Education Authorities

CDE Today for February 25, 2022


CDE Today, State of California Department of Education, State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond

Welcome to CDE Today, a weekly publication from CDE Communications designed to provide you with clear, consistent updates on what is important to California schools.

Updates

Budget Season

It’s budget season at the State Capitol and the California Department of Education (CDE) has taken part in multiple budget hearings this month. The Senate and Assembly are set to wrap up education budget hearings in the coming weeks. The CDE is eager to share resources and support communication with and among our many interest-holders as we prepare for the May Revise.

CDE Celebrates February as Black History Month

Each year, the CDE celebrates Black History Month in February with displays, messaging, and activities designed to reflect a theme for the year. This year’s theme was Health and Wellness of Black Students and Families. Efforts included webinars centered around Alzheimer’s Disease, mobility, and limb care advice, mental health, and “Did You Know” profiles and stories of celebrated Black figures. You can view the Black History Month webinars on the CDE Facebook page
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School Health, Safety & Support

K–12 Universal Indoor Mask Requirement Update on Monday

California’s indoor mask requirement in K–12 schools remains in place. The California Health & Human Services Agency has announced that there will be an update provided on Monday, February 28, regarding future change to this requirement based on an assessment of key COVID-19 data and conditions (e.g., case rate, test positivity, hospitalizations, pediatric hospitalizations, and vaccine rates).

Vaccination Clinics Available

Local Health Jurisdictions, school districts, and individual schools all play a significant role in the collective effort to keep students healthy and in school. The California Department of Public Health continues to build resources to support school-located vaccine events for COVID-19 vaccine, seasonal influenza vaccine, and other routine immunizations. Request a pop-up mobile vaccination clinic
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Program Highlights

Guidance for the California PreKindergarten Planning and Implementation Grant Program

The Early Education Division at the CDE is pleased to announce the release of guidance to help introduce local educational agency (LEA) leaders to Universal PreKindergarten (UPK) and early education concepts, research, resources, programs, partnership opportunities, and policies. The CDE has developed Guidance for the California PreKindergarten Planning and Implementation Grant Program, which is meant to support LEAs in the development of their Universal PreKindergarten (UPK) Plan for consideration by the LEA’s governing board or body at a public meeting on or before June 30, 2022 (EC Section 8281.5). CDE plans to circulate further guidance later this spring that will help support UPK planning and implementation. See Volume 1 of the Universal PreKindergarten Guidance.

Expanded Learning Opportunities (ELO) Program – Office Hours

The California AfterSchool Network (CAN) in partnership with the CDE Expanded Learning Division (EXLD), and the California Collaborative for Educational Excellence (CCEE), will co-host ELO-P Office Hours!

  • Every Friday, 12–1:30 p.m.
  • The first 30 minutes of the office hours will include an ELO-P 101 presentation
  • The remaining hour will be a time for Q&A and discussion.

Register for February through April office hours on Zoom
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. Please note you will need to register for each office hours session separately, and meetings are capped to keep the space small enough for generative discussion. Please consider only registering for one or two sessions that work best for your schedule and canceling your registration if you can no longer attend.

Youth Mental Health First Aid (YMHFA) Trainings

The CDE is offering virtual YMHFA Trainings, at no cost to LEAs, schools, and community organizations. The training teaches youth-serving adults how to identify, understand, and respond to signs of mental illness and substance use disorders in youth, ages 6-18. The training is made available with funding from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration and Blue Shield of California’s Blue-Sky Initiative. For additional information, visit Project Cal-Well Youth Mental Health First Aid Training. To schedule a MHFA training, please send an email to [email protected].

LivingWorks Start Online Suicide Prevention Training

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC)’s 2019 Vital Signs report, suicide deaths have been rising in nearly every state. Suicide is the second leading cause of death for youth ages 10-24. For every youth who dies by suicide, an estimated 100-200 youth make suicide attempts. Research shows that suicide is preventable and California is taking action. You can help by learning the signs of suicidal ideation and knowing what to do by taking the LivingWorks Start Training
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. The 90-minute, interactive training is FREE to middle (13+) and high school staff and students in California and is funded by Assembly Bill 1808. Please contact Monica Nepomuceno by email at [email protected] for any questions or clarification.

