This trainer of trainers session is designed to equip COEs/District and charter leading staff with the tools to engage site leaders across their districts/ charters in local planning to implement the English Learner Roadmap. The session will include an exploration of entry points, specific tools, and approaches for the local context. 

Audience: County Office Teams, District Office Teams, Charter System Teams 

Date: 4/8

Time: 8:30 a.m. - 12:30pm 

Cost: Free 

Flyer 

Registration

3-day in-person series provides a set of strategies that can be integrated into lessons and practices. Participants will: 

- Identify and address the strengths and needs of English learner/emergent bilingual students by providing targeted scaffolds and instructional support. 

- Develop strategies to engage students in language domains (listening, reading, speaking and writing), deepening students’ use of academic language. 

Audience: Elementary Teachers, Instructional Coaches, TOSAs, EL Leaders 

Dates: 6/23-6/25

Time: 9:00 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. 

Cost: Free 

Registration

Flyer

This Community of Practice (CoP) aims to: 

1) deepen our understanding of research and best practices and 

2) further collaborate around the support and success of our LTEL students 

Audience: Instructional Coaches, TOSAs, EL Leaders, District and Site Administrators 

Dates: 4/18, 5/13 All sessions

Time: 10:00 -11:30 a.m. 

Cost: Free 

Flyer

Registration 

A wide range of professional learning offerings from across the state to build capacity around serving our multilingual learners.

Audience: Site Administrators, Classroom Teachers, EL Leaders, TOSAs, Specialists

Cost: Free

Professional Learning Catalog

CCLA Online Courses for Learning Acceleration

The California Collaborative for Learning Acceleration (CCLA) offers access to free self-paced courses that provide evidence-based strategies to boost learning acceleration in the classroom. 

Available Online Courses: Learning Acceleration Introduction Course: This course provides an understanding of what learning acceleration is and why it is needed. It introduces the five components of CCLA: mastery of priority content, evidence-based strategies, Universal Design for Learning, culturally sustaining pedagogy, and social-emotional learning practices. These courses support evidence-based strategies to accelerate learning in math, literacy, and language development. Check out our new paraeducator courses too. 

Dates: Asynchronous

Audience: All TK-12 Educators

Cost: Free 

Location: Virtual

Website & Online Course Access

PTKLF Training Opportunities 

Are you looking for resources to train teachers in the new PTKLF? See training resources:  

California Preschool/Transitional Kindergarten Learning Foundations | CPIN.us  

California Early Childhood Online (CECO) funded by CDSS  

California PTKLF - Child Development (CA Dept of Education)  

Early Care and Education 

21st Annual Young Children’s Issues Forum

This year's event brings together a diverse panel featuring representatives from Head Start, California State Preschool (CSPP), private preschools, family child care, family friend and neighbor care, transitional kindergarten, and programs for children with special needs. Attendees will gain valuable information to help navigate the best options for their children. To further support our community, we are offering complimentary child care and a hearty breakfast to attendees. We've also planned a powerful keynote speaker, who as a parent herself, will leave families feeling motivated and confident about their choices. 

Audience: Families, Early Child Care  

Dates: March 8 

Location: 233 Gregory Lane, Pleasant Hill, 94523 

Cost: Free 

Time: 8:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.  

Register 

Flyer

Project ARISE Workshop: Using Progress Monitoring Data for Instructional Decision Making 

Explore a progress monitoring graph and its essential features. Learn how to use decision rules to interpret progress monitoring data and make instructional decisions. Facilitated by our partner from NCII (National Center for Intensive Intervention). 

Audience: K-12 educators and administrators 

Date: March 10

Time: 3:30 p.m. - 4:45 p.m.

Location: Virtual 

Cost: Free 

Registration 

Flyer

CCCOE & College Board: Unlocking Opportunities Beyond the SAT 

Presented by Andy Bride, Associate Director at The College Board. With a mindset of equity in education for all students, Bride offers insight to help districts focus their efforts on unlocking the widest array of post-secondary options for every student. His session topics include: PSAT 8/9, Big Future, Pre AP, AP African American Studies, AP PreCalc, AP Seminar, Career Kickstart, and New Courses. 

