies-but cutting education funding is certainly not the way to get our fiscal house in order. California students are in no way responsible for creating the deficit, and reducing it should not come at their expense. I will be fighting hard to ensure that Proposition 98 remains fully funded and that closing the budget gap does not set us behind in our critical efforts to close the achievement gap.
On a more upbeat note, we enter 2008 with a renewed energy and focus following the tremendous success of the Achievement Gap Summit in November and the soon-to-be released recommendations of my P-16 Council. You will be hearing much more about our work to close the gap in my annual State of Education Address on January 22 in Sacramento.
As we bid farewell to 2007, I am proud to say that we ended the year on a strong note. I want to thank all of the dedicated leaders, educators, and staff who have worked so hard to improve the lives and futures of California's public school children.
I am also proud of the 251 California teachers who recently received their National Board Certification from the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards. There are now 3,878 California teachers who have undergone the rigorous review process to achieve this distinction of excellence. In our quest to narrow the achievement gap and to prepare all students for a challenging future, we need such highly effective teachers who are passionate about their profession.
In December, I named 239 California schools as 2007-08 Title I Academic Achievement Award winners. All told, they represent 113 school districts in 33 counties. Two schools among the 239 state awardees were identified for the National Title I Distinguished School Award. These outstanding schools have shown that with hard work and tight focus, the challenges of poverty, language, and socioeconomic background can be overcome.
I was also pleased with the reauthorization of the federal Head Start program that was signed into law by President George Bush following a bipartisan agreement in Congress. The program is designed to provide high-quality early education and developmental services to low-income children ranging from newborns to school-aged children. Research shows that the first five years of a child's life and early experiences have a profound influence on cognitive development, making reauthorization of this program critical to future academic success. As California continues to explore how to make quality preschool available to all children, Head Start remains an important partner and part of the answer to improving education for all.
A couple of weeks ago, I testified before the Assembly Education Committee in support of a statewide school bond proposal to be put before voters in November 2008. The Kindergarten-University Public Education Facilities Bond Act of 2008 would provide for the issuance of $9 billion in state general obligation bonds to provide aid to school districts, county superintendents of schools, county boards of education, and higher education to construct and modernize education facilities. By improving our school facilities, and by promoting facilities designed specifically to help close the achievement gap, we improve California's ability to deliver a world-class education to all students.
Another late year highlight revolves around California's American Indian population. Just like their African American and Hispanic peers, American Indian students lag academically behind White and Asian students, and so I was thrilled to announce that 29 grantees will share $4.9 million in American Indian Education Center (AIEC) grants. The state has one of the largest American Indian student populations in the country, with 50,758 identified students in the 2005-06 school year. The implementation of the AIECs has touched the lives of more than 50,000 American Indian families. In 2006-07, more than 5,000 American Indian students received academic services.
I hope and you and your families has enjoyed this holiday season. I look forward to embarking on a new year of service to California's students with you in 2008!
Honoring Teachers
This month's Department Highlights honors one of the five California Teachers of the Year 2008. Lewis Chappelear, who teaches at James Monroe High School in North Hills, Los Angeles Unified School District, and is California's nominee for National Teacher of the Year.
Lewis Chappelear teaches engineering design at Monroe High, where he is also the school's IMPACT crisis coordinator.
"I am honored to recognize Mr. Chappelear not only as one of California's best teachers, but also as one of America's finest as I nominate him for the nation's top tribute," said State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O'Connell. "He thoroughly understands this century's demand for intelligent, skilled workers and our students' need for relevant, in-demand skills. Mr. Chappelear is an inspiring, motivating teacher who challenges his students to think about the future, then takes them out into the community and shows them what it will take to achieve their goals."
In his application for the California Teachers of the Year Program, Mr. Chappelear wrote, "Today's classrooms lack relevance. In the past 20 years, the number of jobs that require an associate's degree or specialized certification has jumped from 20 percent to 60 percent. Learning is about sharing and having an ability to change. Our educational institutions should be more about dynamic growth than static factory models. Our classrooms should not sit like desolate islands far from any collaboration, surveying, or idea sharing with others. Students, teachers, administrators, parents, and community members should all have their doors and minds open-let the sharing begin."
