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. |
|
Follow us on social media for more frequent updates: |
|
|
Students lead public health awareness campaign |
|
As LA County continues its recovery and schools reopen, it's critical to remind our young people about the continued risks of COVID-19 to keep campuses and communities safe. Members of LACOE Supt. Debra Duardo's Student Advisory Council have volunteered to help create resources, including a PSA, to spread this very important message among LA County's youth.
These resources are part of the expanded The Risk Is Real public awareness campaign, a collaboration among LACOE, the County of Los Angeles and the LA County Department of Public Health. Launched on April 27, the campaign features students from various school districts who follow COVID-19 safety protocols as they do their part to keep communities safer during the pandemic. "I'm very grateful for the amazing work of my student advisors who are leading efforts to uplift student voices and bring the views of our youth into conversations about issues facing our schools and communities," said Supt. Duardo in a statement.
|
|
Lessons from the Field: Grant Elementary, Long Beach USD
Successful reopening powered by collaboration
|
|
Visiting Ulysses S. Grant Elementary School in Long Beach USD, LACOE Supt. Debra Duardo saw first-hand how the district's focus on collaboration has been key to its successful reopening of campuses. Administrators, teachers and parents have come together to ensure the safety and well-being of students as they return to in-person learning.
Long Beach USD Supt. Jill Baker, who gave Supt. Duardo a tour of the campus, said seeing the students come back has been "energizing to the entire system" and has reminded them about their 'why' as educators.
|
|
School communities support campaign vs sexual violence |
|
LACOE Supt. Debra Duardo joins with mentor and former boss Patti Giggans, founder of Peace Over Violence, to discuss Denim Day, the longest running sexual violence prevention and education campaign in history. In this video, t he two leaders look at the ongoing challenges and the importance of educating youth starting at an early age to promote awareness and sexual violence prevention.
At El Rancho USD, Supt. Frances Esparza led the district in supporting Denim Day to d raw attention to the fact that sexual violence remains a serious issue in our society. The Denim Day campaign was launched shortly after an Italian Supreme Court decision overturned a rape conviction in 1998 because the teenage victim wore tight jeans. Wearing jeans became an international symbol of protest against erroneous and destructive attitudes about sexual assault.
|
|
El Monte City SD marks milestone: 4 million meals served |
|
El Monte City SD has recently reached a major milestone: 4 million meals distributed to students since the district's curbside meal program was launched when schools closed more than a year ago. EMCSD’s Director of Nutrition Services Jenny Lee said the program continues even with the phased reopening of schools. “We still anticipate a robust curbside operation and a lot of our attention will still be focused on meeting the needs of our community, in addition to the students we have returning to school,” she said.
EMCSD Supt. Maribel Garcia said reaching the 4 million mark highlights the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on communities. “We want to make sure we can provide as much support to our families. Roughly 40 percent of our students are returning to school...leaving 60 percent of kids at home who still need healthy meals, and thankfully we have dedicated staff working extremely hard to provide these meals.”
|
|
Baldwin Park USD boosts mental health support for students |
|
As part of the district rollout of its school reopening mental health support plan, Baldwin Park USD's Board of Education recently approved expanded contract services with local mental health agencies. The additional support on campus will provide students with increased access to counseling services while they manage the transition to hybrid learning.
"We are grateful and excited to increase the mental health services available to our students and families with the help of our local mental health partners," said Supt. Froilan Mendoza. "Our mission is to ensure high achievement for all learners, and this is only possible when we are advocates for our students' mental and emotional health."
|
|
2021 California Distinguished Schools
42 additional LA County schools receive award
|
|
State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond recently named an additional 121 schools -- 42 in LA County -- as 2021 California Distinguished Schools. In an announcement on March 18, the California Department of Education (CDE) awarded the honor to 102 schools (31 in LA County), and that list has been broadened to include 120 additional California senior high schools and one more middle school.
“These additional high schools join the ranks of all 2021 California Distinguished Schools who are being recognized for this distinction because of their exceptional record to provide for all students and their commitment to data-driven efforts that prepare students for college and career,” Thurmond said.
|
|
Three LA County high schools among Top 10 in California |
|
Whitney HS in ABC Unified is the No. 2 Best High School in California and No. 25 nationwide, according to the U.S. News & World Report's 2021 rankings. Two other LA County schools -- California Academy of Math & Science in Long Beach USD and Harbor Teacher Preparation Academy in LAUSD -- also made it to the Top 10 Best High Schools in the state and Top 100 in the nation.
Thousands of public California high schools have been ranked by U.S. News & World Report in the publication's latest analysis of upper school education in the United States, revealing the top schools across the state and beyond.
|
|
May 7 is Provider Appreciation Day
Celebrating child care heroes
|
|
May 7 is Child Care Provider Appreciation Day. Early learning and care providers have always been essential to the community. Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, their dedication to serve children has ensured parents can return to work and provide for their families.
