In This Issue:
Sacramento Scene
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Sacramento Scene: 2022 Legislative Session Ends, Fate of Bills Decided
CA Eduction Update
- Teacher Shortage? Depends Where You Look
CATA Update
- SWOT Analysis: Placing CATA in a Position to Thrive
News & Views
- New Purdue-Supported Research on FFA Members
- NAAE National #TeachAg Day is September 15
- Updated Dates and Locations of CDE/LDE State Finals
- Golden Owl Award Nominations
- Wilco FFA Forever Grants
- Congratulations to the 2022 National Chapter, Agriscience Fair, and Proficiency Finalists
- National FFA News and Updates
- Special Incentives for "Selling" Cal Ag Plates
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Sacramento Scene: 2022 Legislative Session Closes, Fate of Bills Decided
By: Matt Patton, CATA Executive Director
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As the clock struck midnight on August 31, the 2021-22 legislative session ended. The session started eight months ago. All passed bills are now sent to the Governor’s desk for final approval. Newsom has until the end of September to sign or veto the bills. The national media will scrutinize these signings as many suspect he may run for national office in 2024 (CalMatters Staff, 2022).
The following is a list of bills related to education that impact agricultural education and their fate in the 2022 legislative session.
AB 1705 (Irwin) – The bill limits remedial English and Math classes that could be required for transfer from a Community College. In addition, the bill outlines stricter rules on when community colleges are allowed to enroll students in remedial classes. Community colleges are expected to enroll most students in transfer-level classes if signed.
AB 2044 (O’Donnell) – The bill would extend the option for students to fulfill state high school graduation requirements by completing a Career Technical Education (CTE) course until 2027. This bill died in the Senate for reasons unrelated to its contents. However, language from this bill was inserted into an education budget trailer bill, ensuring the continued implementation of CTE classes counting toward graduation requirements. Assembly Member O’Donnell is not seeking re-election.
AB 2273 (Wicks, Cunningham, and Petrie-Norris) – Establishes the California Age-Appropriate Design Code Act, which generally requires businesses that provide online services, products, or features likely to be accessed by children to comply with specified standards. The bill is waiting for the Governor’s signature. This could expand online accessibility for students at school.
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Teacher Shortage? Depends Where You Look
By EdSource
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The teacher shortage has struck most districts in California, but an EdSource survey shows that the impacts are nuanced, uneven—and sometimes inequitable. Even within the same district, some schools—particularly those in wealthier neighborhoods—experienced less teacher turnover and were more likely to start the school year with a full staff.
Meanwhile, many districts that serve large numbers of high-needs students reported severe teacher shortages as the school year began, leaving students with substitutes or administrators to fill in until the district could hire more staff.
“The teacher shortage is not a mass exodus story. There’s variation,” said Desiree Carver-Thomas, researcher and policy analyst for the Learning Policy Institute, who’s studied the issue. “But there are very significant shortages in some districts, and that’s having a big impact on students.”
In Santa Ana Unified, for example, where almost 90% of students are low-income, the district reported 52 teacher vacancies last week, almost half in special education, a notoriously hard-to-staff division. That may seem insignificant for a district that has more than 2,300 teachers on the payroll, but those vacancies have left district leaders scrambling. If they can’t find enough substitutes, the district plans to reassign those students to other classes.
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SWOT Analysis: Placing CATA in a Position to Thrive
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In June, at the California Agricultural Teachers' Association (CATA) annual summer conference, CATA began an organizational SWOT analysis. SWOT is an acronym that refers to a study undertaken by an organization to identify its internal strengths and weaknesses, as well as its external opportunities and threats. The CATA Governing Board determined that in a post-pandemic environment, an analysis of the organization was needed to chart a path forward. The board concluded that this method of analysis would be objective and utilize the empirical method to gather and analyze member responses to gauge the organization's status. Dr. Avery Culbertson, Dr. John Williams, and their crew at Fresno State were recruited to help design and implement the analysis. This article, written by John Williams, Ed.D., CATA State President Elect, is an update on the CATA SWOT analysis process and a timeline for moving forward.
