April 8th
Debra Duardo, M.S.W., Ed.D.
Los Angeles County Superintendent of Schools

Our students and school staff will need a lot of support as we recover from this pandemic. One important way we can do that is to reflect on the words we use to describe our students' learning experience.

Let's steer away from deficit language like "learning loss" and "corona kids." The reality is our young people have been learning since campuses were forced to close last spring.

The knowledge they have acquired may not be what they would have learned in the classroom. But what they have received are invaluable life lessons, such as how to adapt to unforeseen circumstances and build resilience in the face of adversity.

We have much work ahead to help our students catch up academically. Yet I believe they return to our campuses with a surplus — not deficit — of understanding that has strengthened their minds and hearts. We'd do well by them to acknowledge in our words and actions how they have learned and grown.
Public Health Update
Accountability, Support & Monitoring
The U.S. Department of Education on April 6 sent a letter to the State Board of Education approving California's request to waive the federal requirements related to the accountability and school identification requirements. Read the letter.

The intent of these accountability waivers is to allow for a focus on assessments as a tool to provide information to parents, educators and the public about student performance and to help target resources and supports. 

The waiver approves that California will not be required to implement and report the results of its accountability system, which include:

  • calculating progress toward long-term goals and measurements of interim progress/indicators  
  • identifying LEAs for Differentiated Assistance  
  • requiring that the Academic Achievement Indicator be adjusted to account for a participation rate below 95 percent as applicable 

Based on this waiver, California also will not be required to identify schools for:

  • comprehensive support and improvement    
  • targeted support and improvement 
  • additional targeted support and improvement based on data from the 2020–21 school year 

California will continue to:

  • support previously identified schools in the 2021–22 school year   
  • resume school identification in fall 2022  
  • ensure transparency to the public, including parents   

As a condition of receiving the waiver, California will publicly report disaggregated chronic absenteeism data for 2020–21. 
Budget & Finance
President Biden is planning to pass a more than $3 trillion infrastructure plan this summer, and the White House intends to take a deliberate and collaborative approach. The proposal aims to make generational investments in infrastructure, revive domestic manufacturing and combat climate change. In addition, it could include $3 trillion in tax increases. The final price tag is unknown but is expected to be between $3-4 trillion. The plan includes $100 billion to provide broadband access to every American and $100 billion to upgrade and build new public schools.
Child Care
The LA County Department of Public Health updated the Guidance for Early Care and Education Providers to remove the 14-child maximum size for stable groups and guidance for dividing classroom space between multiple stable groups.

The new stable group guidance is as follows: 

  • Stable groups should be as small as feasible. The maximum size of stable groups is limited by the number of children that allows all members of the group to maintain physical distancing of 6 feet from all other members within the available licensed space. At no time may group size exceed the maximum number of children permitted by Community Care Licensing per classroom or other licensed space, and facility shall comply at all times with minimum staff to child ratios set by CCL.

The updated guidance document can be found here. The full ECE COVID-19 Toolkit can be found here.
Equity
Beyond the Schoolhouse: Digging Deeper webinar, April 14, 12-1pm:

UCLA's new report “Beyond the Schoolhouse: Digging Deeper” can be used to inform the strategic use of resources to address inequalities and guide decision-making to better serve Black students in LA County. The report examines the relationship between educational outcomes and social, health and environmental factors that impact Black students in 14 districts that serve 800 Black students or more in the county. The research also offers examples of successful efforts and specific recommendations to assist educators and policymakers.

A briefing webinar will be held April 14 at 12pm. Speakers include: from the UCLA Center for the Transformation of Schools—Joseph Bishop, Tyrone Howard, Angela James, Stanley Johnson; Debra Duardo, LACOE superintendent; Kathryn Edwards, LACOE director of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion; Deborah Allen, LA Department of Public Health; Darin Brawley, superintendent, Compton USD; Leslie Lockhart, superintendent, Culver City USD; and Kahlila Williams, student and youth organizer.
Foster Youth
April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month, which is dedicated to raising awareness of how to recognize and prevent child neglect and abuse. 
 
LACOE Foster Youth Services continues to search for ways to keep students physically and mentally safe and will host two trauma-informed practices webinars on April 23 and April 30 on childhood trauma, detection of Adverse Childhood Experiences and strategies to address these issues within a school setting. 
 
Mental Health Wellbeing Line & Chat
The LA County Department of Mental Health has created the Wellbeing Line & Chat as a resource for frontline workers, county employees, school staff and care professionals. It provides access to emotional support related to COVID-19 stressors, assistance navigating mental health services and referrals to grief and bereavement resources.

Free support is available 7 days a week from 11 am to 7 pm by calling 833-307-0509 or visiting the Wellbeing for LA website.

Flyers, social media content and other communications tools are available here for sharing information on the resource with district and school personnel.
Resources for Districts & Schools
Learning Recovery & Acceleration: A Series (LACOE) click here

Addressing Anti-Asian Racism and Discrimination: Resources for Educators (LACOE) click here

CA Safe Schools for All Virtual Training Academy click here

AB86 & CA Budget Planning Tool for Expanded Learning Programs (LACOE) click here
African American teen girl wearing headphones learning language online_ using laptop_ looking at screen_ doing school tasks at home_ writing notes_ listening to lecture or music_ distance education