Open Door: Elevating School Attendance Through Meaningful Engagement

DESCRIPTION

Discover actionable strategies to address chronic absenteeism and strengthen connections within your school community in this engaging Open Door session, the first of a 3-part series. We’ll explore why chronic absence matters, as evidenced by national and state data, and dive into the critical role trust and engagement play in boosting attendance–especially post-pandemic. Through a panel discussion with Cypress, one of three Bright Spots districts, you’ll gain insights on how to build meaningful family and student engagement, rebuild trust, and implement effective strategies. You’ll also walk away with practical tools to create a supportive environment where every student feels valued.

PRESENTERS

Sujie Shin, Deputy Executive Director, CCEE

Kevin Gee, Director, School Policy, Action, and Research Center (SPARC)

Helen Duffy, Senior Fellow, Attendance Works

Tina Ochoa, Senior Fellow, Attendance Works

Jacki Teschke, Principal, Clara King Elementary

Tanya Alvarez, Teacher, Clara King Elementary

Vickie Ohlman, Administrative Assistant, Clara King Elementary

SESSION MATERIALS

WEBINAR VIDEO RECORDING

RESOURCES

Open Door: Mitigating outdoor extreme heat: how schoolyard greening is critical for resilience

DESCRIPTION

This webinar on addressing extreme heat on school playgrounds highlights how Pasadena Unified School District and Long Beach Unified School District have successfully greenified their schoolyards to combat rising temperatures and create safer, more sustainable play environments for their students. Watch the recording and explore the resources to gain valuable insights and practical strategies for your own school’s climate resilience efforts.

PRESENTERS

Ria Apodaca – Director, Health Programs, Pasadena Unified School District
Jill McArthur – Farm-to-School Coordinator, Pasadena Unified School District
Ferdows Fazeli – Senior Program Manager of Facilities, Long Beach Unified School District
Mikaela Randolph – Associate Director of Regional Programs, Green Schoolyards America

SESSION MATERIALS

ARCHIVED VIDEO

RESOURCES
Previous Open Door on Climate Emergency and Resilience:

Green Schoolyard America Useful Links:

Extreme Hear Related Resources and Links:

California Department of Education (CDE) Resources:

Other Resources:

Data Literacy & Leadership Academy

DESCRIPTION

CCEE will be launching a Data Literacy & Leadership Academy in Fall 2024. In partnership with the San Diego County Office of Education, CCEE is developing two courses tailored to:

  1. Data analysts who are new to K-12 education or new to K-12 data
  2. Emerging data leaders looking to drive instructional change

This informational webinar provides additional information on the Data Academy, its courses, and next steps for those who are interested.

PRESENTERS

California Collaborative for Educational Excellence

San Diego County Office of Education

SESSION MATERIALS

ARCHIVED VIDEO

RESOURCES

Open Door: Energy and Grid Resilience: Mitigating Risk through Climate Adaptation

DESCRIPTION

This enlightening session featured innovative leaders from Yolo County Office of Education, Santa Barbara Unified School District, and Modesto City Schools. These forward-thinking districts shared their pioneering climate adaptation strategies that enhance resilience and drive significant cost savings.

Yolo County Office of Education (YCOE)
YCOE is spearheading the construction of a microgrid designed to protect their critical facilities. This project leverages Investment Tax Credits from the federal Inflation Reduction Act, showcasing a model for financial and environmental sustainability.

Santa Barbara Unified School District (SBUSD)
SBUSD has successfully installed a microgrid that is projected to save $14 million over the next 20 years. Their approach demonstrates the long-term financial benefits and enhanced reliability that come with advanced energy solutions.

Modesto City Schools (MCS)
MCS is transforming their facilities with solar carports, EV chargers, and electric school buses. This transition is expected to make their schools energy resilient and attract $17 million in state and federal funding, setting a benchmark for sustainable infrastructure investments.

