Podcast: California School Field Trip

The CCEE’s pioneering podcast, “CA School Field Trip,” served as an immersive audio journey, offering listeners detailed insights into how educators and local educational agencies across the state engaged with the Local Control Funding Formula and dedicated themselves to ongoing enhancement efforts. Though the series has concluded, its episodes remain a valuable resource. Highlighted topics in the archive feature discussions on tailored support in Mother Lode, advancement strategies within the Chula Vista Elementary School District, and the cooperative endeavors linking county education offices with local districts.

🎙️ Click here to listen to the podcast episodes.

Statewide System of Support Resource Hub

Statewide System of Support Resource Hub

🌐 Announcement: CCEE launches the Statewide System of Support Resource Hub! 📚
Discover a wealth of universal resources aimed at enhancing student outcomes and supporting educators! With over 30 statewide projects, grants, and initiatives, there is a new one-stop website designed to provide equity in access to valuable tools for educators.
🔗 Visit the CCEE SOS Resource Hub: https://www.ccee-sos-resource-hub.org
There are 130+ universal resources catered to benefit your district, county office, or charter school, and this number will continue to grow! From webinars, to toolkits, to self-assessment frameworks, find what you need to improve outcomes for your students. We encourage you to share the link to the resource hub with all of your educational partners and to include it on your organization’s website.
Special thanks to the members of the CCEE One System Collective and the educators who contributed submissions to the Resource Hub for making this a reality!
Let’s collaborate to empower educators and enhance student success! 🎓💡

If you have information about a statewide initiative or resource that you would like to add to the Resource Hub, please contact Jasmine Hennessy at [email protected]

Open Door Session: Fostering Educational Excellence – A model partnership between an LEA and their COE

DESCRIPTION

This session dives deeply into the collaborative efforts between Fresno County Superintendent of Schools (FCSS) and Kings Canyon Unified School District (KCUSD) to craft the Local Control and Accountability Plan (LCAP). By focusing on the vital aspects of partnerships, the local context, educational input, and needs assessments, participants will gain practical insights into how to ensure the LCAP is an effective strategic plan for the LEA. These insights will help drive lasting progress and promote equitable outcomes within educational communities. This session will also highlight the importance of consistent two-way communication, the integration of resources, and guidance to assist in identifying and addressing student needs throughout the process while ensuring compliance within the framework of the LCAP template.

PRESENTERS

Dana Budd, Associate Director, LCAP & Compliance, Fresno County Superintendents of Schools

Jose Guzman, Asst. Superintendent, Kings Canyon USD

WEBINAR RECORDING

SLIDES

RESOURCES

FCSS LCAP Resources

Open Door Session Q&A Responses

Guiding Our Schools Forward: Best Practices For Districts Utilizing Assessment Dashboards to Improve Data Literacy and Target Student Supports

DESCRIPTION

This session highlights Sanger Unified School District and San Ramon Valley Unified School District’s pioneering work in developing customized data dashboards to drive student success, emphasizing data literacy and real-time interventions. Learn about their strategies for comprehensive data systems aiding instructional decisions and their unique approaches to data visualization for targeted interventions. Additionally, the session covered best practices from the California Collaborative for Educational Excellence (CCEE) on measuring dashboard impact and fostering data engagement, ensuring participants gain insights into building and implementing assessment dashboards effectively. The participants of this event engaged through roundtable discussions, live demonstrations, and interactive tools to deepen their understanding and application of data-driven strategies.

PRESENTERS

Allan Taing, Senior Manager, CCEE

Nhi Hang, Program Specialist, CCEE

Thomas Soto, Director, Educational Services, SUSD

Katie Gault, Coordinator, Data and Assessment, SUSD

Kit Bragg, Director, Assessment Research and Evaluation, SRVUSD

Ramma Ravi, Educational Services Technical Analyst, SRVUSD

SESSION MATERIALS

RESOURCES – Coming Soon!

Amplifying Community Engagement for Continuous Improvement

DESCRIPTION

Embark on a journey into the transformative impact of the Community Engagement Initiative (CEI) in California, explored through the principles of the Dual Capacity-Building Framework and the Participatory Systems Change for Equity Approach. This session navigates the pivotal role of capacity building in fostering meaningful conversations and relationships within communities and districts, emphasizing trust and mutual respect for enhanced pupil outcomes, utilizing real-life case studies from CEI.

Delving into the Participatory Systems Change for Equity Approach, the session highlights the significance of peer-to-peer partnerships in driving systemic change, focusing on building robust networks between school districts and communities to address educational disparities. Attendees will glean strategies to cultivate and sustain such partnerships in their own contexts.

In the session’s final segment, explore CEI’s statewide efforts in scaling effective practices for community engagement, drawing insights from the Peer Leading and Learning Network (PLLN) and how these initiatives can be expanded for broader community involvement and integrated into continuous improvement endeavors.

PRESENTERS

David Toston, Senior Advisor, CCEE

Amber Valdez, Senior Program Associate, WestEd

SESSION MATERIALS

RESOURCES – Coming December 1!

Supporting Black Student Achievement: Lessons Learned from Year 1 of the African American Student Success Network

DESCRIPTION

In collaboration with the California Association of African-American Superintendents and Administrators (CAAASA), the California Collaborative for Educational Excellence (CCEE) initiated a professional learning network (PLN) in 2017 to address disparities faced by African American students in K-12 schools.

This session revisits the PLN’s progress, focusing on five LEA teams—Fresno Unified, Lynwood Unified, Pittsburg Unified, Napa County Office of Education, and San Diego County Office of Education—as they tackle specific challenges hindering the academic and socio-emotional growth of Black students.