Mr. Chappelear earned a Bachelor of Science degree in biomedical engineering from Boston University in 1994, a Master of Science degree in mechanical engineering from Columbia University in 1995, and a California Clear Teaching Credential in math, physics, and electronics in 2001. He received a National Board Certification in 2005.
$100,000 in Scholarships for California's Grade Six Through Twelve Students
The Campaign for College Opportunity is proud to launch the third year of the "Save Me a Spot in College" scholarship contest. This contest is an effort to hear young Californians share their voice on why California leaders should save them and their peers a spot in college. As you know, California needs more of our young people to go to college and succeed. California's demand for educated workers continues to grow, and we need to ensure a spot in college for all students who prepare and who seek it.
Building on last year's success, which included close to 200 partners, more than 8,000 entries, and $100,000 in scholarships awarded to more than 100 students, we hope to make this year even better! Encourage every grade six through twelve student in California to enter because their voice is important and needs to be heard! Please forward this information to students, teachers, and parents.
Key Contest Information:
- Students may submit a written word, poster, or TV ad answering the contest question, "Why should California leaders save you and your peers a spot in college?"
- The first step is to register at the Save Me a Spot in College Web page (Outside Source) or by calling 800-459-9586.
- All California grade six through twelve grade students are eligible.
- More than 100 students across California will share a total of $100,000 in scholarship awards!
- The deadline for all contest submissions is March 15, 2008.
- Winners will be announced in late May 2008.
- Students participating in the scholarship contest will learn about college, help promote college participation, and ensure that state leaders are informed about the importance of college access.
- Contest submissions will be used to raise awareness among California residents and leaders about the importance of providing college opportunity to our growing young population.
- Teachers, counselors, principals, parents, and youth organizers can sign up on the Let's Partner Up Web page (Outside Source) to get more students involved.
The contest is made possible by a generous grant from The College Access Foundation of California and with support from the California Department of Education, The College Board, and community organizations, schools, and churches across the state.
California School for the Deaf, Riverside
The California School for the Deaf, Riverside (CSDR) has undertaken a number of activities to improve the quality of education for students served from the 12 counties of Southern California.
- California High School Exit Examination (CAHSEE) Intervention-The CSDR has implemented a new program to increase support for students who are struggling with the CAHSEE. The coordinator of these efforts has developed a four-tier program that has proven to be very effective. Tier One consists of a two-hour private tutoring session where a practice test is administered and all errors are reviewed with the student. Tier Two consists of after-school tutoring for students on an individual basis. If students decline this opportunity, they are encouraged to work on a Web-based site for additional assistance. Tier Three is CAHSEE Review Day, which occurs each Friday in all Language Arts classrooms. During this class, a specialized study program is utilized corresponding to specific components of the exam. Tier Four is a Ten-week tutoring program that will be held in the spring for all seniors who have not passed the exam.
- New Advanced Placement (AP) Class-The CSDR received approval for an AP statistics course to be offered in its high school. The high school also has several honors classes in various subjects such as English, literacy, and algebra.
- Silent Sleigh-The CSDR hosted its 20th annual Silent Sleigh event on December 13. More than 500 deaf and hard-of-hearing students from elementary schools throughout southern California were included and provided the opportunity to meet a deaf Santa Claus. In addition, the day was filled with a parade, food, activities, and entertainment.
A Look at the Budget of Education Present; Waiting for Budget of Education Yet to Come
The Fiscal Policy Division released its annual compilation of information on the state education budget, "Report on the Budget Act of 2007."
This report provides a brief overview of the 2007-08 state budget and the major budget provisions affecting kindergarten through grade twelve and detailed information regarding funding in the budget for individual programs. The report is available on the Education Budget Web page. The report includes hyperlinks that enable the reader to refer immediately to the California Education Code section authorizing a particular program and a program's Web page. Information on applying for programs may be found on the Funding Web page. Copies of budget documents are available on the Department of Finance Web site (Outside Source).
On January 8, Governor Schwarzenegger will deliver his "State of the State" address. Two days later, he is scheduled to unveil his 2008-09 budget proposal.
Student Assistance Program Conference Coming Up
The Safe and Healthy Kids Program Office has announced the first Student Assistance Program (SAP) Conference sponsored by the California Department of Education (CDE). In partnership with the California Masonic Foundation, the two-day conference will be held February 5-6, 2008, at the Masonic Auditorium in San Francisco.
