Solano County students earn State Fair scholarships – Daily Republic

Two Solano County residents are among those to share in $46,000 in scholarships to college students from the Friends of the California State Fair.

Keaton Stout of Vacaville and Alexandria LaRoche of Vallejo each received $1,000 scholarships.

Twenty-three cities were represented among the winners.

Source: Solano County students earn State Fair scholarships

Free school meals for all here to stay in California – The Vacaville Reporter

By Ali Tadayon, EdSource

With 1 in every 6 children facing hunger in the U.S., California is the first state to promise every public school student — all 6 million of them — free school meals.

The universal school meals program, which will launch in the 2022-2023 school year, is part of the landmark state budget agreement reached between Gov. Gavin Newsom and the Legislature last month. Days later, Maine became the second state to commit to offering a universal school meals program with the signing of its budget.

The program ensures that all students will be offered breakfast and lunch at their school, which state Sen. Nancy Skinner, D-Berkeley, said is “essential to learning.” Skinner has led the effort to establish a universal school meal program.

Source: Free school meals for all here to stay in California – The Vacaville Reporter

New Multilingual Support Director Appointed – Year 2021 (CA Dept of Education)

State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond announced today that he has appointed Alesha Moreno-Ramirez as the new Director of the Multilingual Support Division at the California Department of Education (CDE).

The Multilingual Support Division provides information and resources to serve the unique needs of multilingual students so that each person will meet or exceed high standards of achievement in academic and non-academic skills.

“Alesha is an accomplished leader with a depth of knowledge regarding high-level multilingual best practices and policies,” said Thurmond. “She is a strong advocate and champion for all students and believes the linguistic and cultural assets English learners bring to California schools enrich the lives of all of the state’s 6.1 million TK–12 public school students and their communities. She brings to the position extensive experience with equity, multilingual learner rights, and social justice issues along with an unwavering focus and commitment to do what is best to ensure the needs of multilingual, English learner, dual language, migrant, and immigrant students and their families are being met. I am pleased to add an educator with her passion and dedication to the CDE leadership team.”

Source: New Multilingual Support Director Appointed – Year 2021 (CA Dept of Education)

FSUSD Offers Alternative To In-Person Instruction – Daily Republic

By Kris Corey

The Fairfield-Suisun Unified School District is returning to full, in-person learning on Wednesday, August 18th, 2021. The District recognizes that every family is not yet ready to return to a physical school setting. FSUSD continues to meet families where they are by offering an independent study program in addition to an in-person learning environment.

In accordance with guidance from Assembly Bill 130, families not wishing for their student(s) to participate in an in-person learning environment have the opportunity to enroll in FSUSD’s Independent Study program. Students enrolled in transitional kindergarten through eighth grade can register for the Virtual Academy through the district’s website at http://www.fsusd.org/VA. Families of ninth through twelfth grade students can request to attend the Independent Study program by contacting their resident high school beginning on August 2nd.

Source: Press Release: FSUSD Offers Alternative To In-Person Instruction

Armijo grad’s Olympic dream as ‘Dreamer’ comes true – Daily Republic

By Matt Miller

Luis Grijalva has been running one of the biggest races of his life in recent weeks . . . the race against time.

He crossed the finish line Monday, a winner.

The 2017 Armijo High School and recent Northern Arizona University graduate announced on Instagram that he will be competing at the Olympic Games in Tokyo for his birth country, Gautemala.

Source: Armijo grad’s Olympic dream as ‘Dreamer’ comes true

Solano College Transfer Center hosts virtual UC Week – Daily Republic

The Solano Community College Transfer Center is hosting a virtual UC Week from Monday to Thursday.

Virtual presentations will give students the chance to hear from university representatives from a number of different UC campuses. Attend the workshops to learn about the general transfer process or other related topics like choosing a major.

Students are encouraged to fill out the interest forms associated with the event so they can receive email reminders. The UC Week interest form can be found at solanocc.wufoo.com/forms/uc-week-interest-form.

Source: Solano College Transfer Center hosts virtual UC Week

City of Vacaville hosts Youth Development Hiring Fairs – The Vacaville Reporter

The City of Vacaville Parks and Recreation Department, Vacaville Neighborhood Boys and Girls Club, the Solano County Educational Consortium and Vacaville Unified School District are partnering to host Youth Development Hiring Fairs for part-time positions working with youth.

The final event will be held on Tuesday from 4-7 p.m. at the McBride Center, 91 Town Square Place.

Applicants must be 18 or older, must possess a high school diploma or equivalent and must be willing to undergo and pass drug screening and a background check prior to employment.