Attendees explored the strategies, challenges, and lessons learned from these teams, engaging in Q&A sessions and smaller group breakouts to delve deeper into each LEA’s approaches and outcomes. All participants received a summary brief encompassing the latest data and insights from this ongoing network’s efforts to improve educational outcomes for African American students.

PRESENTERS

Sujie Shin, Deputy Executive Director, CCEE

Italo Ciccarelli, Program Specialist, Data & Impact, CCEE

Dwight Bonds, Executive Director, CAAASA

Tracy R. Thompson, Executive Director, Juvenile Court & Community Schools, SDCOE

Deborah Hernandez, Director, Continuous Improvement LCAP, SDCOE

Leilah Kirkendoll, Director, Equity, LCAP, MTSS, and Categorical Funds, SDCOE

Allison Wulf, Coordinator, Juvenile Court & Community Schools, SDCOE

SESSION MATERIALS

RESOURCES – Coming Soon!

Balanced Assessment Systems: A Case Study of One District’s Journey to Rebalance their Assessment System for Improved Student Outcomes

DESCRIPTION

In the 2022-2023 school year, the California Collaborative for Educational Excellence (CCEE) introduced the Data Research Learning Network (DRLN) aimed at transforming data and assessment practices in districts across California. The DRLN, structured into three strands, emphasizes Deeper Learning, Data Review, and Data Dashboards to enhance educational strategies.

As part of the Deeper Learning strand, Rincon Valley Union School District (RVUSD) shared their experiences in cultivating a more balanced assessment system, particularly focusing on formative assessment practices in mathematics. The session dissected the crucial elements of a Balanced Assessment System and the role of Formative Assessments, underlining coherence, comprehensiveness, and continuity as key features.

RVUSD leaders detailed their journey of re-balancing the assessment system, starting with a needs assessment and action plan, shedding light on the pivotal role of formative assessments in math. Attendees gained a toolkit for Balanced Assessment Systems and access to CCEE’s MicroLearning courses, providing valuable resources for their own educational innovation.

RVUSD’s research, a part of CCEE’s Data Research Learning Network, concentrated on formative assessment in mathematics, drawing insights on enhancing assessment systems based on the collaborative work with the Center for Assessment. The DRLN serves as a conduit for sharing these innovative experiences to inspire and guide other districts venturing on their innovation journeys.

PRESENTERS

Ingrid Roberson, Assistant Director, Research Learning, CCEE

Dorcas Kong, Senior Specialist, Executive Projects, CCEE

Hilary Kjaer, Director, Teaching and Learning, RVUSD

Tasha Lopez, Teacher on Special Assignment, RVUSD

SESSION MATERIALS

RESOURCES – Coming Soon!

Levers for System Change

Introducing our powerful tool designed to assist local education agencies (LEAs) in California, as well as LEAs in other states, who are dedicated to creating an exceptional Local Educational Agency system that effectively serves all students. Our tool provides invaluable guidance by outlining six fundamental components that are crucial for a successful Local Educational Agency program.

But it doesn’t stop there. We go beyond just providing information. Our tool offers a comprehensive evaluation feature that allows you to assess the extent to which these essential components are present in your system. This evaluation acts as a vital starting point for identifying areas of improvement and determining the most effective strategies to enhance your educational system.

Are you ready to take your Local Educational Agency program to the next level? Get started with our tool today and pave the way for a more inclusive and successful educational experience for all students. Take the first step towards transforming your system by accessing our powerful evaluation tool now!

If you have any questions, please contact Mindy Fattig, Senior Advisor, Statewide System of Support at [email protected].

Data Research Learning Network: Phase 1 Summary

DESCRIPTION

In January 2023, the I3 Center launched the Data Research Learning Network (DRLN) to support districts and counties in innovating their data and assessment practices. In Phase 1 (Planning), seven select districts and county offices of education conducted deep data dives to identify challenge areas; generate problems of practice that are measurable, achievable, and relevant; and develop innovative action plans. This brief provides an overview of the lessons learned that emerged from the collaborative work of the DRLN throughout the six-month Planning Phase.

PHASE 1 BRIEF

Independent Study Professional Learning Network

Description

Due to the ongoing pandemic, districts are reassessing their learning options and choosing between traditional independent study and course-based independent study to meet students’ needs. The California Collaborative for Educational Excellence (CCEE) facilitated Professional Learning Community (PLC) from 2021 to 2023 for districts to collaborate. Independent Study Professional Learning Network (ISPLN) meetings focused on addressing independent study challenges, sharing best practices, and problem-solving. Key findings from these convenings include district inconsistencies in understanding policy recommendations, the need for quarterly meetings with State representatives, encouraging information sharing among districts, implementing outreach campaigns, and building statewide partnerships. Feedback from these independent study leads identifies key aspects of independent study policy that other districts may use to improve individual programs and the statewide initiative.

Key Findings and Call to Action

Provide clarification: Address inconsistencies in understanding and interpreting policy recommendations by offering clear guidance and support.
Establish quarterly meetings: Organize regular meetings between district leads and State representatives to ensure clear understanding of policy updates and allow for clarifying questions.
Foster collaboration: Develop and share a comprehensive list of local independent study contact information to facilitate collaboration and resource sharing among districts.
Conduct outreach campaigns: Inform county, district, and charter school independent study leads about policy changes and their impact at the local level.
Build partnerships: Strengthen partnerships with county offices of education to create a statewide professional learning infrastructure and support underserved locales.
Collect feedback: Gather input from independent study leads to identify opportunities for sharing best practices and improving the quality of individual programs and the statewide initiative.
Taking these actions will enhance independent study programs, improve student outcomes, and promote collaboration and knowledge-sharing among districts.