In this difficult time, LACOE remains committed to improving the lives of students and our educational community through service, leadership and advocacy. Here, we share best practices, tips and success stories from the county’s 80 districts as we innovate and adapt together to ensure continuity of learning and safety of students, staff and families. |
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2020-21 Planning Framework (2nd Edition) Released |
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LACOE has released the second edition of the school reopening framework that aims to ensure that districts have new tools and the most current information to help them plan for the 2020-21 academic year.
New in the second edition is a comprehensive strategic communications planning guide to help districts engage with stakeholders. LACOE and the LA County Department of Public Health partnered to develop “Learning Together Safely” messages, graphics and signage for schools to use. Communications tools and templates have been translated into Spanish, Chinese and Armenian. LACOE is grateful for the ongoing support of the LA County Superintendents Task Force in developing the guidelines.
View and download:
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Rowland USD Hosts 'Welcome Back' Event |
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Rowland USD Supt. Julie Mitchell hosts a virtual "Welcome Back" event for the district's more than 1,200 employees to kick off the new school year. The event culminates in a video presentation highlighting the amazing work of staff, including distribution of thousands of devices and 350,000 student meals. The video also features students thanking teachers and staff, as well as employees preparing for the first day of school. "We will educate and connect with compassion and impact lives each and every day, one day at a time and one student at a time," says Dr. Mitchell.
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Compton USD Recaps Summer Programs |
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Providing a preview of what a virtual and socially distanced fall school reopening would look like, Compton USD shares a recap of its summer STEAM programs. Students engaged in several fun and interactive learning activities as part of the district's Summer STEAM Camp.
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Walnut Valley USD Educators Share Distance Learning Tips, Welcome-Back-to-School Messages |
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Jamie Highstreet, a Title 1 specialist at Vejar Elementary in Walnut Valley USD shares tips for distance learning. Meanwhile, Diamond Bar HS staff and Christa Richard, one of Walnut Valley USD's teachers of the year, deliver welcome-back-to-school messages. "One thing is for sure: We will have many challenges ahead of us, but if we lean on each other and work together, we can get through this," says Richard, a transitional kindergarten teacher at Castle Rock Elementary.
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'Learning Together Safely' Tip
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Live-Streamed Events Help Families Get Ready
for the New School Year
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Equity, Care and Well-Being for 2 Million Students |
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In a conversation with Education First, Supt. Debra Duardo says the pandemic has put a spotlight on the tremendous disparities in outcomes for children of color and those living in poverty. "We believe that if we help and we problem solve for our impoverished and most disenfranchised children, that we will benefit everyone," she says.
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LA County Census Chalkathon: Aug. 17 - Sept. 7 |
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We're excited to launch the countywide Census “CHALKATHON” Aug. 17-Sept. 7. Students, families and school staff are invited to create sidewalk art promoting Census participation. All art pieces should include “2020census.gov” and “Everyone Counts!” Messages in multiple languages are encouraged. We will hold a weekly raffle of giveaways for participating students and community members who share their artwork on social media and use the hashtags #CaStudentsCount and #LACcensuschalkathon.
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2020 Census: Change in Deadline Could Lead to Undercount |
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LACOE’s Census team has been supporting districts with outreach primarily to hard-to-count communities. The director of the U.S. Census Bureau issued a statement this week that raises the urgency of our collective action. Field data collection and self-responses will conclude Sept. 30 — 31 days shorter than the original deadline. As of August 4, 40.5 percent of LA County households have yet to respond to the Census. That could mean a 40.5-percent budget cut to LA County for the next 10 years.
School staff and teachers are trusted messengers, and the 2020 Census message must continue to be included in communication with families. The LACOE Census team has ready-made flyers, social media images, talking points and more tools and resources for Census outreach on the LACOE Census Google Drive and LACOE Census Digital Toolkit. More resources for families and schools, including the Count Me In Curriculum, are available at lacoe.edu/Census.
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Therapists have had less time to serve children because they had to both undergo training to deliver online services and find new ways to creatively deliver lessons online, says Carol Higa, LACOE director of special education.
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"While plans to reopen schools look different across the county, one thing is certain: Our top priorities must be the health and safety of students and staff, and we must be guided by directives from our public health officials as we focus on ensuring learning continues," says Supt. Debra Duardo.
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As programs scramble to redesign their facilities, administrators must make agonizing decisions over who should return in a system that already left out tens of thousands of qualified children every year. "Even if we open classrooms...anywhere from half to two-thirds of the children are left out," says Keesha Woods, executive director of LACOE's Head Start and Early Learning Division.
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Resources for Families & Schools |
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Don’t forget, LACOE is regularly updating several pages of resources:
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