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New Purdue-Supported Research on FFA Members
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What barriers exist that prevent FFA members from being fully involved in FFA? Are FFA members more likely to embrace new situations? These were some of the questions considered by the National FFA Organization and Purdue University in a newly published study. Researchers surveyed high school FFA members from 60 schools and found a positive correlation between FFA involvement and comfort zone and FFA involvement and adaptability. Read more here.
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NAAE National #TeachAg Day is September 15
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NAAE National #TeachAg Day is an initiative of the National Association of Agricultural Educators as part of the National Teach Ag Campaign designed to encourage others to consider a career teaching agriculture and celebrate the positive contributions agriculture teachers make in our schools and communities.
NAAE offers a variety of resources to help you celebrate NAAE National #TeachAg Day and to also help you encourage others to consider a career teaching agriculture. To access their Dropbox folder, click here.
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Updated Dates and Locations of CDE/LDE State Finals
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The 2022-2023 State Finals schedule is now available for all Career and Leadership Development Events.
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Golden Owl Award Nominations
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The Golden Owl Award Program, sponsored by Nationwide, is designed to recognize teachers who go above and beyond to provide opportunities for their students and their chapter to grow and improve. Students, fellow teachers, and other supporters can nominate their favorite agricultural teacher and summarize what makes him or her the best in their state. Nominees can win the distinction of being their state’s Agricultural Educator of the Year and the following prizes:
- $500 and an engraved plaque to each regional finalist
- $3,000 and the coveted Golden Owl Award trophy to each state’s grand prize winner
In conjunction with the Golden Owl Award, Nationwide is donating $5,000 to each participating state’s FFA to further support the personal and professional growth of students, teachers, and advisors alike.
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Looking for a way to help fund a larger chapter project or endeavor? Selected projects will receive $250-$4,000 grants, and ALL current and active California FFA chapters are eligible. Past projects have included chapter equipment and facility repair/investment like greenhouses and land labs, educational activities, and service projects. Applications will close Friday, October 14, 2022. Be sure to visit https://www.wilco.coop/community/ffa-forever/grant-request/ for grant requirements and application details.
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Congratulations to the 2022 National Chapter, Agriscience Fair, and Proficiency Finalists
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The national finalists for National Chapter Awards, National FFA Agriscience Fair and Agricultural Proficiency Awards have been announced ahead of the 95th National FFA Convention & Expo. Congratulations to all the California finalists! Click the links below to view the 2022 results.
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The National FFA Agriscience Fair recognizes student researchers studying the application of agricultural scientific principles and emerging technologies in agricultural enterprises. The agriscience fair is open to middle and high school students. Participation begins at the local level and progresses to state and national levels.
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The Agricultural Proficiency Awards honor FFA members who, through their supervised agricultural experiences (SAEs), have developed specialized skills that they can apply toward their future careers.
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The National Chapter Award Program is designed to recognize FFA chapters that actively implement the mission and strategies of the organization. These chapters improve chapter operations using the National Quality Chapter Standards and a Program of Activities that emphasize growing leaders, building communities and strengthening agriculture. Chapters are rewarded for providing educational experiences for the entire membership.
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National FFA News and Updates
Compiled by Jason Ferreira, Hanford High School Ag Teacher and National FFA Teacher Ambassador
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NEW! Fall 2022 FFA New Horizons Teaching Guide
The newest edition of the FFA New Horizons Teaching Guide is now available!
NEW! Student Handbook and Workbook
The latest edition of the National FFA Student Handbook and Official FFA Manual are now live and available for classroom use. New this year is a classroom workbook and poster set that accompany the student handbooks. Click here to purchase the handbook, workbook, or manual. Looking for free digital files to share with students?
California Chapters Receive ‘Grants for Growing’
National FFA awarded more than $925,000 to FFA chapters in 42 states. This nationwide program, sponsored by Tractor Supply Company, provides grant funds to local FFA chapters to grow their classroom, grow their chapter, or grow ag awareness in their communities.
Seven California chapters were awarded funds: Brentwood-Liberty FFA, Central Catholic FFA, Firebaugh FFA, Foothill-Palo Cedro FFA, Fowler FFA, Golden Valley-Bakersfield FFA, and Turlock Christian FFA. Congratulations!
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