Garamendi introduces bill to provide funding to school districts serving military, Native Americans – Times Herald Online

This week, U.S. Representative John Garamendi (D-CA-08) introduced the “Impact Aid Infrastructure Partnership Act” – a bill that aims to provide a total of $1 billion over four years for Impact Aid Construction Grants to address the significant backlog of facility needs at federally impacted school districts.

In addition to Representative Garamendi, the bill was cosponsored by Representatives Marilyn Strickland (D-WA-10), Lloyd Doggett (D-TX-37), Julia Brownley (D-CA-26), and Raúl Grijalva (D-AZ-07). This legislation was first introduced in the Senate by Senator Mazie Hirono (D-HI).

The “Impact Aid Infrastructure Partnership Act” aims to ensure that federally impacted school districts have the resources needed to provide every student with a quality education and safe learning environment by authorizing $250,000,000 annually for four years for Impact Aid Construction Grants. Of this funding, 25 percent would be made available via formula funding to all eligible school districts. The Department of Education would disseminate the remaining 75 percent as competitive grants with priority for those school districts with acute emergencies in their facilities.

Source: Garamendi introduces bill to provide funding to school districts serving military, Native Americans – Times Herald Online

Education Issues And Ballot Initiatives To Watch On Election Day 2023 – Forbes

By Alison Griffn

With the 2024 presidential election a year away, voters in the 2023 elections will help shed light on how — or whether — education issues have the potential to inform the agendas of presidential hopefuls.

On the ballot in 2023 are two gubernatorial contests, numerous high-profile state board of education elections, and state ballot measures with big implications for education policy to ward off cuts as federal funds dry up and state budgets contract.

Source: Education Issues And Ballot Initiatives To Watch On Election Day 2023

Tips for trick-or-treaters, Halloween drivers |  dailyrepublic.com

The Fairfield Police Department offers the following tips for trick-or-treaters and drivers on Halloween.

• Avoid trick-or-treating alone. Walk in groups or with a trusted adult.

• Plan a trick-or-treating route in familiar neighborhoods with well-lit streets.

• Only walk on sidewalks whenever possible, or on the far edge of the road facing traffic to stay safe.• Walk younger children to the door to receive treats.

Source: Tips for trick-or-treaters, Halloween drivers | News | dailyrepublic.com

Free fruit, vegetables, pet food available Friday at adult school | dailyrepublic.com

Savor the flavors of the season as Communicare+OLE offers free fruit and vegetables.

Free cat and dog food is also available thanks to Jameson Animal Rescue Ranch.

The giveaway begins at 2 p.m. Friday at Fairfield-Suisun Adult School, 900 Travis Blvd. Enter through the entrance on Fairfield Avenue.

Source: Free fruit, vegetables, pet food available Friday at adult school | News | dailyrepublic.com

Leaven Kids gala raises record $525,000 | dailyrepublic.com

A gala held Sunday at the Silverado Resort and Spa in Napa raised $525,000 for the Leaven Kids.

“We are deeply grateful for the overwhelming support from our community at this year’s gala,” Mark Lillis, chief executive officer for Leaven Kids, said in a statement released Friday.

“Every dollar raised is a dollar that goes directly into underserved neighborhoods, where we deliver transformative academic programming to disadvantaged youth. This remarkable achievement reaffirms our commitment to making a lasting difference in the lives of young students,” Lillis added.

Source: Leaven Kids gala raises record $525,000 | News | dailyrepublic.com

Nationwide emergency alert test set for Wednesday morning – The Vacaville Reporter

By Richard Bammer

If you are anywhere near or within earshot of a cellphone, a radio or TV on Wednesday morning, you will hear the jarring sound of an emergency alert.

The nationwide emergency alert test is expected to come at 11:20 a.m. in California, Vacaville Fire Department officials said in a social media post.

If your mobile phone is on and within range of an active cell tower from a participating wireless provider, you should receive the national test.

Source: Nationwide emergency alert test set for Wednesday morning – The Vacaville Reporter

These Are The Best School Districts In The Bay Area, New Ranking Says | Fremont, CA Patch

Palo Alto Unified School District is not just the best district in the Bay Area but in the whole state, according to rankings in Niche’s 2024 Best Schools and Districts rankings, which was released this week.