Angst Building Resilience Statewide Initiative

The Angst: Building Resilience program is available to all California public and charter, middle and high schools through June 30, 2022. The 75-minute program includes a 43-minute film that highlights the prevalence of anxiety among our children and youth, discussion guides, classroom activities, and homework assignments to foster discussion with parents/caregivers. The hopeful and inspiring film, offered in English and Spanish, weaves in personal teen stories with expert perspectives to share the science, reduce the stigma, and provide resiliency skills. If you are interested in showing the film in your school or district, there are office hours available, every Wednesday from 3:30–4:30 p.m. to connect with the executive producer to discuss best practices for implementation. Join the Wednesday Zoom call
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. Read the CDE news release on the Angst: Building Resilience program and find more information including on how to host on-demand Angst Screenings for California parents at Angst Building Resilience Initiative
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A Trusted Space: Film-based Program for Adults Serving Students

A Trusted Space: Redirecting Grief to Growth,” a film-based program to help educators feel seen, heard, and validated as they continue to navigate the increasing challenges shaped by the pandemic. Created by the nonprofit All It Takes, the program provides educators and school staff across the state with strategies to build safe and trusted spaces and expand their relationships with K–12 students so healing and learning can happen naturally for ALL students they serve. The film, accompanying research-based SEL curriculum and 20-minute professional development, provides a practical, empathetic, and scientific understanding of how trauma impacts behavior and learning, and how to manage it within any classroom setting. Please see the CDE news release on A Trusted Space or visit the A Trusted Space
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website for more information.

Events and Opportunities

WEBINARS

California Arts Education Framework Launch—March 1

The CDE encourages local education agencies and other educational partners to annually recognize March as Arts Education Month. One activity to consider to kick off Arts Education Month is to register for the virtual launch of the 2022 California Arts Education Framework
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. Sponsored by the CCSESA Statewide Arts Initiative, CISC Arts Subcommittee, The California Arts Project, and the CDE, this live virtual event will be held via Zoom on March 1, 2022, from 3:30 p.m. to 4:45 p.m. Leaders from across California are working on the design and implementation of this virtual preview of the Arts Education Framework. Additional resources for administrators and teachers are in development.

Student Behavioral Health Incentive Program—March 3

The CDE and the California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) invite all education partners to learn about the Student Behavioral Health Incentive Program (SBHIP), which aims to increase coordination among Managed Care Plans, LEAs, and county mental health plans to significantly improve the delivery of services to California students and ultimately benefit all delivery systems. The DHCS is distributing incentive payments over three years (January 2022 to December 2024) to Medi-Cal Managed Care Plans (MCPs) that meet predefined goals and metrics. Join us on March 3, 2022, from 2 to 3 p.m. as we learn about SBHIP, including the roles and responsibilities of SBHIP partners, the required Needs Assessment, and how this will benefit K–12 students in your county. Register for the Student Behavioral Health Incentive Program webinar via Zoom
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Thriving Schools: An Integrated Approach to School Health—March 3

Join us on March 3, 2022, from 3 to 4 p.m. for a webinar that will provide an overview of the Thriving Schools Initiative with a focus on the tools and resources that are available at no cost to any school or district in the country. Presented by Kaiser Permanente, the Alliance for a Healthier Generation, and the CDE, all school and district staff are welcome to join. Register for the Thriving Schools: An Integrated Approach to School Health webinar via Zoom
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Advancing School-Based Mental Health in California Schools—March 8

Come join the California Center for School Climate
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, a CDE initiative operated by WestEd, during the upcoming Peer Learning Exchange on March 8, 2022, from 1 to 2 p.m. to engage in discussions with other educator leaders and student support providers on advancing school-based mental health in schools. The Children’s Partnership will provide an overview of key components of school-based mental health models, and present data to demonstrate that whole-child approaches to student success are integral to the achievement of students in California, especially students from marginalized communities. Register for the California Center for School Climate Peer Learning Exchange via Zoom
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. For more information, contact Hilva Chan, Education Programs Consultant at [email protected].