The conference is designed for both the newly committed professional beginning SAP and the experienced SAP professional. It will provide information critical to successfully serve the needs of students, teachers, administrator, and parents. More than 30 professionals will be presenting best practices, innovations, science-based evidence, and effective intervention techniques that support student achievement through the SAP.
For more information regarding SAPs, please visit the SAPs Web page. If you have any questions regarding SAPs, please contact Marlena Uhrik, School Health Education Consultant, Safe and Healthy Kids Program Office, at 916-319-0208. For more details regarding the conference, please visit the SAP Conference Web site (Outside Source).
Gang Task Force Web Page in the Making
In 2006 and 2007, the California Department of Education (CDE) convened the Gang Task Force, comprised of 13 members representing law enforcement, research, schools, and county offices of education. The task force was asked to bring together the key research and expert opinion on how schools can prevent or reduce the violence and disruption caused by gangs so that children and youth feel safe and valued. Only when schools are safe are students able to learn.
The task force met to discuss key research and personal expertise on gangs and youth violence. In 2008, the Safe and Healthy Kids Program Office will create Web pages designed to assist schools in preventing or intervening in issues surrounding the presence of gangs on campus. The Web pages will address questions such as:
- What is a gang, and how can school personnel tell if students belong to a gang?
- Are certain students more vulnerable than others to gang membership?
- What are the consequences of gang membership for youth and for schools?
- What can a school do to prevent a gang presence on campus and to prevent students from joining a gang?
- What should a school do if it has a gang problem?
For additional information, please contract Stephanie Papas, School Health Education Consultant, Safe and Healthy Kids Program Office, at 916-445-8441 or by e-mail at spapas@cde.ca.gov.
California at Risk: Are We Prepared for a "Superbug" Outbreak?
Linda Davis-Alldritt, School Health Education Consultant in the California Department of Education's (CDE's) School Health Connections and Healthy Start Office, represented State Superintendent of Public Instruction (SSPI) Jack O'Connell at an informational hearing by the California Senate Committee on Governmental Organization on December 20. The hearing was entitled, "California at Risk: Are we prepared for a superbug outbreak?" She addressed a number of questions related to what steps the CDE has taken to assist local educational agencies (LEAs) in preparing to appropriately respond to a health emergency such as a superbug outbreak, including:
- Encouraging schools to review and update their comprehensive school safety plan. Pursuant to California Education Code sections 32282 and 32286, every school in California is required to have a comprehensive school safety plan that is reviewed and updated annually. The comprehensive school safety plan should provide guidance for school administration, staff, and students for any emergency that impacts the school, including a public health crisis such as a pandemic.
- Providing information on the CDE Web site on seasonal flu prevention and management, and on pandemic influenza preparedness. The CDE consistently encourages districts to work collaboratively with their local health departments to prepare for public health emergencies, such as a pandemic. Included in the information on the CDE Web site are checklists for districts to use in developing a pandemic or other public health emergency plan. Districts have been encouraged to incorporate their pandemic plan into their required school safety plan.
- Collaborating with the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) to develop the Pandemic Preparedness in Schools Web cast on May 17, 2007. The event was publicized to all LEAs and a follow-up mailing was sent to all LEAs that included a CD/DVD of the Web cast. The information also provided LEAs with tabletop exercises that would further prepare administration, staff, and students to react appropriately to a public health emergency such as a pandemic. The information is available to districts on the Ready California Schools Web site (Outside Source).
- Communicating directly with LEAs. SSPI Jack O'Connell sent a letter on October 26, 2007, to the schools regarding methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), and the importance of using appropriate hygiene measures in schools, such as hand washing and not sharing towels and other personal items, and keeping infected wounds covered while at school or school activities. He held a news conference on November 5, 2007, with CDPH officials on how to prevent staph infections in schools and provided links to a variety of resources in English and other languages. The CDE has posted resources for parents in English and nearly two dozen other languages on preventing staph infections on the Clearinghouse for Multilingual Documents Web page.
In addition, the CDE has scheduled training for CDE employees on pandemic influenza preparedness beginning this month through a U.S. Department of Homeland Security grant program. The CDE is in the final stages of developing a continuity of operations manual in response to the potential for an extended public health emergency, such as a pandemic.
