The District is committed to keeping our students, families and staff updated regarding our service changes during the pandemic. Please visit our District website at www.stocktonusd.net/COVID to view the latest updates. Please ensure your child's school also has your most up-to-date phone number and email address, and that you have downloaded the SUSD Mobile App to receive immediate updates via push notifications.

For direct information, please click on the following links:

Available for SUSD students and staff in eBook and Audiobook at Soraapp.com. Click here to check out these books >

Learn more about SUSD's CTE Pathways for students on our website at www.stocktonusd.net/CTE.

February is recognized across the country as Career and Technical Education Month, or CTE Month. This month is used to celebrate the value of CTE and the achievement and accomplishments of CTE programs across the country.  Career Technical Education is crucial element in meeting our districts goal of graduating every student college, career, and community ready.

In recognition of CTE Month in February, SUSD will launch its Career Readiness Week February 9-12, 2021. This campaign will allow all SUSD Kindergarten-12th grade student to learn about different career opportunities and how to go about pursuing those careers. Students will utilize Xello, an online college and career readiness software that allows students to discover and explore the careers best suited for them based on their interests and skill sets. Along with career exploration, Xello provides students with activities and lessons on career centric traits and skills such as resume building, interviewing, and lifestyle considerations that allow students to further develop their employability and plan for how to achieve their career goals.

All students in SUSD have access to Xello through with their google sign on, and different lessons and activities are assigned for each grade level. Feel free to explore this wonderful resource at https://xello.world/en/.

The first week in February is National School Counseling Week. School Counselors are site-based mental health professionals that are the first line of support for students, families, and staff providing intentional services in a Multi-Tiered and Multi Domain approach. We would like to honor our amazing school counselors in Stockton Unified who continuously have been providing Social Emotional Learning, Academics, and College and Career awareness while on distance learning. Our amazing school counselors each and every day are here to serve our students and families. Below are some highlighted examples of their services.

The Specialty and Charter School Fair will be cancelled this year due to COVID-19.

If you are interested in attending a specialty school or district dependent charter, please review the brochure and application requirements for each school. Locate the link below for the school of interest and review their portfolio. The online application window opens on January 27 at 8:00 am.

For timelines and selection process for non-lottery schools of interest please check their school brochures to ensure the application process is followed and meets the required deadline. Both the Charter and Specialty programs located at the high schools have their own application and selection requirements.

There are seven elementary schools that implement a random selection process using a lottery system: Primary Years Academy, Hazelton, Kohl, Fremont, Commodore Skills, Taft, and Hong Kingston. We are only accepting online applications. Please click on the link below to submit an application.

Open Application and Random Selection Sites:

As openings become available, applicants in the random selection will be placed in schools. If an applicant is not selected based on space at either of their school selections their name will be placed on a wait list.

In addition, SUSD’s open enrollment has begun for the high schools and will be opening soon for the elementary and specialty schools. Open enrollment provides an opportunity for families to apply to a school outside their attendance zone within Stockton Unified School District. The application selection is based on availability of space and through a lottery system. Flyers with the information regarding open enrollment have been mailed to all families in SUSD. Please visit our Central Enrollment website for any additional information at www.stocktonusd.net/enroll.

Stockton Unified School District (SUSD) is in the process of developing the Local Control & Accountability Plan (LCAP) for 2021-2022. This survey provides opportunities for our 3rd-12th grade students, SUSD staff, parents, guardians, families, and community members to share feedback and ideas that are used in the LCAP development process. We value your feedback and voice and appreciate your time in completing this survey. The window to complete the LCAP survey is from October 26th, 2020 to February 5th, 2021. Thank you for completing the LCAP survey.

Visit www.stocktonusd.net/2021LCAP to take the survey!

(source: Scholastic)

Alexander Miles's automatic elevator doors dramatically improved passenger safety.

Background: Miles's exact birthplace and birthdate are unknown. He was living in Duluth, Minn., when he came up with his famous invention.

Invention: Early elevators were different from the mostly automated devices were familiar with today. Passengers had to manually open and close the elevator doors, as well as the door leading to the elevator shaft. If anyone forgot to close the shaft door, other passengers could fall down the shaft when expecting to step into the elevator. Miles invented a mechanism that triggered the shaft doors to open and close along with the elevator doors, making the ride safer.

Did You Know? The elevators we ride today still feature automatic shaft doors similar to the invention Miles patented in 1887.

Walker made a fortune on her specialized beauty product line for African American women.

Background: Walker was born Sarah Breedlove on a cotton plantation near Delta, La. Her parents were former slaves. Walker was orphaned at age 7 and married at 14. By age 20, she was widowed with a small child. She relocated to St. Louis, Mo., and later married Charles J. Walker.

Invention: During the 1890s, Walker suffered hair loss. This was a common problem at the time. Because indoor plumbing was less common, people washed their hair infrequently. This left their scalps vulnerable to bacteria and lice. Walker experimented with homemade treatments and eventually created a formula that she called "Madame C.J. Walker's Wonderful Hair Grower." After changing her name to the more recognizable "Madame C.J. Walker," she traveled around the country promoting her hair care tips and products to African American women. Her knack for self-promotion made her one of the most famous African Americans of her time and a very successful businesswoman who owned multiple homes. She is one of America's first self-made female millionaires.

Did You Know? As her wealth grew, Walker donated generously to African American causes. She also took pride in employing thousands of "hair culturists," female customers who helped sell her products.

Bath's laser tool has helped restore or improve vision in patients worldwide.

Background: Born in Harlem, N.Y., Bath developed an interest in science early in her life. She attended medical school at Howard University and completed a fellowship in ophthalmology at Columbia University.

Invention: In 1981, Bath invented the surgical tool that made her famous: the Laserphaco Probe, which she continued to perfect and later patented in 1988. The tool was used during eye surgery to correct cataracts, an eye condition that clouds vision and can lead to blindness. Cataracts usually affect older people. Bath's laser tool was more precise, less invasive, and less risky than previous devices, and has been used around the world.

Did You Know? Bath claims many "firsts": She was the first African American to complete a residency in ophthalmology; the first woman to chair an ophthalmology residency program in the United States; and the first African American female doctor to secure a medical patent. She also co-founded the American Institute for the Prevention of Blindness.

GreatSchools.org and Stockton Unified School District have partner to equitably serve more than 40,000 students amid pandemic. The new partnership will deliver grade-based newsletters to parents, helping build community and support student success in kindergarten through high school graduation.

As schools across the country start off the year with remote instruction, in-person learning, or both, school districts have an even greater need to safely build stronger communities and equitable outcomes for all students. In their most recent annual survey of 3,264 parents receiving GreatSchools.org’s grade-based newsletters, 94% reported that the newsletters helped them understand and support their child’s learning, 87% reported that the newsletters supported them during school closures, 84% of parents reported that the newsletters helped them to feel more confident communicating with the teacher, and 64% reported that their child is doing better in school academically, socially and/or emotionally, or both, since they began reading the newsletters.