SCC students outperform statewide peers in Title III report
 

Results of the 2012-13 Title III Accountability Report, released earlier this month by the California Department of Education (CDE), demonstrate that Santa Clara County's schools outperformed their statewide counterparts in meeting their annual measureable achievement objectives (AMAOs), according to an analysis by the Santa Clara County Office of Education's Assessment and Accountability Department.

 

Students being testedResults of the California English Language Development Test (CELDT), Standardized Testing and Reporting (STAR) Program and the California High School Exit Exam (CAHSEE) are used to calculate the accountability requirements in Title III of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA).

 

Title III provides funding to California local educational agencies (LEAs) to implement supplemental programs designed to help English Learners (ELs) attain English proficiency and meet state academic and content standards, and requires that the state define two AMAOs based on CELDT results for increasing the percentage of EL students making progress in learning English and attaining English proficiency. A third academic achievement AMAO is based on the Adequate Yearly Progress report.

 

The SCCOE analysis showed that 71% of Santa Clara County LEAs met the 2012-13 AMAO 1 target, compared to only 50% of LEAS across California. LEAs in Santa Clara County also outperformed LEAs across the state in meeting the targets set for the 2012-13 AMAO 2. Additionally, nine percent of LEAs in the county met their targets for all three AMAOs, compared with just six percent of LEAs statewide. Click here for the entire SCCOE analysis. 

 

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STEAM initiative takes off 
 
Launched earlier this year as a part of the Curriculum & Instruction Department, the SCCOE's new STEAM initiative is focused on promoting high-quality, integrated science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics instruction in schools across the county.

 

STEAM As the County Office of Education strives to provide all students with the critical 21st century skills necessary for college and career success, STEAM is supporting teachers and administrators with customized professional development in all five of these content areas.

 

Student learning chemistry "STEAM allows students to experience the real-world in an engaging and meaningful way and empowers teachers to lead with context," says STEAM Director Cecilio Dimas. "Content and skills that were once taught in isolation are now able to come together seamlessly in STEM and STEAM classes."

 

Beyond preparing teachers to integrate more science, technology, engineering, art and math into their every day lesson plans, STEAM is partnering with districts and community stakeholders to increase the number of students interested in and preparing to pursue STEAM careers.

  

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Board hears two charter petitions
 
Here's a summary of actions taken by the Board at its Nov. 13 and 20 meetings:
  • Held a public hearing on two charter school petitions, for Rocketship Morgan Hill and Morgan Hill Prep (Navigator Schools)
  • Recognized Administrative Assistant Melisa Wonch as Employee of the Month for November
  • Presented Garrett Wilkinson of Blossom Hill Elementary School with a Student Recognition award for academic achievement and excellence in an SCCOE school program
  • Heard an update on the Alternative Education Department's After-Hours Family Mental Health Services pilot program

The Board of Education is the elected governing body of the SCCOE. Its seven members serve four-year terms and are elected by different regions of the county. Learn more about the members, and view their meeting schedule, agendas and minutes. 

 

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In This Issue
Title III Accountability Report results released
SCCOE launches STEAM initiative
Board actions in November
New General Counsel and Director of Media & Communications appointed
Inclusive Schools Week, Dec. 2-6
Parent guide to Common Core State Standards

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General Counsel and Media & Communications Director join COE

The positions of General Counsel and Director of Media & Communications at the Santa Clara County Office of Education have been filled with the appointments of Maribel Medina and Ken Blackstone.

 

Maribel Medina Medina, currently a partner at the law firm of Meyers Nave, will join the office on Dec. 2. She previously served as General Counsel for San Francisco Unified School District and Special Counsel to the Los Angeles Unified School District Board of Education.

 

As General Counsel, Medina will advise the County Superintendent, County Board of Education, management and staff on legal issues affecting the operations of the County Office. Working within the Office of the Superintendent, she will formulate policy, represent the office in court hearings and supervise legal staff in representing the County Office before other public agencies. In addition, she will provide support to the Office of Innovative Schools, which is responsible for the oversight, monitoring and analysis of all SCCOE BOE authorized charter schools.

 

Ken BlackstoneBlackstone joined the SCCOE this month from Columbia, SC where he was the Executive Director of Communications and Strategic Partnerships for Richland School District Two, a district of 27,000 students and 40 schools. He has worked in school communications, public relations and media production for 20 years.

 

As Director of Media & Communications, Blackstone will oversee all communications with the public, news media and SCCOE staff. He will coordinate media services, print publications, video and digital content, graphic design and special event production.

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Celebrate Inclusive Schools Week
  
Boys of differeing abilities play and study togetherNational Inclusive Schools Week celebrates including students with disabilities in our nation's schools and communities. Before the passage of the 1974 federal law protecting the right of students with disabilities to go to school, most schools excluded children and youth with disabilities.

 

This year's theme is Authentic Inclusion: Increasing Our Comfort Zone, and focuses on ensuring that all students feel valued and a true sense of belonging in school.

 

Inclusive Schools Week celebrates the progress that schools have made in providing a supportive and quality education to an increasingly diverse student population, including students who are marginalized due to disability, gender, socio-economic status, cultural heritage, language preference and other factors. The week also provides an important opportunity for educators, students and parents to discuss what else needs to be done in order to ensure that their schools continue to improve their ability to successfully educate all children.

Visit the Inclusive Schools Network website for activities, ideas and resources for celebrating Inclusive Schools Week.

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CDE & PTA partner to provide Common Core resources to parents
 
The California Department of Education (CDE) is partnering with the California State PTA to provide parents with resources on the new Common Core State Standards (CCSS).
 
Common Core State Standards Important information has been compiled into the Parent's Guide to Student Success, a series of resources geared towards helping parents understand their children's English-language arts and mathematics standards and curriculum at each grade level.
 
The guides are available in both English and Spanish on the CDE Common Core State Standards webpage and the California State PTA website. The guides include an overview of the key concepts that students will be learning in each year of school, activities that parents can employ at home to support student learning and suggestions for working with teachers to ensure student academic progress.
 
 

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Since 1852, the Santa Clara County Office of Education has provided vital services and resources to the county's 31 K-12 public school districts and more than 250,000 students. The COE strives to provide advocacy and leadership on education issues, student programs that are models of excellence and indispensable services to schools and community partners. The COE is commited to serving, inspiring and promoting student and public school success.

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