Key Takeaways

  1. Innovative Projects: Insights into the microgrid projects and sustainable initiatives of YCOE, SBUSD, and MCS.
  2. Financial Strategies: How these districts are leveraging federal and state incentives to fund their projects.
  3. Resilience Building: Practical steps to enhance the resilience of educational facilities through climate adaptation.
  4. Cost Savings: Strategies to achieve substantial cost savings while transitioning to sustainable energy solutions.


We invite you to explore the resources and archived video from this session to gain valuable knowledge and inspiration for integrating climate adaptation into your strategic planning.

PRESENTERS

Matthew Juchniewicz, Director of Operations Services, Yolo COE

Veronica Coronado, Associate Superintendent, Yolo COE

Desmond Ho, Operations and Sustainability Coordinator, Santa Barbara USD

Gilbert Blue Feather Rosas, Director of Sustainability and Adaptation, Modesto City Schools

SESSION MATERIALS

RESOURCES

  • Modesto City Schools Sustainability Website

Prepare for a New Normal: Climate Emergencies and Their Impact on Schools

DESCRIPTION
Embark on a journey through the first installment of a captivating three-part webinar series, delving deep into climate change policies and preparedness within the TK-12 Education System. Developed through a dynamic collaboration between Undaunted K12 and Ten Stands, this series promises insightful exploration and actionable strategies.

In this first session, the San Mateo County Office of Education (SMCOE) and the San Diego County Office of Education (SDCOE) will address the increasing threat of climate emergencies to our schools and communities. Accompanied by subject matter experts from the California Department of Education (CDE) and the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (CalOES), we aim to provide a comprehensive perspective on this pressing issue.

Key discussion points for this session include:

  • Understanding and managing the impact of climate-related emergencies can be daunting, but you’re not alone.
  • Integrating a climate-ready mindset and resilience practices into emergency management strategies can empower school communities to adapt effectively to the challenges posed by climate change.
  • Demonstrating that achieving climate resilience in schools is feasible and essential for the well-being of our communities.

PRESENTERS

Nancy Magee – County Superintendent of Schools, San Mateo COE

Time Ware – Coordinator for School Safety and Security, San Diego COE

Joe Anderson – Staff Service Manager II ( Emergency Services), CDE

Danielle Chapman – Emergency Service Coordinator, CalOES

SESSION MATERIALS

ARCHIVED VIDEO

RESOURCES

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

Graduate Profiles: Redefining Student Success

DESCRIPTION

Across the state, dozens of school districts (and some charter schools and county offices of education) have convened their communities to create a Graduate Profile to more holistically and equitably define student success. Once developed, a Graduate Profile serves as a lever for change that leads to a renewed vision and definition of the college and career-ready student, supports the whole child approach to learning, serves as an impetus for shifting instructional practices and engaging students in deeper learning, and requires a shift in assessments that provide students authentic ways to demonstrate their knowledge and skills. The result of this transformation is a learning process that is more equitable, student-centered, and competency-based. In this session, you’ll learn how these Graduate Profiles serve as a driver for a renewed vision, improved equity, deeper learning, and student agency.

PRESENTERS

Roman Stearns, Executive Director, Scaling Student Success

Rody Boonchouy, Superintendent, Winters Joint Unified School District

Christine Olmstead, Assistant Superintendent, Vista Unified School District

Olympia Kyriakidis, Senior Director of Multilingual Education and Global Achievement, San Diego COE

VIDEO

SESSION MATERIALS

RESOURCES

Interactive Map: 50+ Graduate Profiles across California

WestEd Report: Graduate Profiles Brief

Stories about CA districts on a journey to operationalize their Graduate Profiles

Bringing a Graduate Profile to Life: A Blueprint

Scaling Student Success Website

Vista USD: Strategic Planning Webpage

NGLC: Portrait of a Graduate in Practice (5 case studies)

Envision Learning Partners: Quality Standards for a Graduate Profile

Resources from Learner-Centered Collaborative:

