State Schools Chief Tom Torlakson Comments on
Federal Early Learning Grant Application
SACRAMENTO—State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson issued the following statement regarding California’s application for the federal Race to the Top—Early Learning Challenge (RTT-ELC) grant that was filed today:
"Our application reflects California’s dedication to the principle that—even in these challenging times—every child deserves the opportunity that comes with a good start in the lifelong journey of learning," Torlakson said.
"We know that investments in early learning pay off for our state, our society, and for California’s children. I’m hopeful that federal authorities will see that this application represents an opportunity to build on state and local efforts to help close the achievement gap by improving the quality of California’s early learning and care programs."
RTT-ELC was unveiled in May 2011 by U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan and U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius. The $500 million fund is a competitive grant designed to increase access to quality early learning programs for low-income and disadvantaged children.
As part of the competition, California is eligible for up to $100 million. States were asked to design a system that aligns their early learning programs, workforce development, evaluation systems, and efforts to help parents make informed decisions about the care of their children. For more information on RTT-ELC, please visit the U.S. Department of Education Web site atRace to the Top -- Early Learning Challenge (Outside Source).
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Tom Torlakson — State Superintendent of Public Instruction
Communications Division, Room 5206, 916-319-0818, Fax 916-319-0100
Soccer Star Brandi Chastain, '49ers Great Bubba Paris Join Schools
Chief Torlakson to Launch Team California for Healthy Kids
SAN JOSE—Soccer star Brandi Chastain and former '49ers great Bill "Bubba" Paris joined State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson today in the launch of "Team California for Healthy Kids," a statewide effort to promote daily healthy eating and physical activity in schools, childcare programs, and communities.
"Because student health and student learning go hand in hand, we want to empower every child and every family in California to make healthy food and physical activity choices every day," Torlakson said. "With Team California for Healthy Kids, we’ll help make the healthy choices the easy choices. Our goal is no child left indoors."
"We know that healthy children miss fewer days of school, perform better in the classroom, and have a better chance of graduating and going on to college," said Chastain, whose game-winning penalty kick in 1999 won the Women’s World Cup for the United States. "Helping children get healthy and stay that way is a smart way to brighten California’s future."
"Just as it takes a team to win a Super Bowl, we need a team effort to help California’s kids get healthy and stay healthy—that’s a team I’m proud to join," said Paris, whose standout play as an offensive lineman over 17 seasons helped the '49ers win three Super Bowls.
The creation of Team California for Healthy Kids comes at a time of growing concern about the health of students. More than one in three California children is obese or overweight. In addition, chronic diseases such as asthma, diabetes, obesity, and tooth decay affect 20 to 30 percent of children and adolescents in California, which leads to more absenteeism and lower school performance.
A teacher and longtime high school cross country coach, Torlakson’s effort seeks to engage celebrity athletes, community leaders, public health advocates as well as parents, teachers, and students. This will take place in schools, early childhood and after school programs, and throughout the community.
The campaign is initially focused on three major goals:
- Increasing physical activity, especially moderate-to-vigorous physical activity throughout the day, every day, in schools and communities.
- Increasing access to fresh fruits and vegetables in meals and snacks in early childhood and after school programs, and in salad bars in schools.
- Increasing access to drinking water.
Athletes and others involved in the campaign will be visiting schools throughout the state to encourage local efforts to increase physical activity and increase access to water, fresh fruits, and vegetables. The Team’s co-chairs are Paris, ultramarathonman Dean Karnazes, fitness expert Lorrie Sullenberger, Basketball Hall of Fame inductee Bill Walton, and UCLA Professor Toni Yancey, MD, MPH.
Schools, after school agencies, and early childhood programs can join Torlakson’s Team by creating their own local campaigns. Organizers have created a set of online resources and tools available to any school or community organization looking to promote student health and fitness. The campaign’s materials are posted on the California Department of Education’s Web site at Team California for Healthy Kids - Initiatives & Programs or at the Team California for Healthy Kids site at Team California Home (Outside Source).
The campaign encourages schools to partner with local produce growers to establish salad bars in school cafeterias, as well as incorporating more fresh fruits and vegetables in regular meals and snacks.
The effort also calls for partners to work together to help schools provide access to water in places where students eat and play, installing water stations that allow students to fill cups and reusable bottles.
The campaign also seeks to give children more opportunities to be active during the day, encouraging walk- and bike-to-school programs, and providing short physical activity breaks when school seat time exceeds one hour.
Torlakson thanked many of the organizations and individuals who have supported Team California for Healthy Kids and encouraged others to "join the team" to help make California’s children healthier.
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Tom Torlakson — State Superintendent of Public Instruction
Communications Division, Room 5206, 916-319-0818, Fax 916-319-0100
Communications Division, Room 5206, 916-319-0818, Fax 916-319-0100