Category: CCEE BLOG

Hot Topics-Madera Unified Intensive Assistance Model

Posted on by Michelle Magyar

CCEE’s Hot Topics Blog Update: Madera Unified’s journey to implementing the Intensive Assistance Model of PLCs with the CCEE.

Featured Topic – This week Todd Lile, Superintendent of Madera Unified School District, and Adalberto Hernandez, Principal at Washington Elementary in Madera USD presented how their work has been progressing with the Intensive Assistance Model in partnership with CCEE. Washington Elementary School is one of 8 schools in 5 districts across the State engaged in this work. This work is focused on job-embedded coaching focused on developing Leadership, English Language Arts, Mathematics, English Language Development and PLCs with over 130 onsite coaching for teachers and leaders.

Statewide Context: This model has the potential to be a statewide professional development model for districts.

Call to Action: See the power point presentation from Principal, Adalberto Hernandez on how their school is using this model to track student performance and results.

If you have any questions about CCEE and how to engage with our resources and professional learning opportunities, please visit our website. Stay Ahead in Education! 📚 Check out our Friday 5! Join CCEE’s ListServ & Calendar Updates to Never Miss an Event. Sign Up Now for Limitless Learning Opportunities. 🌟 #CCEEConnections”

Hot Topics-American Student Report

Posted on by Michelle Magyar

CCEE’s Hot Topics Blog Update: State of the American Student Report, by Center for Reinventing Public Education, Fall 2023: CCEE Hot Topics.

Featured Topic – The Center for Reinventing Public Education: This week we feature Robin Lake, Director and Professor of Practice at the Center on Reinventing Public Education (CRPE) at Arizona State University, Mary Lou Fulton Teachers College. Robin reviewed CRPE’s recently released report titled The State of the American Student: We are Failing Older Students, Bold Ideas to Change Course. The report and summary can be found here: Executive Summary and Report. We look forward to your feedback and reactions to the report.

Statewide Context: much has transpired for education, but how it is specifically affecting students and how our investments are falling short is the focus of this report. 

Call to Action: The report called for local and state leaders to do several things to address the challenges highlighted in this report: Radical Transparency around the way we look and talk publicly about student data, conduct a State of the Student Report of your own and Innovate around practices that force the current system to stay as it is!

If you have any questions about CCEE and how to engage with our resources and professional learning opportunities, please visit our website. Stay Ahead in Education! 📚 Check out our Friday 5! Join CCEE’s ListServ & Calendar Updates to Never Miss an Event. Sign Up Now for Limitless Learning Opportunities. 🌟 #CCEEConnections”

Hot Topics-Fresno Unified ELO-P

Posted on by Michelle Magyar

Fresno Unified Expanded Learning Opportunity Grant

Superintendent, Bob Nelson, describes how FUSD is addressing student well-being needs through the Expanded Learning Opportunities Program, led by Michael Funk from the California Department of Education.

Dive deeper: Please find attached two slide decks about California’s Expanded Learning Opportunities Program. There is a slide deck that provides background information should you want additional information and specifics about the program.

Slide Deck ELOP and FUSD

Background Information (ELOP)

Statewide Context: Bob Nelson, Superintendent of Fresno Unified, and Michael Funk, Director of CDE ELOP Division,  provide insights into how FUSD is using ELOP to address post-pandemic learning needs, chronic absenteeism, community and Students with Disabilities needs. 

Call to Action: If you need innovative thinking related to how to use ELOP funding the above slides are incredibly helpful at helping share some ideas!
If you have any questions about CCEE and how to engage with our resources and professional learning opportunities, please visit our website.

Stay Ahead in Education! 📚 Check out our most recent Friday 5! Join CCEE’s ListServ & Calendar Updates to Never Miss an Event. Sign Up Now for Limitless Learning Opportunities. 🌟 #CCEEConnections”

Hot Topics-Hybrid Models that Work

Posted on by Michelle Magyar

Redefining the Classroom: The Rise and Refinement of Hybrid Learning in America

Districts nationwide are overcoming the initial challenges of pandemic-induced hybrid learning, showcasing the benefits of evolved, effective hybrid models. Leveraging both virtual and in-person learning platforms, these new models offer a wide range of affordable courses, address teacher shortages, and foster successful credit recovery initiatives. ERS supports these strides with an inclusive toolkit featuring a vision paper, a how-to guide, and inspiring case studies from successful districts, offering a blueprint for revolutionizing high school education.