Open Door Session: Empowering Success: The Path of Transparency, Data-Driven Decisions, and Student Ownership

DESCRIPTION

At Hope Elementary School District, our success is driven by our commitment to transparency, data-driven decision-making, and empowering our students to take ownership of their educational journey. At Hope Elementary, we firmly believe that transparency in data is the cornerstone of academic excellence. By openly sharing and analyzing data, we foster a collaborative environment where educators, parents, and students work together to identify strengths, address challenges, and celebrate achievements. We empower our students to take an active role in their learning by encouraging them to be active participants in the data collection process, enabling them to set personal goals, track progress, and take pride in their academic growth. With transparency, data-driven decision-making, and student ownership of their data at the heart of our approach, the Hope Elementary School District is dedicated to nurturing a community of lifelong learners and fostering a bright future for all our students.

PRESENTERS

Melanie Matta, Superintendent/Principal, Hope Elementary School District

Flor Martinez, 5th/6th Grade Math and Science Teacher, Hope Elementary School District

Samantha Alonzo, 7th/8th Grade ELA and History Teacher, Hope Elementary School District

Archived VIDEO

SLIDES

RESOURCES

Individual Growth Chart

Student Goal Setting Form (template)

6th Grade SMI Reflection Forms (Template)

5th Grade SMI Reflection Forms (Template)

6th Grade SMI – Individual Progress Student Reflection

5th Grade SMI – Individual Progress Student Reflection

IAB Pre Assessment (Template)

Student Data Tracker (Template)

Independent Reading Tracker

SRI Individual Progress Reflection

Open Door Session: Simplifying LEA Compliance: How Our County Office Streamlines Support for LEAs

DESCRIPTION

With the deluge of plans, templates, and deadlines flooding LEAs post-pandemic, County Offices are uniquely positioned to provide much-needed support to frequently short-staffed LEAs burdened with completing these critical tasks. FCSS’s LCAP and Compliance team seeks to ease this burden by providing easy-to-use organizational tools that cut to the heart of what LEAs need to do to stay compliant. The FCSS State & Federal Calendar is one such tool that has become a staple in the offices of administrators throughout Fresno County.

PRESENTERS

Cathy Troxell, Associate Director, LCAP & Compliance, Fresno County Superintendents of Schools

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

Corey Greenlaw, Ed.D, Executive Director of Accountability, Compliance & Grants, Fresno County Superintendents of Schools

Archived VIDEO

SLIDES

RESOURCES

2023-2024 FCSS State & Federal Calendar

FCSS LCAP & Compliance Electronic Pamphlet

Q&A from Session

Open Door Session: Supporting Better Attendance Practices – The Evolving Role of COEs

DESCRIPTION

How has the role of county offices of education (COEs) in improving attendance changed over time? Traditionally, COEs lead the county SARB process to address truancy. This is evolving to support districts to reduce chronic absence through the LCAP and Differentiated Assistance processes. In this panel presentation, Monterey County Office of Education and Sacramento County Office of Education explore ways in which COEs are positively impacting student attendance practices.

This is the third Open Door session of the Shifting Mindsets on Chronic Absenteeism series and is targeted towards everyone who cares about improving school attendance, including policymakers, educators, advocates, community partners, families, students, researchers, and the groups helping to build capacity in schools.

PRESENTERS

Caryn Lewis, Assistant Superintendent, Educational Services, Monterey County Office of Education

Rachel Perry, Executive Director, Center for Student Assessment & Program Accountability, Sacramento County Office of Education

Cecelia Leong, Vice President of Programs, Attendance Works

VIDEO

SLIDES

RESOURCES

Session 1: A Tale of Two Systems – Responding to Unexcused and Excused Absences

Session 2: Renewing Our Minds – Transforming How We Approach Attendance

California DataQuest

Brief: Successes and Challenges in Reducing Chronic Absenteeism

Q&A from Session