Mind Out Loud Virtual Event for Middle and High School Students—March 12

The CDE is pleased to partner with Wellness Together School Mental Health and the San Diego County Office of Education to co-sponsor the 2nd Annual Mind Out Loud (MOL) Virtual Student Mental Health Event. We invite you and your middle and high school students to participate in this free event on Saturday, March 12, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. This event will encourage middle and high school students from across California, the U.S., and around the world to hear from each other about mental health and wellness, gain practical tools and resources to advocate for their peers on campus, and to expose them to MOL’s Four Pillars of Mental Health: Personal Wellness, Suicide Prevention, Support for Marginalized Communities, Awareness and Advocacy. For more information on involving your middle and high school students in the MOL 2022 event and the ongoing MOL Student Rep Program, please visit the MOL website
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. For more information, contact Monica Nepomuceno, Interim Education Administrator, at [email protected].

Spring Early Literacy Virtual Professional Learning Network (PLN)—March 30

The PLN is sponsored by the CDE in collaboration with the California Collaborative for Excellence in Education through the Expert Lead in Literacy grant. Join Sacramento County Office of Education, district, and site colleagues, as well as collaborators interested in literacy, on March 30, 2022, from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. as we learn about evidence-based practices in early literacy, grades TK-3.

Dr. Carol Tolman will kick off our event with a keynote address on the topic of Scarborough’s Rope: Language Comprehension. In breakout sessions, attendees will have the opportunity to learn from experts in the field of reading instruction for English learners, whole-child design, and inclusive practices in literacy. There will be an optional opportunity from 12:40 p.m. to 1 p.m. to connect with colleagues from your region to discuss implications for your work. This event is free of charge. Register for the Early Literacy Virtual Professional Learning Network
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OPPORTUNITIES

CA STEAM Symposium Call for Proposals

The California STEAM Symposium is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year, and those interested in presenting can apply today to submit a proposal for the STEAM Symposium
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. This year’s symposium theme is Advance Justice, Equity, Diversity, & Inclusion in STEAM: Access, Awareness, Opportunities, & Outcomes. Throughout the event, we will come together to explore high-quality strategies to cultivate systems that promote life-long learning for everyone through inclusive and targeted practices, high-impact techniques, and policies, whether from a classroom or organizational point of view. These approaches promote a sense of belonging and ignite student passion for learning as well as support the social-emotional development of our education community. The deadline for submissions is March 25, 2022, and primary presenters will be notified by mid-May whether their presentations have been accepted. Multiple submissions and co-presenters are encouraged.

2022 Classified School Employees of the Year Applications Open

Applications for the 2022 Classified School Employees of the Year (CSEY) Program are now open. Presented by the CDE, the Classified School Employees Association, and California Casualty, the CSEY Program highlights contributions of classified school employees who support the education of California’s more than six million public school students. The program identifies and honors exemplary classified school employees throughout California in the following nine occupational specialties: paraprofessional, clerical and administrative services, transportation services, food and nutrition services, custodial and maintenance services, security services, health and student services, technical services, and skilled trades. Deadline for applications is Friday, April 8, 2022. The 2022 CSEY application and more information is available on the CDE CSEY web page.

Celebrations

CDE Emergency Services Team Honored with Education Champion Award

Congratulations to CDE’s Jake Wolf and Joe Anderson from the Emergency Services Team who were honored on February 24 by the California Association of School Business Officials with the 2022 Education Champion Award! The award recognizes outstanding leaders in education who have dedicated their careers to the enhancement of public education through innovative and collaborative efforts. Wolf and Anderson were recognized for their outstanding efforts to help education leaders communicate with state and federal agencies during the height of wildfire season and for facilitating the delivery of PPE equipment to schools as they began to re-open.

Important Dates and Deadlines

National School Breakfast Week

The CDE encourages all California schools to participate in National School Breakfast Week (NSBW) taking place March 7–11, 2022. This year’s theme is “Take Off with School Breakfast.” NSBW is an excellent time to celebrate how your school’s breakfast program supports a successful launch into learning.

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The CDE is committed to improving communications with more than 1,000 school districts and county offices and 10,000-plus schools. If you have any feedback about this publication or would like to see information on particular topics, please email [email protected].



Last Reviewed: Friday, February 25, 2022

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