This week, Quality Start Los Angeles, LA County’s Quality Rating and Improvement System is leading a “communications rumble” in recognizing all teachers and education staff who provide educational services and care to children. Join in with the hashtags #earlyeducators #childcareheroes #ecematters #QSLA and thank the providers in your community! In a resolution recognizing May 7 as Provider Appreciation Day, the LA County Board of Education has urged communities to thank and celebrate early learning and child care providers, and to spread the important message that early learning and child care are essential.
|
|
National Foster Care Month
Honoring caregivers, students in foster care
|
|
May is National Foster Care Month and LACOE's Foster Youth Services Program has created a toolkit for districts and schools to use to honor caregivers for opening their homes to children and youth in need. The toolkit offers various social media platform graphics, information on the history of the observance, upcoming events and a look at how others celebrate this very important month.
In a resolution declaring May as National Foster Care Month, the LA County Board of Education has urged communities to recognize the unique needs of children and youth in foster care and increase their commitment to help these young people succeed.
|
|
Five LA County schools receive RAMP recognition |
|
The American School Counselor Association (ASCA) has named five schools in LA County as a Recognized ASCA Model Program, or RAMP, for 2021: Cactus Medical, Health and Technology Magnet Academy, John H. Glenn High School, Lancaster High School, Marshall Middle School and Southeast Academy.
The RAMP designation recognizes schools that are committed to delivering an exemplary school counseling program. The association awards honorees for aligning their program with the criteria in the ASCA National Model, a framework for a data-informed school counseling program.
|
|
ICAN Student Poster Art Contest
Students promote child safety through artwork
|
|
The Inter-agency Council on Child Abuse and Neglect (ICAN) last Friday honored the 2021 winners of its annual Student Poster Art Contest that highlights the importance of child abuse prevention. During the virtual awards ceremony, participating students were recognized by the LA County Board of Supervisors, child advocates and education leaders, including LACOE Supt. Debra Duardo, a member of ICAN. "I'm always impressed with the insight and talent of our children," Duardo said in her remarks.
The event was hosted by 17-year-old Jack Dylan Grazer (Shazam!). Guests included celebrities Asher Angel (Shazam!), Justin Chambers (Grey’s Anatomy), Michaela Pereira (Good Morning LA) and Lindsay Wagner (The Bionic Woman). Student artwork was showcased alongside the world premiere of Silver Lining, written for ICAN by singer/songwriter Annie Bosko and songwriter Billy Steinberg.
|
|
Former migrant students share inspiring stories |
|
LACOE's Migrant Education Program recently held a virtual summit, with more than 200 students and parents in attendance. During the summit, LACOE staff shared words of encouragement and their personal stories as former migrant students.
|
|
Addressing stigma attached to mental health challenges |
|
There’s a need to address stigma attached to mental health challenges, says LA County Department of Mental Health (DMH) Director Dr. Jonathan Sherin. He encourages parents to talk to their children about mental health as part of a normal dialog, "just like when you break your arm or you have a cough or strep throat."
|
|
K12 Climate Action: Net-Zero schools |
|
Did you know that net-zero schools produce as much energy as they consume? How is that possible? Net-zero schools use energy-saving measures like renewable energy, sustainable landscaping, building design and energy education. Net-zero schools create hands-on opportunities for students to learn about energy consumption and sustainability. Money previously spent on energy can be used for teaching and learning.
K12 Climate Action is on a mission to unlock the power of the education sector to be a force for climate action, solutions and environmental justice.
|
|
Join LACOE's Social-Emotional Learning Community of Practice!
LACOE seeks to convene multi-disciplinary teams of educators at all levels of SEL integration, from exploration phase to expert. Come prepared to share your expertise and join a network of support for adult SEL. Consider bringing a school or district leadership team. Monthly attendance is not required, but participants will get the most out of the experience by attending all sessions and expanding networks.
|
|
On May 4-8, 2021, LACOE will be hosting the Prenatal to Five Early Learning Virtual Conference, a free virtual interactive conference for parents, expectant moms, early childhood educators, special education staff, administrators and service area staff.
Hear from experts who specialize in brain development, early education topics that enhance children's experiences, social-emotional growth, services for children with special needs and much more. Opportunities are available for professional development and continuing education units (CEUs).
|
|
LACOE schools offer a world of wellness |
|
Supporting student and staff wellness is what Jovanne Myers imagined a career as a school counselor would be like. “Instead of being buried in transcripts, I have the chance to be innovative and creative in meeting our students’ needs,” said Myers, one of three counselors who have been working to support wellness in LACOE-run schools during the pandemic.
LACOE’s wellness counselors are key to assessing and monitoring the quality of climate and culture in Juvenile Court and County Community Schools, the LA County High School for the Arts and IPoly High School.
|
|
Resources for Families & Schools |
|
Don’t forget, LACOE is regularly updating several pages of resources:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