Call to Action

Don’t let the past dictate the future of hybrid learning. Discover how schools are turning the tide, utilizing improved hybrid learning models to shape a new educational landscape. Learn from the success stories and explore the comprehensive toolkit from ERS to guide your district towards a brighter, more flexible educational future. Let’s redefine what school means!

Stay Ahead in Education! 📚 Check out our most recent Friday 5! Join CCEE’s ListServ & Calendar Updates to Never Miss an Event. Sign Up Now for Limitless Learning Opportunities. 🌟 #CCEEConnections”

Hot Topics-Proposed Changes to LCAP

Posted on by Michelle Magyar

On August 13, 2023, the State Board of Education engaged in a discussion regarding the proposed Local Control Accountability Plan (LCAP) template.  Our team has been represented on the state LCAP Advisory Group.  

Item 02: the Proposed Revisions to the Local Control and Accountability Plan and Annual Update Template and Instructions, was replaced with a corrected version that shows the track changes revisions to the Current Local Control and Accountability Plan and Annual Update Template and Instructions reflected in Attachment 2.

See link to Item 2 Attachment LCAP Template presented to the State Board on September 13, 2023.

See link to LCAP track changes in Ed. Code

If you have any questions about what is being proposed please contact Michelle Magyar at [email protected].  If you have missed weekly blogs past, please see the link to our past  “Hot Topics Weekly” for AC members.

Stay Ahead in Education! 📚 Check out our most recent Friday 5! Join CCEE’s ListServ & Calendar Updates to Never Miss an Event. Sign Up Now for Limitless Learning Opportunities. 🌟 #CCEEConnections”

Hot Topics-Nishimoto Elementary Intensive Assistance Model

Posted on by Michelle Magyar

On August 31, 2023 the CCEE presented the year one overview of the Intensive Assistance Model (IAM) work with cohort I schools.  The IAM is one of the most intensive coaching models in the country with over 150 days of on-site coaching in schools for English Language Arts, Mathematics, Assessment, Leadership and Professional Learning Communities.  There are currently five school districts and eight schools involved in the model for cohort 1 (please click here to see list of LEA participants and CCEE’s role in Technical Assistance).

The CCEE governing board listened to the presentation by the CCEE and PACE (Public Analysis for California Education) regarding the progress of the schools in this model.

Slide 8 includes a video of Nishimoto Elementary in Madera Unified School District describing the work in year one. 

The learnings from this model, even in just one year, are invaluable. They shed light on the exact nature and type of support educators require to refine their teaching methodologies and elevate student learning experiences.

Take Action Now!

🔗 Key Resources:

  1. Explore the entire presentation from CCEE and PACE 
  2. Engage with the heartfelt video testimonial on slide 8 of the presentation, showcasing the bright and promising transformation taking place at Nishimoto Elementary.
  3. Watch the entire CCEE board meeting on August 31, 2023
  4. Stay Tuned for the comprehensive PACE Year I report unveiling soon, providing a detailed overview of the journey thus far. 

Stay Ahead in Education! 📚 Check out our most recent Friday 5! Join CCEE’s ListServ & Calendar Updates to Never Miss an Event. Sign Up Now for Limitless Learning Opportunities. 🌟 #CCEEConnections”

Hot Topics-Statewide Literacy Coordination 2023-2024

Posted on by Michelle Magyar

Statewide policy leaders are focusing on a literacy series to support the coherence and implementation of statewide literacy initiatives. The landscape of literacy initiatives across California presents many opportunities for ways to make the supports, resources, and lessons learned from each of the Literacy Leads accessible to every LEA in California.  

The attached presentations were presented by the CCEE and California Department of Education as a way to help ground understanding of the various literacy initiatives across the state. 

These presentations will help you to more broadly understand the investments of the state when it comes to building a coherent literacy plan, know who the state leads are for literacy, and will provide guiding questions for what state leaders are grappling with when it comes to building a coherent statewide plan.

As always, if you have any questions, please feel free to contact me directly.

California Landscape of Literacy Initiatives, Stephanie Gregson, Deputy Executive Director, CCEE

Dr. Stephanie Gregson’s presentation offers an in-depth look at the landscape of literacy initiatives in California, emphasizing connections, leverage opportunities, and ensuring that the resources and lessons from these initiatives are accessible to all Local Education Agencies (LEA). The presentation also underscores a call to action for education leaders to support the coherence of statewide literacy initiatives, referencing frameworks, new standards, and the establishment of a statewide community of practice.

