Early Learning Plan Gathers

Input and Moves Forward 

The California Comprehensive Early Learning Plan (CCELP) is moving forward, thanks to the work of a project team lead by Jeanie McLoughlin and Nirmala Dillman, Early Learning Support Services staff members at the San Mateo County Office of Education (SMCOE), and the input they have gathered from well over 1,500 individuals.

CCELP, with funding from the federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) and the support of the California Department of Education, seeks to articulate a vision for early learning and care in California, and a set of practical recommendations for achieving that vision. 

Supt. Anne Campbell, Kevin Mullin (just elected to the CA Assembly), Dr. Gary Waddell, Kathy Parmer-Lohan at a recent CCELP workshop.

 The month of October was a busy time, gathering input from stakeholders through an online survey, workshops, and a series of virtual and in-person forums. "We had well-organized forums and tremendously engaged groups looking at what the priorities should be for early learning in California. We were looking at pragmatic steps for policy and practice. It was interesting to see that there were not a lot of outliers. Most stakeholders are thinking along the same lines. And it was gratifying to see so many groups participate in the process," says McLoughlin.

A total of 261 people attended the regional workshops held in Fresno, Sacramento, Los Angeles and Oakland. In addition there were more than 30 local and virtual stakeholder input meetings around the state involving over 700 more, and 768 CCELP online survey responses.

In response to strong interest at the regional workshops, the American Institutes for Research (AIR), a partner in the CCELP process, is hosting a series of free webinars in November and December on the Meta-Analysis Report and the policy recommendations they developed. Topics include an overview of the Meta-Analysis, access to quality care, program quality assessment, workforce development, dual language learners, developmental screening and more. Registration is available online here.

Recordings of the webinars will be available afterwards for those who miss the live broadcast.

"The AIR report is a unique synthesis of 81 studies focused on early learning in California, and the recommendations that came out of these studies. We've never had a document that synthesized all this research before," notes McLoughlin.

In November, the team is conducting more virtual and local forums, and distributing a survey for parents. Once the CCELP team has gathered and summarized all the input, they'll present a draft framework and meta-analysis to the State Advisory Council in January. Then they'll shift to writing, with the goal of meeting their early June deadline for submitting the plan.

PPLC Sets Strategy for Achieving Third-Grade Reading Proficiency 

The Peninsula Partnership Leadership Council (PPLC) has set a laser-like focus on making sure all San Mateo County students become proficient readers by third grade. This year the Council has come together around a three-pronged strategy toward meeting that long-term goal.

San Mateo County Superintendent Anne Campbell chairs the PPLC, whose mission is to formulate policies that effectively address the needs and foster the healthy development of children, youth and families in San Mateo County. On the council are leaders from multiple disciplines throughout San Mateo County including government, health services and education.

Last year the council members coalesced around the goal of third-grade reading proficiency, and spent time educating themselves on how communities make that happen. Separate work groups met over the summer to learn about four areas--school readiness, school attendance, summer learning loss, and family and community engagement--and their relationship to third-grade reading proficiency. Each group then came up with two overarching goals for this school year.

The PPLC as a whole then set three strategies for this year: implement a countywide plan stressing the importance of third-grade reading proficiency, and how to support schools and families in that effort; convene county leaders to educate them about the campaign; and encourage adoption of promising initiatives.

The PPLC is also focusing on communication and outreach around their efforts. Plans are in the making to take their message out to community and stakeholder groups in early 2013. The aim is to have a plan of action ready to go by next summer.

Dr. Tony Roehrick Takes Charge of Cabrillo Unified School District 

Dr. Tony Roehrick became Superintendent of the Cabrillo Unified School District on July 1, 2012, and sees it as a "new adventure." He's been busy since day one, overseeing the academic success of students as well as the financial stability of the district, and an $81 million bond for school modernization that passed in June 2012. "But it all comes back to teaching and learning in the classroom," he says. As superintendent he says he won't be divorced from the classroom and is focused on supporting principals as instructional leaders.

Dr. Roehrick has spent most of his career in education in Sonoma County.

Dr. Tony Roehrick is thrilled to lead the active community in the Cabrillo Unified School District.

He has been a teacher, assistant principal, principal and superintendent. Most recently he was superintendent in the Bellevue Union Elementary School District, one of the largest K-8 districts in Sonoma County with 1,700 students. Prior to that he served in a dual position as superintendent and principal in the Alexander Valley Elementary School, a small single school district in Healdsburg.

Many years ago when he was a young college graduate from San Francisco State University with a degree in photo journalism, he did not initially intend to become a teacher. He pursued photo journalism for awhile, working as a freelance photographer in the Los Angeles area but something was missing. "I've always been an idealist," he says, "Not just about making a living but contributing to society." So he went back and got his teaching credential, and began his career in education.

"It's thrilling to be a part of the Cabrillo community," he notes. "It's a very active community where the staff and parents are so positive and really want to see the district be successful."

He plans to focus on the fiscal solvency of the district. "It's always 1a or 1b on the list," he says. "And we are constantly in the position of finding ways to do more with less." The $81 million bond gives the district tremendous potential to update facilities and take care of the technology infrastructure.

Dr. Roehrick is a big believer in teacher collaboration. "I see it as a powerful tool and I've seen it work. It's a great way to connect teachers across the hall and across disciplines, and provide opportunities to differentiate instruction. There's a lot of that going on already and I'd like to find ways to enhance that as well as build the capacity of teachers to be instructional leaders."

Dr. Roehrickand his wife Laura are empty-nesters, and the proud parents of two grown daughters. Thanks to one of his daughters, he will soon become a grandfather. He and his wife are enjoying their new life on the coast. "I always fantasized about living in a coastal community," he says. "I wanted to be in a place where the schools are the central part of the community, so this is the icing on the cake."