CDE launches Global California 2030
June 11 , 2018 EDCAL 1
Education California | The official newspaper of the Association of California School Administrators Volume 47 | Number 32 | June 11 , 2018
A combined push for increased ed funding
At the state Capitol late last month , ACSA , the California Teachers Association and other student advocates joined Assembly members Kevin McCarty and Al Muratsuchi in a push to support legislation increasing public education funding by establishing new Local Control Funding Formula funding targets , certifying the Proposition 98 guarantee and providing a continuous appropriation for LCFF .
“ ACSA urges the Legislature and the governor to establish new LCFF funding targets in this legislative cycle ,” said Edgar Zazueta , ACSA Senior Director of Policy and Governmental Relations , during a news conference at the state Capitol . “ At a minimum , we believe the new LCFF funding target should be a base grant that is the
As director of Classified Professional Learning at Fresno Unified School District , Tamara Neely works to build the professional learning structure for more than 6,000 classified employees – in a department of one .
For her commitment to excellence and her outstanding leadership , Neely has been named ACSA ’ s 2018 Classified Leader of the Year .
Her role as a director of classified professional learning is only the latest in her 27-year career at Fresno Unified , where she began as an elementary teacher , moving to a vice-principalship in 2006 and into the district office in national average for every student in every California school district .”
ACSA is co-sponsoring Assembly Bill 2808 by Muratsuchi . If approved , the bill would increase LCFF funding starting in 2019-20 . This investment will continue to help school districts provide instructional programs and ensure school agencies have additional funding to meet escalating fixed costs , such as pensions , that are continuing to escalate year after year .
“ This signature education funding reform and its success will largely depend on timing and an appropriate level of funding provided to schools to implement academic resources , support services and enrichment programs for the 6 million students statewide ,” said ACSA Executive Director
Tamara Neely became an administrator in order to have a positive impact on the lives of children .
Impacting thousands from a department of one
2009 , when she accepted her current position .
“ I wanted to become a school administrator when I believed that I could have a positive impact on our district and for the lives of our children by moving into a leadership role ,” she said . “ Initially I thought that meant at the site level , but my work has been more fulfilling than I had imagined it could be when I was promoted to a district level position .”
As the district ’ s primary leader in addressing and supporting the learning needs of classified employees , Neely
See NEELY , page 6
Wes Smith . Through the Local Control and Accountability Plans , school leaders throughout the state will be empowered to reflect on their goals , actions and services , and use the additional resources to support programs and services in order to increase student achievement and closing the opportunity gap that persists among our most disadvantaged students .
AB 2808 passed out of the Assembly last week and is headed to the Senate . ACSA and supporters of this legislation are also championing the adoption of the Assembly Budget Committee ’ s proposed trailer budget language , which expresses the intent of the Legislature to reaffirm its
See FUNDING , page 2
Leadership authors sought on school safety
The September / October edition of Leadership Magazine will focus on School Safety as the effort to protect our schools and students grows nationwide .
“ We ’ re past the point where we can just talk about school safety as an issue and not do anything to protect our school community ,” said ACSA President Lisa Gonzales . “ This edition of Leadership Magazine is an opportunity to hear how our members are confronting issues related to school safety .”
Themes for the Leadership Magazine issue on School Safety include mental health awareness , arming teachers , student protest and educator involvement , crisis communications , school climate , student voice , active shooter training , safe schools planning , counseling , parent awareness and community outreach .
ACSA President-elect Holly Edds is part of ACSA ’ s new Fatal School Violence Task Force , a group formed following the February high school shooting in Parkland , Fla . The task force is made up of more than 20 volunteers , including ACSA members and staff , school district law enforcement officers and crisis management experts . Their goal is to move beyond discussion and build a strategic plan that creates a safe and healthy learning environment .
“ We want this group to determine what school safety tactics are possible and how best to implement those tactics ,” Eds said . “ We see this as an opportunity to drive substantive change on our campuses .”
Submitting your best practices and experiences on School Safety to Leadership Magazine will provide the task force with additional content to guide their work and provide services needed by members at their schools .
The deadline to submit articles for the September / October edition of Leadership
See
LEADERSHIP , page 6
June observances . June is Fireworks Safety Month , National Safety Month , and National Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Month . Also , June brings World Environment Day ( 6 / 5 ), National Flag Day ( 6 / 14 ), and Father ’ s Day ( 6 / 17 ).
STEM courses . A report from the U . S . Department of Education shows that African American and Latino students in eighth grade were less likely to have passed Algebra 1 than their Caucasian and Asian peers , and less likely to attend high schools offering upper level math and science classes . While the disparities came out at roughly half the opportunities afforded to African American and Latino students in these areas , the disparities were even greater for English learners , at roughly a 10:1 ratio . The report from the USDOE Office for Civil Rights can be accessed at http :// bit . ly / 2xomyo2 .
Charter school study . A new study examines the issue of charter schools and the achievement gap . To have a meaningful impact on nationwide achievement gaps , writes Sarah Cohodes of Teachers College , Columbia University , in this new synthesis of the latest and best research , charter school approaches would need to be adopted beyond the charter sector itself . Any interventions that are built around using charter schools to close achievement gaps should focus not on the type of school but on the practices that work in the most effective charter schools . Access the study at https :// futureofchildren . princeton . edu / news / charter-schools-and-achievement-gap .
Teacher strikes . A brief from the National Center on Teacher Quality provides some insight into what ’ s motivating teacher strikes across the country . The report , “ States , strikes , and teacher salaries ” notes that teachers need to be paid more in some states and districts , but when it comes to thinking about how we improve teacher salaries moving forward , a more in-depth understanding of teacher pay issues is essential . The NCTQ brief can be accessed at http :// bit . ly / 2rPHxuL .
Periodicals Dated Material
CDE launches Global California 2030
Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson has announced the launching of “ Global California 2030 ,” a bold initiative to vastly expand the teaching and learning of world languages and the number of students proficient in more than one language over the next 123 years .
The initiative aims to better prepare California students for the 21st century economy , broaden their perspective and understanding of the world , and strengthen the diversity of backgrounds and languages that make California ’ s culture and economy vibrant and dynamic .
“ The mission of Global California 2030 is to equip our students with the world language skills to succeed in the global economy and to fully engage with the diverse mixture of cultures and languages found in California and throughout the world ,” Torlakson said . “ We are setting high goals and dreaming big to help our students and our state .”
Studies show that the study of language improves speakers ’ ability in their first language and in other subjects , builds self-confidence , and even delays the onset
See GLOBAL CA , page 6