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Friday, September 14, 2012

Ed Roundup for 9-14-12 - Year 2012 (CA Dept of Education)



Ed Roundup for 9-14-12 - Year 2012 (CA Dept of Education):




Education Roundup for the Week Ending September 14, 2012

SACRAMENTO—The California Department of Education (CDE) today issued this week's Education Roundup of education-related announcements of public interest.
Antioch School Student and Teacher Both
Selected for Coveted National Healthcare Honors
The CDE congratulates a student and a teacher from Dozier-Libbey Medical High School in the Antioch Unified School District in Antioch for receiving prestigious honors related to their work in healthcare education.
A recent graduate, Antonio Hernandez is California's first president-elect for the National Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA), which represents 138,000 students. He will be pursuing pre-med and economics at Stanford University this fall. Hernandez previously served as his school's Cal-HOSA president. He also earned medals at both the state and national competitions in medical reading that tests students in communication, teamwork skills, and comprehension of health science literature.
High school teacher Cynthia Soraoka won a coveted internship over the summer in the Office of the U.S. Surgeon General in Washington, D.C. Soraoka also served as chair on the Board of Directors for the state's Cal-HOSA.
Cal-HOSA is one of the career-technical student organizations recognized and supported by the CDE through State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson's Career Readiness Initiative. Cal-HOSA provides students with leadership development and industry-based competitions to demonstrate their career readiness.
Dozier-Libby Medical High School was designated a California Distinguished School in 2011 for its continued excellence in career-technical education.
Low-Cost Pest Management Training Available for School Districts
The California Department of Pesticide Regulation (CDPR) is offering four one-day workshops to train school staff responsible for pest management in K-12 schools.
The following workshops will cover California Healthy Schools Act requirements and integrated pest management principles, including hands-on demonstrations:
  • October 3, 2012: Canyon Country (Los Angeles County);
  • March 1, 2013: Antioch (Contra Costa County);
  • April 4, 2013: Brawley (Imperial County); and
  • June 12, 2013: Templeton (San Luis Obispo County).
The workshops have a $25 registration fee. Advanced half-day workshops on turf grass management for district personnel who already have attended an integrated pest management workshop are also available. The first turf grass workshop is November 19 in Davis.
For more information, please visit the CDRP's Web page on Training External link opens in new window or tab. . For information on the California Healthy Schools Act, please visit CDRP's School Integrated Pest Management Program External link opens in new window or tab. Web page, or contact Laurie Brajkovich at 916-445-9903.
2013 Safe & Wise Water Way Poster Contest for Students
The California Department of Boating and Waterways (CDBW) invites students to participate in the 20th annual Safe & Wise Water Ways poster contest. The contest focuses on the importance of safety when in or near the water.
All California students in kindergarten through eighth grade are eligible to apply. One winner from each grade level will be selected. Winning students will be rewarded with a Coast Guard-approved life jacket, and their poster will be featured on the 2013 boating safety calendar. The winning artwork will be featured at the State Capitol during the 2013 boating season. Also, the winning elementary schools will have an opportunity to host the CDBW's award-winning AquaSMART Live! puppet show or game show.
Contest rules, guidelines, previous winners' artwork, and more information can be found on the 2012 Safe & Wise Waterways!External link opens in new window or tab. Web page. The deadline to enter is October 19, 2012. For more information on boating and water safety, and to download the free AquaSMART curriculum and materials, please visit AquaSMART External link opens in new window or tab. . Teachers may also create their own lesson plans by visiting Teacher's Notes.
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Tom Torlakson — State Superintendent of Public Instruction
Communications Division, Room 5206, 916-319-0818, Fax 916-319-0100



Request for Applications

21st Century Community Learning Centers - Elementary & Middle Schools


Due: Friday, November 30, 2012
California's 21st Century Community Learning Centers (CCLC) Program provides funding to create incentives for establishing before-and after-school enrichment programs that partner schools and communities to provide academic and literacy support and safe, constructive alternatives for youth. Each program must consist of three elements: academic assistance, educational enrichment, and family literacy services. Programs must operate during every regular school day and may operate during summer, intersession, or vacation days.
Program Questions: After School Division, e-mail: afterschool@cde.ca.gov, tel. 916-319-0923
Downloading Questions: ASSIST Help Desk, e-mail: assist@cde.ca.gov, tel. 916-319-0923
DocumentDescription
Request For Application (DOC)
Overview and instructions for the 21st CCLC Elementary and Middle Schools grant application.
Online application using the After School Support and Information SysTem (ASSIST).
ASSIST Application Instructions (DOC)Instructions for using the ASSIST online application.


