Dear County and District Superintendents, Charter School Administrators, and School Principals:

Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month Kickoff Webinar: Living History at Angel Island Immigration Station (May 6, 2026)

May is AAPI Heritage Month, a time to recognize and honor the rich histories, cultures, and contributions of the AAPI communities that have helped shape California and our nation. This month provides an important opportunity for schools to deepen student understanding of identity, resilience, and belonging through meaningful learning experiences.

To support this work, we are sharing a ready-to-use curricular resource collection curated for both the kickoff event and the month. This collection includes Angel Island lessons, materials developed through the Smithsonian Learning Lab, and additional classroom-ready resources designed for immediate use and easy sharing with colleagues. Please visit the California Educators Together web resource (free log-in required) for more information: https://tinyurl.com/CDE-AAPI-Resources26.

We also invite you to join the California Department of Education and California State Parks for a special kickoff webinar live from the Angel Island Immigration Station on Wednesday, May 6, 2026, at 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. Pacific Time.

This live program will highlight how schools can engage with this powerful site of immigration history through California State Parks’ Parks Online Resources for Teachers and Students (PORTS) program. Participants will explore how place-based storytelling and virtual access can support teaching and learning and will leave with practical tools and resources they can use right away. Educators are welcome to attend individually or with their students. Please register in advance via Zoom: https://tinyurl.com/CDE-Angel-Island26.

Thank you for your continued leadership and commitment to inclusive and engaging learning for all students.

Sincerely,

Tony Thurmond
State Superintendent of Public Instruction