Audience: District Leaders, High School Principals, Counselors, Teacher Leaders

Dates: March 12, April 16, May 7

Time: 3:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.

Location: Virtual

Registration

Project ARISE: Literacy Online Courses (no cost) 

Project ARISE is a grant funded project that offers access to 5 asynchronous, self-paced courses at no cost to all CA educators.  

·   Course content includes literacy as equity, executive functions, reading foundations, comprehension, and intensive interventions.  

·    3 graduate units are available through a partnership with UOP ($50/unit) once all five courses are completed. 

Dates: open enrollment, self-paced 

Audience: All CA Educators - Teachers, Interventionists, Specialists, Paraprofessionals, Administrators... 

Cost: FREE 

Registration

Flyer

Would you like to talk about bringing your new learning to life in your classroom? Join our Statewide Virtual Community! 

·   Our just-about-monthly meetings will provide opportunities to discuss your learning and share ideas about how to apply it in your classroom and with your students! 

Dates: March 13

Time: 3:30 p.m. – 4:45 p.m. 

Audience: Anyone enrolled in the courses 

Cost: FREE 

Registration

Flyer

Contra Costa County Science and Engineering Fair 

The Contra Costa County Science & Engineering Fair (CCCSEF) is set for March 13-15, 2025 at Los Medanos College in Pittsburg. It is only open to students who attend school in Contra Costa County. Students select a project topic from six categories.  

Date: Fair March 13 -15

Audience: 7th- 12th grade students 

Cost: $35 

Website  

Improving A-G Completion Rates, an Equity Driven Professional Learning Series, in Partnership with Lawrence Hall of Science

Audience: District Leaders, High School Principals, Middle School Principals, Counselors, Teacher Leaders

Dates: March 13, May 8

Time: 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

Location: Virtual

Cost: Free

Registration

Flyer

CPIN – The California Preschool Instructional Network

Attend our regional professional development sessions for PK/TK teachers, IAs, home based providers and others in the early learning field. 

Topic: Family Partnerships and Culture in Spanish 

Audience: Early Childhood Teachers, Caregivers, TK Teachers and Instructional Assistants, Directors, Administrators 

Date: March 18 & 26

Time: 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. 

Location: Virtual 

Cost: Free 

Registration:Prácticas Recomendadas Para la Planificación del Currículo Para los Niños Pequeños: Las colaboración con las familias y la cultura 

Topic: Dual Language Learners and Math (Spanish) 

Audience: Early Childhood Teachers, Caregivers, TK Teachers and Instructional Assistants, Directors, Administrators 

Time: March 18

Date: 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. 

Location: Virtual 

Cost: Free 

Registration: Dual Language Learner: DLL Focus Through the Lens of a Key Developmental Area: Math Implementation of CECO Module 2 

Topic: PTKLF Approaches to Learning – A New Module! 

Audience: Early Childhood Teachers, Caregivers, TK Teachers and Instructional Assistants, Directors, Administrators 

Date: March 19

Time: 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. 

Location: Virtual 

Cost: Free 

Registration: Preschool/Transitional Kindergarten Learning Foundations (PTKLF) - Approaches to Learning Virtual 

Teacher Induction Program 

Partnering with New Teacher Project Santa Cruz to offer RICA test prep courses in 2025:  

RICA Subtests – March 18, 20, 25, 26

Registration 

Contact

Is It Psychosis? Understanding and Differentiating Severe Mental Health Presentations

“Is it Psychosis? Understanding and Differentiating Severe Mental Health Presentations” training event. Participants will learn how to differentiate psychosis from other mental health presentations and strategies to support students with severe mental health in the classroom.

Audience: School Counselors, Administrators, and Teachers

Date: March 19

Time: 2:00 p.m.