Certifications and Assurances


DocumentDescription
Required as a condition of receiving funds. Applicants do not need to sign and return them with the application; they must be downloaded and kept on file for compliance reviews, complaint investigations, or audits. Applicants that participate in the Consolidated Application - ConApp - should have a copy on file and do not need another copy. Program-specific assurances are not included here and should be listed separately on the Request for Application (RFA).




Request for Applications

21st Century High School ASSETs


Due: Friday, November 30, 2012
The 21st Century High School After School Safety and Enrichment for Teens (ASSETs) Program provides incentives for establishing before- and after-school enrichment programs that partner schools and communities to provide academic support; safe, constructive alternatives for high school students; and assistance in passing the California High School Exit Exam. Programs may operate after school only, or after school and any combination of before school, weekends, summer, intersession, and vacation. Each program must consist of three elements: academic assistance, educational enrichment, and family literacy services.
Program Questions: After School Division, e-mail: afterschool@cde.ca.gov, tel. 916-319-0923
Downloading Questions: ASSIST Help Desk, e-mail: assist@cde.ca.gov, tel. 916-319-0923
DocumentDescription
Request for Applications (DOC)
Overview and instructions for the 21st Century High School ASSETs grant application.
Online application using the After School Support and Information SysTem (ASSIST).
Online Application Instructions (DOC)Instructions for using the ASSIST online application.


Certifications and Assurances


DocumentDescription
Required as a condition of receiving funds. Applicants do not need to sign and return them with the application; they must be downloaded and kept on file for compliance reviews, complaint investigations, or audits. Applicants that participate in the Consolidated Application - ConApp - should have a copy on file and do not need another copy. Program-specific assurances are not included here and should be listed separately on the Request for Application (RFA).


Application Information

Application for appointment to commissions, councils, or committees.

Application for Appointment to Advisory Body

State Board of Education Conflict of Interest Code (DOC; Updated 30-Mar-2012)
This document describes the State Board of Education (SBE) Conflict of Interest Code and disclosure requirements for SBE members and members of advisory groups, councils, and commissions appointed by the SBE.




State Schools Chief Tom Torlakson Comments on State
Takeover of Financially Troubled Inglewood Unified School District

SACRAMENTO—State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson issued the following statement after Governor Brown signed Senate Bill 533, providing for an emergency loan and state takeover of the Inglewood Unified School District:
"The Governor's action was necessary to keep Inglewood's public schools operating and serving students despite the district's extreme financial difficulties," Torlakson said. "The Department of Education will consult with the Los Angeles County Office of Education to name an experienced administrator to oversee the long and difficult process of returning the district to solvency and, ultimately, local control."
After taking office nearly two years ago, Torlakson warned that California's schools were in a state of financial emergency, and urged that years of severe budget cuts to schools be reversed to avoid sending more school districts into insolvency.
Initiated at the request of the school district, SB 533 (D-Wright) provides up to $55 million in emergency state loans to help the Inglewood Unified School District meet its financial obligations. The loan must be paid back to the state within 20 years.
The law requires the State Superintendent of Public Instruction to assume all the legal rights, duties, and powers of the governing board of the district and appoint a state administrator. The school district's elected governing board serves only in an advisory capacity until a number of conditions are met.
The administrator's authority continues until the loan has been repaid, the district has adequate fiscal systems and controls in place, and the State Superintendent has determined that the district's future compliance with the fiscal plan approved for the district is probable. The recovery plan also includes steps to improve the district's community relations and governance, pupil achievement, financial management, personnel management, and facilities management.
Inglewood Unified School District is the ninth school district to request an emergency loan and state takeover since 1990. Since then, local governance has been returned to five districts. For more information, please visit the California Department of Education's State Emergency Loans Web page.
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Tom Torlakson — State Superintendent of Public Instruction