Across California, 780 school districts are included in Niche’s ranking of 12,192 school districts nationwide. The list includes 364 newly ranked school districts.

Source: These Are The Best School Districts In The Bay Area, New Ranking Says | Fremont, CA Patch

Summer school programs aren’t enough to reverse pandemic learning loss, researchers say | KQED

By Jill Barshay

Many education researchers have warned that summer school doesn’t have a strong track record of helping students catch up academically. That’s because it’s hard to convince families to show up. In the wake of the pandemic, school leaders spent billions more on it anyway. In a 2022 national survey, 70% of school districts said they had launched new summer programs or expanded existing ones. Los Angeles Unified District superintendent Alberto Carvalho called summer school “critical” to addressing learning loss.

But now, in a scientific version of “We told you so,” a group of 14 researchers from Harvard University, the American Institutes for Research and the assessment company NWEA found miniscule gains in math and no improvement in reading at all after scrutinizing how much 2022 summer school helped children in eight large school districts around the nation. A separate study in Tennessee, also looking back at the summer of 2022, found the same tiny learning gains in math but none in reading.

Source: Summer school programs aren’t enough to reverse pandemic learning loss, researchers say | KQED

Fairfield residents collect school supplies to send overseas | dailyrepublic.com

Local residents are collecting school supplies to send to children in need around the globe.

The group, through Samaritan’s Purse, is packing shoeboxes with school supplies, along with personal care items and toys. The program is an expansion of the Operation Christmas Child project.

Donations of $10 buys a box filled with the goods.

Since 1993, Operation Christmas Child has collected and delivered more than 209 million gift-filled shoeboxes to children in more than 170 countries and territories. This year, Operation Christmas Child will celebrate its 30th year of ministry.

Source: Fairfield residents collect school supplies to send overseas | Fairfield | dailyrepublic.com

School supplies will cost more for 2023-24 year | dailyrepublic.com

By Susan Hiland

The typical parent will spend about $600 on school supplies this year, according to savings.com.

The majority will be spent on clothing, an average of $142 per child.

Spending on school supplies is expected to hit a record $41.5 billion this year, according to a recent survey from the National Retail Federation and Prosper Insights & Analytics. That would mark an increase of 12 percent or $4.6 billion, from the $36.9 billion consumers spent last year.

It would also smash the previous high of $37.1 billion, set in 2021.

Source: School supplies will cost more for 2023-24 year | News | dailyrepublic.com

Vocational school on the drawing board? – Times-Herald

By Thomas Gase

When it comes to youth and art in Vallejo, the group Vallejo Seeking Solutions wants to draw a better canvas.

In a city known for its diverse artistic talent, this group is aiming to put together a vocational arts school that would develop talents for youth in that field at an earlier age.

And they want to let everyone know about it.

The group is hosting a town hall meeting on Saturday from 2 to 4:30 p.m. at the JFK Library’s Joseph Room to discuss the proposed Minsodie Vocational School of the Arts. The group has been working diligently for three years to bring a school in that capacity to the city.

Source: Vocational school on the drawing board? – Times-Herald

Blistering heat remains in forecast for Solano, region – Daily Republic

Another day of blistering heat – well in excess of 110 degrees – is expected Tuesday as the current heat wave hits its projected peak before tapering off this weekend.

But highs of 100 degrees or more are expected through Friday in both Fairfield and Vacaville – and much of the surrounding areas – before temperatures dip back into the 80s and 90s.

The high at the Nut Tree Airport is projected to top out at 117 Tuesday, drop off to 107 Wednesday, jump to 112 Thursday and dip a bit to 109 Friday, the National Weather Service reports. The mercury hit 108 Friday, 103 Saturday, 108 Sunday and 115 on Labor Day.

Source: Blistering heat remains in forecast for Solano, region

Fairfield foundation drive-thru helps families with school supplies, grocery needs – Daily Republic

By Susan Hiland

Everything is more expensive this year, including school supplies, said Sonna Silva, who is a mother of four. She took her children to the Fairfield Community Services Foundation’s free Back-to-School Backpack and Food Giveaway on Saturday.

The children – Paula, Lucy, Ismeale and Elizabeth – all received backpacks again this year. The family was also given two bags of food.

“This is a great support and a blessing,” Silva said.