Cost: Free

Location: Virtual

Registration

Contact via email or call 510-794-2500

Social Emotional Learning and Academic Integration

This engaging webinar will set you up for success with SEL and Academic integration, no matter where you are with your SEL learning journey. You will collaborate with colleagues from across the state to deepen equity-centered SEL foundations, and experience dynamic activities that will deepen your adult SEL and classroom practices. You will gain access to a teacher-created bank of activities and lessons differentiated by grade level and content area that will help you easily and effectively integrate social and emotional learning into your academic content. 

Audience: TK-12 Teachers

Date: March 19

Time: 3:30 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. 

Cost: Free 

Location: Virtual

Registration

Unlocking Empathy: Experiencing Dyslexia Workshop Series featuring University of La Verne 

This 2-part workshop series provides a unique opportunity for all educators to participate in an experience that will reshape your perspective, deepen your understanding of dyslexia, and elevate your impact as an educator. 

Audience: K-12 Educators, Administrators, Paraeducators 

Dates: March 19 & 26 (rescheduled from Jan. 2025) 

Location: Virtual 

Cost: Free 

Registration 

CCLA Virtual Statewide Literacy Workshops Series  

Session 3: Igniting your Reading Comprehension Lessons! 

Come together with educators statewide to gain knowledge and deepen understanding of learning acceleration. Explore key tools and strategies needed to design high-quality lessons that support reading comprehension instruction effectively in both whole group and small-group settings which can accelerate learning. 

Audience: TK-12 Educators, Coaches, Administrators 

Date: March 20

Time: 3:45 p.m. - 4:45 p.m.

Cost: Free 

Location: Virtual

Registration 

Flyer

News and Literacy for All Webinar Series 

The CDE is continuing to work with the News Literacy Project in conjunction with COEs in Santa Clara, Fresno, and San Diego and the California School Library Association to bring you a series of free virtual webinars with resources for educators to help hone their students’ news and media literacy skills. All the webinars start at 3:30 p.m. and will be accessed through Zoom.

· March 20: Algorithms, Building Search Habits 

· April 17: Making Sense of Data 

 For more information, email Jennifer Howerter, Education Programs Consultant, at jhowerter@cde.ca.gov. 

Unlocking the Power of Communication Training for PK/TK/K Teachers 

Every interaction with a young child is a golden opportunity to nurture their communication skills! Join us for an exciting and interactive workshop where you’ll dive into the fascinating world of communication development for children aged 0-5 years.  

Audience: PK, TK, and Kindergarten teachers

Date: March 20

Time: 3:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Cost: Free

Location: Virtual

Flyer

Registration 

AI in Education

Empowering Through AI - Educate, Innovate and Elevate

Strand: Get ready to learn how to use AI to enhance your teaching skills and empower your students at our AI in education Educator Strand events! Two sessions available.

Audience: Educators, CCCOE Staff

Date/Time/Location: April 3, 12:00 p.m.- 3:00 p.m., CCCOE, 77 Santa Barbara Road, Pleasant Hill, CA 94523 

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Date/Time/Location: April 28, 3:30 p.m. - 4:30 pm, Virtual meeting (register for link) 

Cost: Free

Registration

Flyer

Getting Reading Right: Filling the Gaps in the Secondary ELA Classroom

Teachers of older students who are struggling readers need research-based tools and strategies for addressing reading gaps, not just scaffolds as band-aids. Participants will explore best practices for helping students master the code, develop fluency, and build content vocabulary knowledge. It’s time to get reading right in our middle and high school ELA classrooms! Join us for this monthly learning opportunity. You can earn one graduate unit for participation at an additional cost.

Audience: Grades 6-8 ELA Teachers, TOSAs, Instructional Coaches, Site/District Leaders

Dates: April 7, May 5

Time: 3:45 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Location: Virtual

Cost: Free

Registration

Learning Acceleration Leadership Series 

Learning acceleration is a mindset shift. Strategically approaching what you 

are already doing to best support implementation of instructional practices 

that bridge to grade level content for all students, especially those with unfinished learning. Come learn more about Learning Acceleration and how it could fit into your site plan. 

Audience: Site or District Leaders, Coaches/TOSA’s, Teacher Leaders 

Dates: April 18 

Time: 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. 