Source: City of Vacaville hosts Youth Development Hiring Fairs – The Vacaville Reporter

VCUSD partnering with Touro for vaccination programs – Times-Herald

By Thomas Gase

Although the Vallejo City Unified School District is not requiring COVID-19 vaccinations in order to attend in-person instruction, the district has partnered once again Touro University’s Mobile Program to ensure all members of the community have access to the vaccine.

Both groups have collaborated to organize vaccination clinics directly on a few school campuses. This is the district’s last push for vaccinations prior to the startup of the 2021-22 school year.

“Vaccinations are not required, for students or teachers, but we are encouraging vaccination for all who are eligible,” VCUSD spokesperson Stephen Nichols said. “Masks are required for indoor instruction and activities, per CDPH guidelines.”

Source: Vallejo City Unified School District partnering with Touro for vaccination programs – Times-Herald

7 Benefits of Upgrading to a Zoom Education Plan | MarketScreener

By Pat La Morte

If you’re part of an academic institution, a Zoom Education plan can help you get the most out of Zoom for teaching, learning, and connecting. A Zoom Education plan offers features that can make administrators’ lives easier, help educators enhance instruction, and create a more secure, seamless learning environment for students.

As you implement long-term strategies to support hybrid learning, here are seven benefits you need to know about the Zoom Education plan:

1. Integrate seamlessly with your LMSZoom integrates with a number of leading learning management systems (LMS) through LTI Pro and other apps. This means educators can seamlessly schedule and start meetings directly within Blackboard, Canvas, Clever, Desire2Learn, Moodle, Schoology, and other LMS platforms, and students can join a Zoom class from the same LMS they use every day.

Source: Zoom Video Communications : 7 Benefits of Upgrading to a Zoom Education Plan | MarketScreener

Travis AFB families pick up free supplies before returning to school – The Vacaville Reporter

By Nick Sestanovich

On Aug. 11, Travis Unified School District students will be returning to class, so families can expect to be in full-time shopping mode for school supplies over the next few weeks.

Given how expensive school supplies can get over time, Operation Homefront wants to alleviate the experience for military families. Thus, it has teamed up with Dollar Tree for its annual Back-to-School Brigade, a series of school supply drives held in locations throughout the United States. On Friday, an event was hosted at Travis Air Force Base for its families stationed there.

Families formed a line at one of the base’s hangars to pick up everything from notebooks to crayons to just about everything else they needed for the 2021-22 school year.

Source: Travis AFB families pick up free supplies before returning to school – The Vacaville Reporter

How California plans to deter costly special education disputes – Times-Herald

By Carolyn Jones, EdSource

The threatened deluge of post-pandemic special education litigation may be averted — or at least minimized— by a new initiative in California encouraging parents and schools to resolve disputes before heading to court.

The state budget, signed Friday by Gov. Gavin Newsom, sets aside $100 million for resolving special education conflicts between parents and school districts, which escalated during remote learning.

The money will go toward outreach, such as brochures, meetings and presentations, to help parents and school staff understand the rights outlined in the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, the federal law that requires districts to educate students of all abilities. The goal is to improve communication and build trust between parents and schools, so conflicts can be resolved quickly and more easily.

Source: How California plans to deter costly special education disputes – Times-Herald

California Retired Teachers Association hands out $20K in scholarships – Daily Republic

By Suzanne Carlson

The California Retired Teachers Association, Division 24, which covers all of Solano County, is proud to announce the winners of the C. Shirley Michele Scholarship Fund for 2021.

Each of the eight well-deserving recipients received a check for $2,500.

The recipients are:

• Jennifer Babas graduated from Fairfield High and then earned a degree from California State University Sacramento. She is receiving her teaching credential from University of California, Davis. Before deciding to become a teacher, she worked as a medical assistant with NorthBay Healthcare in Fairfield.

Source: California Retired Teachers Association hands out $20K in scholarships

FSUSD Welcomes New Administrative Leaders to its Ranks – Daily Republic

By Kris Corey

Over the course of this summer, the Fairfield-Suisun Unified School District’s Governing Board has welcomed several new administrators to their leadership team. Prior to each official appointment, all candidates participated in a rigorous application process that included paper screening, reference and background checks, and various interviews. The most recent Governing Board meeting continues the investment in FSUSD’s human capital with the addition of two Assistant Principals, a Literacy Coordinator, and a new Director of Fiscal Services.

“One of the most critical elements for the success in our district and the community we serve is a strong leadership team. I am confident that the administrators we have appointed for the 2021-2022 school year will provide the strength, focus, and expertise necessary to take our district to the next level.”

Source: Good News: FSUSD Welcomes New Administrative Leaders to its Ranks

State eases testing requirements for teachers | CalSchoolNews.org

Aspiring teachers are no longer required to take the California Basic Skills Test (CBEST) or the California Subject Matter Exams for Teachers (CSET) to earn their credential.