Source: Fairfield foundation drive-thru helps families with school supplies, grocery needs

Operation Homefront’s ‘Back-to-School Brigade’ returns to Travis AFB – Daily Republic

By Matt Miller

The annual “Back-to-School Brigade” returned to Travis Air Force Base on Friday, bigger and better than ever as 650 backpacks and numerous school supplies were distributed over a three-hour period by members of the 660th AMXS KC-10 Maintenance Squadron.

Staff Sgt. Mark Cameron ran operations with Senior Master Sgt. Randal Moser, along with Moser’s wife Jessica, in a drive-thru distribution format as families prepared for the Aug. 11 opening of Travis Unified School District.

Source: Operation Homefront’s ‘Back-to-School Brigade’ returns to Travis AFB

Registration open for early childhood education convention – Daily Republic

By Barbara Navolanic

Nine regional parent participation preschools, members of the California Council of Parent Participation Nursery Schools, are partnering to host the 2022 Early Childhood Convention on March 5 at the Hotel Winters in Winters.

This hybrid event will be held both in-person and virtually to provide an opportunity for attendees from across the state to attend and engage with each other and the featured speakers. The theme for this year’s convention is “Play to Grow: Engaging in Acts of Care.”

The convention committee felt that after the stresses and challenges of the past two years it was time to consider “care” of self and family.

Source: Registration open for early childhood education convention

School districts hit hard by teacher, substitute shortages – The Vacaville Reporter

By Summer Lin

San Jose High senior Jordan Fricke knows of one class that’s had a revolving door of three long-term substitute teachers so far this fall. Berkeley High School teacher Hasmig Minassian has seen a librarian supervise four classes because no one else was available. Logan Mengotto’s father said his son didn’t have a teacher in two classes the first week at Hercules High School.

Public schools throughout the Bay Area and the state are grappling with a spike in teacher absences and vacancies as schools have reopened, coupled with a shortage of substitutes, leading them to increase pay for subs, offer signing bonuses for new hires and ask other school and district staff members to take over classes.

Source: School districts hit hard by teacher, substitute shortages – The Vacaville Reporter

Fairfield educator to present learning strategies in Dubai – Daily Republic

Deanna Hurn, founder and CEO of Miracle Math Coaching, has been recognized as one of the Top 100 Visionaries in Education.

The Global Forum on Education and Learning bestowed the honor based on Hurn’s work in brain-based learning, according to a press release.

Hurn is scheduled to present her learning model in February at the organization’s international conference in Dubai.

Source: Fairfield educator to present learning strategies in Dubai

CA Allows School Districts To Begin Making Plans For In-Person Graduations – CBS Sacramento

By Heather Janssen

The pandemic has led to many missed milestones for students and their families, but there’s new hope graduation may go on.

The California Department of Public Health says districts can start making plans for possible in-person graduation ceremonies, as numbers trend in the right direction. The catch is that the ceremonies will likely be outdoors, with limits on who can attend.

Source: California Allows School Districts To Begin Making Plans For In-Person Graduations With Limits – CBS Sacramento

Solano County parents create classroom in their garage – ABC7 San Francisco

By Wayne Freedman

Broken eggs and rotting yokes on a suburban sidewalk. Your house might also become a target if you put up a sign urging California schools to reopen.

“You can hide in the dark to do it, but your point will never be made because we don’t know what you have to say,” said Jimmy Ferrucci about the people who pelted his yard last weekend.

Jimmy and his wife Sarah made their statement months ago. You’ve heard of one room school houses? How about the two-car garage school house where the Ferrucci family, their kids and friends attend class together.

“We are advocating for our children. Standing up. Saying we want an option,” said Sarah.

Source: COVID-19 in California: Solano County parents frustrated with distance learning create classroom in their garage – ABC7 San Francisco

Ed leaders share best practices for reopening schools | Education Dive

By Kara Arundel

Rain or shine, snow or no snow, the students of Homestead School, a private Montessori in Glen Spey, New York, will be spending a good part of their school days outside. There they will learn about vertebrates, biodiversity, writing poetry and more.

Using the campus’ 85 acres was the best and safest way school leaders determined in-person learning could continue amid a pandemic.

“We put our attention to how we could move experiential learning outdoors. We thought it was so important to get the kids back on campus,” said Nisha Gupta, head of financial affairs, head of curriculum, and a middle school teacher at Homestead School.

Source: Ed leaders share best practices for reopening schools | Education Dive