For more information regarding preparing for a health emergency, please contact Linda Davis-Alldritt, School Health Education Consultant, School Health Connections and Healthy Start Office, at 916-319-0284 or by e-mail at ldavisal@cde.ca.gov.
Deadlines for Summer School Meal Waivers
If school districts choose to request a waiver from the State Board of Education (SBE) of the requirement to provide a meal to all needy children each school day during the 2008 summer school session (California Education Code [EC] Section 49550), they must submit their waiver to the California Department of Education (CDE) Waiver Office by the due dates below.
The SBE meeting dates for waiver approvals will be in March and May. In order to meet the SBE March meeting date, waivers must be received by the CDE Wavier Office no later than February 13, 2008. The deadline for the May SBE meeting date is April 8, 2008.
Waiver requests received after April 8, 2008, will be returned pursuant to EC Section 49548(c). Meal waivers are not necessary for charter schools, which are exempt from the State Meal Mandate.
To apply for a summer school meal waiver, a school district must complete the Specific Waiver Request-Summer School Meal Waiver documents and return the information to the address on that form. The waiver request must also be approved by your local governing board, so please take into account how long your district's process will take. The forms are available on the Other Topics of Interest Web page.
Once at this Web page, select "Waiver Form for Summer School Meal Waiver and Site Information Form." Summer school meal waiver criteria (EC Section 49548) is available on the Management Bulletin 06-103 Web page.
For more information on the waiver form, timeline, or process, please contact the Waiver Office, at 916-319-0824. If you have any questions regarding the attachments to the waiver, or how to meet the waiver criteria, please contact Jennifer Sheldon, Child Nutrition Consultant, at 916-322-3195 or by e-mail at jsheldon@cde.ca.gov.
Making Food Commodities Work for You
The Nutrition Services Division is pleased to announce that six school districts in Northern California, with a total of 20,586 Average Daily Participation (ADP), and one school district in the south state, with 16,740 ADP, have decided to join the California Department of Education's (CDE) Food Distribution Program's State Cooperative as their means of ordering and receiving U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Donated Food Commodities.
State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O'Connell recently sent a letter to district superintendents encouraging them to determine the best route to receive USDA commodities. We are pleased to see the trend in districts' recognition of the cost-effective services that the CDE's state cooperative provides.
An Invitation to Apply to a Model School Attendance Review Board Recognition Program
For the first time, effective School Attendance Review Board (SARB) programs throughout the state have been invited to apply to a Model SARB Recognition Program. The Model SARB Recognition Program identifies and recognizes outstanding results-based school attendance improvement programs and creates a resource list of quality programs for dropout reduction. Model programs must provide comprehensive services to high-risk youth, including prevention, early identification, and intervention.
The invitation letter and the self-nomination application are available on the Model SARB Recognition Program 2007-08 Web page and are due by January 10, 2008, to the California Department of Education. Applications will be evaluated by a committee of the state SARB, and the model SARBs will be recognized on April 24, 2008, at the State Conference of the California Supervisors of Child Welfare and Attendance (CASCWA) on April 24, 2008, at the Long Beach Queen Mary Hotel.
If you have any questions regarding the Model SARB Recognition Program, please contact David Kopperud, Education Programs Consultant, Counseling, Student Support, and Service-Learning Office, at 916-323-1028 or by e-mail at dkopperud@cde.ca.gov.
New Electronic Version of the Student National Origin Report
For the first time, local educational agencies (LEAs) and private schools will be able to complete the Student National Origin Report (SNOR) online. Beginning this month, the California Department of Education will send letters to LEAs and private schools detailing the process for filing the 2007-08 SNOR.
This report collects by country of origin a count of immigrant students who have been enrolled in U.S. schools for less than three years. The forthcoming letter will provide information on the March filing window and the online system log-in process. The process has been designed to be very user friendly and should only take a short amount of time to complete. If you have any questions regarding the online SNOR, please contact the Language Policy and Leadership Office, at 916-319-0845.
Year 2007: One of Recognition, Relationships for Charter Schools Division
The California Department of Education (CDE) Charter Schools Division was instrumental in preparing and successfully pursuing a three-year, $100 million federal grant award under the Public Charter Schools Grant Program (PCSGP). The grant (most of which will be awarded as sub-grants to charter schools) will fund planning, implementation, dissemination, and evaluation activities through 2010. It is the largest single PCSGP grant that has ever been awarded by the federal government.