The relaxed rules, which were part of the new state budget, are “a game changer” for many teacher candidates who have been excluded by the test requirements, California Commission on Teacher Credentialing Executive Director Mary Vixie Sandy said.

“These tests are meant to accurately measure readiness to begin teacher preparation, not to be a barrier that keeps potentially great teachers from learning to teach,” Sandy said. “We are eager to move forward with this shift in state policy. As alternatives to high-stakes testing these measures will right-size the role of testing and allow a broader and more diverse array of people to make a career out of teaching.”

Source: State eases testing requirements for teachers | CalSchoolNews.org

SPI Applauds 2021-22 Education Budget – Year 2021 (CA Dept of Education)

State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond praised Governor Gavin Newsom’s signing of the 2021–22 state budget bills and trailer bills, which include key investments in areas the State Superintendent championed before the pandemic disrupted public education. These investments provide the resources schools desperately need to recover and to build back better.

“COVID-19 has wreaked havoc on our economy, and we are grateful that this budget recognizes that investments in public education will be a critical driver to our state’s rebound,” said Thurmond. “Coming off the most difficult year for education in our lifetime, historic funding levels to the state and education will enable us to recover, accelerate learning, and build back better—with specific attention to student mental health and closing opportunity gaps that disproportionately affected students of color, students with disabilities, English learners, and students in low-income households.

“I echo our Governor, who announced that this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to invest in California’s future and expand opportunities for every child across the state, with $123.9 billion to reduce barriers and increase opportunities from transitional kindergarten through community college. In this year’s budget, our Proposition 98 funding for TK to 12—money going to our schools and classrooms—went from $69.3 billion in 2020–21 to $80.4 billion this year, almost a 30 percent increase over last year.

Source: SPI Applauds 2021-22 Education Budget – Year 2021 (CA Dept of Education)

Fairfield school board hears about requirements, planning for upcoming year – Daily Republic

By Susan Hiland

Staff at schools in Fairfield and Suisun City are setting the stage for children and teens at all grade levels to return to in-person classes next month.

Sheila McCabe, assistant superintendent of Educational Services, reported updates Thursday to Fairfield-Suisun School District trustees about the various state and federal requirements to make it happen.

Assembly Bill 104 was signed into law July 1 as emergency legislation, which means it goes into effect immediately, she reported.

Source: Fairfield school board hears about requirements, planning for upcoming year

Fairfield-Suisun trustees hear overview of newly adjusted school budget – Daily Republic

By Susan Hiland

The school district budget has been a bit of a rollercoaster ride for the past year, Laneia Grindle, assistant superintendent of Business Services, said Thursday during a meeting with the Fairfield- Suisun School District governing board.

Her comment came as she presented an updated budget report to the board.

The estimates are more favorable now than earlier projections, she said.

Source: Fairfield-Suisun trustees hear overview of newly adjusted school budget

Solano College offers retail management certificate – Daily Republic

Solano Community College offers an eight-course retail management certificate that can be completed within two years while working full- or part-time.

The certificate program is designed to prepare students for career opportunities and upward mobility in the retail industry. The program is set up to provide skills, knowledge and training for positions such as first-line supervisors and managers in retail.

The Solano College program has partnerships with local businesses that include but are not limited to Costco, Whole Foods, Safeway, WinCo, Save Mart, Sprouts, Raley’s and Smart&Final.

Source: Solano College offers retail management certificate

Vaccination clinics pop up at Solano schools – The Vacaville Reporter

The Fairfield-Suisun Unified School District, in partnership with Touro University California, will host a series of vaccination clinics at school sites throughout the district for students, faculty and staff ages 12 and up.

The vaccination clinics will take place at Public Safety Academy and Grange Middle School, both in Fairfield, and Crystal Middle School in Suisun City.

Faculty, preceptors and volunteers have been assisting county health officials at vaccination events in Vallejo and elsewhere for several months and have helped vaccinate more than 1,000 individuals in that process.

Source: Coronavirus: Vaccination clinics pop up at Solano schools – The Vacaville Reporter

Fairfield-Suisun schools, Touro team for Covid-19, Tdap vaccination dates – Daily Republic

Touro University California is partnering with the Fairfield-Suisun School District to offer Covid-19 and Tdap vaccinations in July and August in both Suisun City and Fairfield.

No appointments are required, and no identification, insurance or proof of immigration status is needed to receive the vaccination.

“The health and safety of our students, staff and faculty has always been at the forefront of our decision-making throughout this entire process during the pandemic,” Fairfield-Suisun School District Superintendent Kris Corey said in a press release. “We realize the importance of returning to a classroom setting but we want to do so as safely as possible and these vaccinations will help ensure that.”

Source: Fairfield-Suisun schools, Touro team for Covid-19, Tdap vaccination dates