Location: CCCOE, 77 Santa Barbara Rd., Pleasant Hill 

Cost: Free 

Registration

Flyer 

Integrating Computational Thinking, Math and Science Professional Learning Series 

Join facilitators from the Lawrence Hall of Science for a yearlong series, including three full in-person days at the Contra Costa County Office of Education and one virtual follow up session. Integrating computational thinking, mathematics, and science enhances students' comprehension and engagement. Gain foundational knowledge and practical strategies. Teams are encouraged to register. 

Audience: TK-12 Educators, Coaches, Administrators 

Dates/Time: April 23, 3:30 p.m.

Location: Virtual Session

Cost: Free 

Registration 

Nature Journaling  

Learn how to teach nature journaling through experiencing it yourself. The concepts and skills used in this workshop are based off of the work of John Muir Laws. Come prepared to be outside and enjoy the nearby scenery.   

Audience: All Teachers Welcome 

Date: April 24

Time: 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.

Location: Contra Costa County Office of Education, 77 Santa Barbara Rd., Pleasant Hill  

Cost: Free 

Registration  

Navigating Computer Science Core Practices 

Explore the 7 Computer Science Core Practices. Participants will gain familiarity with the Computer Science Standards and Framework. Discover resources and methods to integrate computer science into your lesson plans.  

Audience: Kindergarten – 8th grade teachers 

Date: April 27

Time: 3:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Location: Virtual  

Cost: Free 

Registration  

CCCOE: Wellness Symposium

Featuring keynote speaker, Elena Aguilar, renowned coach and author of Onward: Cultivating Emotional Resilience in Educators and Arise: The Art of Transformational Coaching. Elena is one of education’s leading voices helping to shape the development of best practices, professional standards, and coaching methodologies. Participants will have the opportunity to join breakout sessions on trauma-informed and restorative practices, social emotional learning, and so much more. Full schedule to come! Free to attend. Lunch will be provided. Substitute reimbursement may be available for Contra Costa Educators.

Audience: Teachers, Wellness Staff, and Administrators

Date: Wednesday, May 7

Time: 9:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.

Location: Pleasant Hill Community Center, 320 Civic Dr., Pleasant Hill

Registration

Social Emotional Learning and Wellness Summit 2025 

Relationship-centered schools create environments where everyone feels known, respected, valued, and supported. Through feeling such connection, students and adults can together co-create vibrant, equitable learning communities. At the Summit, participants will explore relationships as the foundation for equity, transformation, and integration. 

Date: May 15 & 16,

Location: Sacramento

Audience: Educators and Administrators 

Cost: $450 

Registration 

Climate Change Resources 

Explore local and statewide resources. Supplement science instruction to include human impact on climate change with a focus on solutions. Implement AB 285 on Climate Change using a new toolkit from the California Environmental Literacy Initiative. 

Date: June 12

Time: 8:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.

Location: Contra Costa County Office of Education, 77 Santa Barbara Road, Pleasant Hill 

Audience: All educators 

Cost: Free 

Registration 

March

For kids preparing to start school the countdown to kindergarten is on. The Library’s Kindergarten Countdown program helps prepare children who are starting school in the fall. The activities are designed to help children practice and learn skills that will ease the transition into kindergarten. Starting March 4, most library locations are distributing activity kits for children ages 4-6 while supplies last. The kits include tools to help children practice early literacy skills like talking, reading, singing, writing, playing, fine motor skills, and self-help. Recorded Zoom events in English and Spanish are available to supplement the learning materials and provide helpful tips. Contact your local Contra Costa County library branch or visit https://ccclib.org/kindergarten-countdown/ for more information.

March Madness

March Madness at the Library is a tournament all about children's books. Each week books will go head-to-head until only one remains. Vote online for one book in each round. For the first round, vote for your favorites in the Sweet 16. Come back the following week to see which books make it to the Elite Eight. Our librarians have chosen all the books from titles released in the last few years. The top title will be announced by April 6. Learn more at ccclib.org.