In announcing the grant earlier this year, State Superintendent of Public Instruction (SSPI) Jack O'Connell emphasized that support for high-quality charter schools in California is essential. "Charter schools are an important part of California's public education system," he said. "High-quality charter schools can be laboratories for best educational practices and can meet the needs of students who are not successful in traditional school settings."
The Charter Schools Division was recognized in the U.S. Department of Education's 2007 publication, Supporting Charter School Excellence Through Quality Authorizing, part of its "Innovations in Education" series. The report commended the Division's work in "promoting high-quality charter schools as a way to reform public education, analyzing student performance data and providing feedback to schools, and becoming a premier state model for support and expansion of high-quality charter schools." SSPI O'Connell and Chief Deputy Superintendent of Public Instruction Gavin Payne were specifically praised for being "very supportive of charter schools," along with Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, the Secretary for Education, and members of the State Board of Education.
During 2007, the Division's charter school oversight function expanded significantly with the opening of the California's first two statewide benefit charter schools, each opening with two campuses. These four school sites are serving about 700 students. With the addition of these schools, the Division now monitors a total of 12 charter school sites that serve approximately 4,000 students.
Carol Barkley was appointed director of the Charter Schools Division, effective January 1, 2008. "Carol brings to this important position an understanding of the California Department of Education, the State Board of Education, and strong relationships with charter schools and authorizing agencies," said SSPI O'Connell. "She has been in a critical role in the Charter Schools Division since its inception nearly four years ago, and has established a statewide and national reputation as an expert in the administration of the Public Charter Schools Grant Program, a cornerstone of the Division. "Barkley has worked in state government since 1991 with the last 13 years at the CDE. She served as project director over the past five years for the state's $100 million federal charter school grant program and as regional consultant for charter schools in Los Angeles County and Bay Area counties within the Charter Schools Division. The 53-year-old Sacramentan led an effort to share with other states, best practices from California that has been a pioneer in the creation of charter schools. Barkley also has extensive experience in crisis and counseling work at public and nonprofit agencies.
Accountability Institute Annual Event Source of Information, Motivation
The Ninth Annual Accountability Institute for English Learners and Immigrant Students was a tremendous success! Thank you to everyone involved-attendees, facilitators, and presenters!
Held December 9-11, 2007, at the San Diego Marriott Hotel and Marina, the more than 1,200 participants included superintendents, school board members, administrators, evaluators, and instructional leaders involved in the implementation of state and federal programs for English learners and immigrant students.
Of the many important speakers, keynote guests included State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O'Connell; state Senator Gloria Romero, Emmy-award winning KTLA news reporter Manuel Medrano, Stanford University Professor Guadalupe Valdes; State Board of Education member Yvonne Chan; and Acting Assistant Deputy Secretary at the U.S. Department of Education Margarita Pinkos. Each of the speakers truly moved the audience with their own personal stories and motivated us all with their key points for student success.
The 2007 focus was "Current Research and Effective Practices: Closing the Achievement Gap for English Learners and Immigrant Students." If you missed out on this great event, which included more than 31 workshops and speaker's forums, handouts are available on the Accountability Institute for English Learners and Immigrant Students Web page (Outside Source).
Malibu Teacher Elected to California State Teachers' Retirement System Board
A high school teacher in the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District has won election to the board of the California State Teachers' Retirement System (CalSTRS). Harry M. Keiley, whose term began January 1, succeeds longtime board member Gary Lynes, who retired.
Board Chair Dana Dillon, a teacher/librarian from Weed, was re-elected to a second four-year term and Trustee Carolyn Widener will represent community college faculty for another term.
Votes were cast by qualified CalSTRS active members and participants between October 1, 2007, and November 30, 2007.
New California State Teachers' Retirement System Pension Choice
January is a time when many employees make decisions about 403(b) and 457 deferred compensation plans, and California State Teachers' Retirement System (CalSTRS) offers a new choice with Pension2.
Pension2 complements the CalSTRS defined benefit pension by allowing members to set aside extra monies in low cost, flexible fund choices selected by CalSTRS investment professionals.
For more information regarding Pension2, please visit the Pension2 Web site (Outside Source), or you can contact a Pension2 representative at 888-556-2950.