Statewide Literacy Office Updates, Nancy Brynelson and Bonnie Garcia, Co-Directors Statewide Literacy Leads, California Department of Education

Nancy Brynelson and Bonnie Garcia, Co-Directors of Statewide Literacy Leads at the California Department of Education, presented their mission to implement a statewide literacy campaign, aiming to ensure all students in California are proficient readers by third grade and fully literate by high school graduation. Their initiative includes promoting evidence-based literacy instruction, aligning literacy efforts across levels, addressing equity gaps, and collaborating with statewide organizations, with efforts such as the “Recentering California’s ELA/ELD Framework Webinar Series.”

Stay Ahead in Education! 📚 Check out our most recent Friday 5! Join CCEE’s ListServ & Calendar Updates to Never Miss an Event. Sign Up Now for Limitless Learning Opportunities. 🌟 #CCEEConnections”

Hot Topics-System Levers Tool

Posted on by Michelle Magyar

Unlock Success for Every Student: Introducing the System Levers Tool for Strategic LEA Improvement

I’m excited to introduce you to a powerful resource – the System Levers Tool. This resource is designed to support Local Educational Agency (LEA) leaders in assessing and strengthening their educational infrastructure to meet the needs of all students.

Key Benefits:

  1. Evaluate six essential components
  2. Identify strengths and growth areas
  3. Collaborate with your team
  4. Drive strategic improvement efforts

Next Steps:

  1. Assess: Visit https://levers.ccee-ca.org/ to evaluate your district’s processes to support all students.
  2. Collaborate: Engage your team for diverse insights.
  3. Action: Inform strategic planning based on results.

This tool was developed by the California Collaborative for Educational Excellence (CCEE) and WestEd, with El Dorado, Sacramento, Placer, Orange, and Santa Clara county offices of education.

The CCEE is here to support you every step of the way. Reach out to Mindy Fattig, Senior Advisor, at [email protected] for assistance.

Elevate your district’s support for all students with the System Levers Tool. Visit https://levers.ccee-ca.org/ today.

If you have any questions about CCEE and how to engage with our resources and professional learning opportunities, please feel free to contact me directly. Stay Ahead in Education! 📚 Check out our most recent Friday 5! Join CCEE’s ListServ & Calendar Updates to Never Miss an Event. Sign Up Now for Limitless Learning Opportunities. 🌟 #CCEEConnections”

A Reflection by CCEE Executive Director, Matt J. Navo

Posted on by Sehrish Anjum
CCEE Major Impact Projects

DESCRIPTION

As I reflect on the end of my first year with the CCEE, I am reminded of just how much education has been impacted over the last 3 years. How CCEE best supports Local Educational Agencies (LEAs) (inclusive of charter schools) has often been a challenge for our organization given the magnitude of already developed resources, tools, services and supports. However, with the work of integral partners there are three CCEE resources and tools that standout as helpful to LEAs as we execute our role in the Statewide System of Support for advice and assisting LEAs in accomplishing their Local Control Accountability Plan (LCAP).

The Community Engagement Initiative (CEI) website developed with the CEI Agency partners has provided incredible resources to the field for engaging with the community to form authentic relationships between districts and the community.

In the 2022 Legislative Budget Act, CEI was provided with 100 million dollars to leverage the their work for transformational school investments and authentic pupil, family, community, and educator engagement. This includes, but is not limited to, Local Control and Accountability Plans, Expanded Learning Opportunity Programs, and California Community School Partnership Act grants. CEI has a network of over 40 LEAs (including charters) who with the collaboration of Lead Agency Partners, regularly engage one another in identifying effective models of community engagement, developing metrics, having challenging conversations, and building trusting relationships.

Our Innovation, Instruction and Impact (I3) Center developed the Playbook for Accelerated Learning (PAL). This tool was developed in collaboration with State Board and expert partners to provide guidance to LEAs for how to think about and provide professional development to accelerate student learning.

The CCEE also developed the Basic Levers Tool 1.0 (2.0 is in progress now) that will help LEAs think about and design systems for improving outcomes for Students with Disabilities (SWD).
We continue to evolve and expand our resources and tools that LEAs can utilize to help accomplish the goals within their Local Control Accountability Plans. Visit our CCEE website here (https://ccee-ca.org/).

RESOURCES