Women's History Month

Celebrate Women’s History Month in March by reading books from special booklists curated by library staff and by attending programs focused on women who are changing the community and world. On March 8, The El Sobrante Library will host special musical guest Mariachi Femenil Orgullo Mexicano, the first all-female Mariachi group in the Bay Area representing the Mexican culture, Mariachi tradition, and women in the arts. The Lafayette Library will have “Unsung Women of Music” on March 27, an immersive talk that reveals the awe-inspiring female song makers, beat-shakers, and dealmakers nudged to the margins of music history. For more details, including dates and times for all Women’s History Month events, visit ccclib.org.

Project Second Chance Tutors Wanted

Project Second Chance, Contra Costa County Library’s adult literacy program, is seeking volunteer tutors for its April training class. Adults across the County are waiting for a tutor to help them meet their goals, like reading a book to a child, passing the citizenship exam, or getting a better job. Helping a neighbor develop their English reading and writing skills is fun, rewarding, and flexible. No experience is needed. To get started, visit https://ccclib.org/psc-prospective-tutor.

Trails and Tales

Tuesday, March 11, 10 a.m. – Black Diamond Mines Regional Preserve

Enjoy a nature walk with a Naturalist followed by storytime with a Librarian. This program is part of a special partnership between the Contra Costa County Library and the East Bay Regional Parks. This event will be located at Black Diamond Mines Regional Preserve at 5175 Somersville Rd., Antioch.

Homeschool Science Fair

Tuesday, March 25, 12 p.m. – Hercules Library

Open to grades K-12, Homeschool students are invited to present a science project to other families and a panel of local scientists. Ask a librarian for a Science Fair Information Packet for further details and directions. Registration is required.

Making the Most of Your Child's Education



Wednesday, March 26, 4 p.m. – via Zoom

Join a virtual conversation with an expert panel to discover how you can support your child’s learning experience. Explore available resources for extra support, share tips on building positive relationships with schools, and discuss ways you can become a strong advocate for your child’s success. Registration is required.

More Info

For more information on all Contra Costa County Library programs, digital resources and events, visit ccclib.org.

Essay and Visual Arts Scholarships to Raise Awareness of the Armenian Genocide (Deadline: March 28) 

The California Armenian Legislative Caucus Foundation offers two scholarship contests in remembrance of the Armenian Genocide. California high school students in grades nine through twelve are invited to participate in an essay contest and/or a visual arts contest to increase awareness of the Armenian Genocide on its 110th anniversary. Instructions and the registration form are available on the 2025 Scholarship Contest page via Google Forms. Please contact Natalie Bruton-Yenovkian at 1915essay@gmail.com with any questions. The deadline to submit is Friday, March 28, at 11:59 p.m. 

Youth Art Contest

Contra Costa Water District is accepting entries for this year's Water Awareness Youth Art Contest through May 9! Students are encouraged to draw, answer, and be creative! Learn full contest details and artwork submission information: https://ccwater.com/999/Water-Awareness-Youth-Art-Contest

Deadline is May 9.

The California Coastal Commission Offers Student Contest

• California students in 6^th through 12^th grade are invited to submit a podcast, narrative essay, or photo essay to the Climate Storytelling Contest. Students choose one of the three mediums and answer the following prompt: What are your feelings towards climate change? How can those feelings be turned into action?

Entries can be submitted online by 5pm on May 29, 2025. For prize information, rules, contest flyer, entry form (and helpful links for teachers and students), please visit https://www.coastal.ca.gov/climatechallenge/

California Educators Together Guidebooks

Are you looking for high-quality, standards-aligned lessons to inspire your classroom? Guidebooks from California Educators Together have you covered. These curated resources offer lessons crafted with English language development and Universal Design for Learning scaffolding to support all learners. Whether you are teaching science, history, math, English language arts, or career and technical education, there is something for everyone. Each guidebook includes lesson plans, educator highlights, demo videos, podcasts, and access to free curriculum. 

Educational Programming of edTV 

Looking for some additional quality Monday-Friday educational programming at home or in the classroom? Check out the latest edTV broadcasts.

edTV can be found in most of Contra Costa County on cable channels 32 (Comcast) or 99 (AT&T U-Verse). For info: Daily schedule can be found here.