Your weekly recap of student success
Offer your input on FCUSD's long-term spending plan
Folsom Cordova families are invited to a special opportunity to offer feedback as the District plans how it supports student achievement in the years ahead.
 
FCUSD is holding a forum for families to learn more about our Local Control Accountability Plan (LCAP) on Thursday, Jan. 28 from 6-7:30 p.m in the Education Services Center (1965 Birkmont Drive, Rancho Cordova).

The LCAP is a three-year plan all school districts in California are required to create, which describes how money and resources are being allocated to support student learning. FCUSD updates its LCAP annually and is required to garner input from all stakeholders, including our families.
  
Questions? Contact the Superintendent's Office at (916) 294-9000.
SURVEY: We want your input on informational family events
Members of our Bullying Prevention and Character Education Task Force, which included families, students, staff, and community members, indicated a need for more regular gatherings of our parents and guardians to share insight, knowledge, and information about the most prominent challenges facing youth today.
 
The Folsom Cordova Unified School District is planning a series of parent events to address some of these challenges and would like your feedback on how to make these opportunities most valuable to you.
 
Please take a moment to complete this brief survey by Feb. 1.  Thank you for continuing to be an essential partner in your child's educational success.
 
To take the survey, click here!
NEXT WEEK! Online school registration starts Monday Feb. 1
Last year, Folsom Cordova transitioned its annual registration process online to a program called Infosnap. Instead of filling out pages of paper each year and returning them to your school, now you can complete registration forms electronically! 
 
This program is a secure process that allows the District to verify all student information for your child prior to the start of the new school year. The system will also allow you to electronically sign the annual permission forms for school district policies.
 
Registration opens Monday, Feb. 1 so mark your calendar!
Questions? Contact your school, or visit www.fcusd.org/infosnap.
Governor's K-12 budget: What it means for FCUSD
Earlier this month, Gov. Jerry Brown released his proposed budget for the 2016-17 school year, and this year he included an increase in state revenues for K-12 public education as the economy continues to improve.
  
So what does that mean for Folsom Cordova schools? Based on current projects, the District could receive $7.4 million in new funding in 2016-17.
  
However, the picture is more complicated:
  
Nearly $2.5 million of that amount will need to go toward projected increases in employee retirement contributions - and the governor hasn't proposed any new funding to help cover those climbing costs.
  
The District estimates it will need another $2.1 million of its state allocation to cover planned employee "step-and-column" pay increases on existing salary schedules.  About  $1.3 million is allocated by the state for supports that target English learners and low-income students. Nearly $600,000 is allocated by the state for class-size reduction in grades K-3.
  
The governor's budget includes a Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA) of 0.47% for categorical programs outside of general fund revenues. The governor's budget must still be passed by the Legislature, and the District will hold a public hearing on its proposed 2016-17 spending plan in June.
In other news ...

                                                                                                                                           
Board Update Logo
#iSmart: Parents invited to learn about online safety
   
The Sacramento County District Attorney's Office, Sacramento County Sheriff's Department and Folsom Cordova Unified are hosting two upcoming internet safety presentations for families to learn more about how they can help their children avoid online dangers.
 
The first will be held tonight at Folsom High School in the Library.
 
The second presentation will be held Wednesday, Feb. 3 at Cordova High School in the Library.
 
Both presentations will be held from 6:00 -7:15 p.m.
 
To learn more about #iSmart, click here. For questions about the upcoming family information nights, contact our Child Welfare Coordinator at (916) 294-9000.
Deadline approaching for our Academy!
  
Applications to apply for the upcoming school year Academy for Advanced Learning are available here. 
  
Applications must be completed and submitted by Tuesday,  Feb. 2.

The Academy - with locations at Mather Heights and Theodore Judah elementary schools - is open to high-achieving, GATE-identified students. Children who need a greater challenge, more options and increased depth of study in a rigorous learning environment are successful in the Academy. 

Electronic applications will only be accepted through electronic submissions.
  
For additional information e-mail Yolanda Bowman.
 
  
Board of Education Update: Jan. 21, 2016
 
At their Jan. 21 regular meeting, Board of Education members:
  • Approved 2017 bond issuance and impact of $60 million with no capital appreciation bonds.
The next regularly scheduled meeting is Thursday, Feb. 4 at 6 p.m. in the Education Service Center. Agendas are posted the Friday before meetings and can be found here.  
Stay Connected
FCUSD Communication and Community Engagement Office: (916) 294-9000 ext. 104530