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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

By Matt O Donnell

The Napa County Office of Education announced Thursday that four Napa County school districts will open for hybrid in-person instruction on Monday, Oct. 26.

That includes nearby American Canyon High School.

“American Canyon High School is eager to welcome those students who choose to come back to in person learning in the safest possible way,” Principal Crystal Lopez told the Times-Herald in an email. “The Napa Valley Unified School District has partnered closely with Napa County Office of Education and Napa County Public Health for protocols and guidance for our planned phased reopening of schools.”

Source: Napa County School District announces reopening for Oct. 26 – Times-Herald

By Kimberly K. Fu

A grass fire that started near Lake Berryessa Tuesday afternoon tiptoed to Pleasants Valley Road overnight, razing homes and resulting in early morning evacuations in the area of Alamo Drive and fire crews from beyond Solano battling to keep the conflagration at bay.

Around 3:30 a.m., dozens of vehicles lined Alamo Drive and filled the parking lot of the Latter-day Saints Church. The majority were area evacuees.

Many said they received an automated alert around 2:30 a.m. to leave their homes immediately and to seek shelter elsewhere.

Source: Fires north of Vacaville cause evacuations en masse – The Reporter

By Amy Maginnis-Honey

A group gathered Tuesday at Green Valley Road and Business Center Drive to protest the death of George Floyd and issue a rallying cry for the Black Lives Matter movement.

The protest – the second on consecutive Tuesdays – was organized by Cordelia Hills Elementary School Principal Steve Trotter and 2019 Rodriguez High School graduate Bryce Smith, who just wrapped up his first year at the University of California, Berkeley.

About 40 people remained on the sidewalk, chanting Floyd’s name, as well as “I can’t breathe” and calls for justice.

Source: Rodriguez grad, elementary school principal team up for weekly Black Lives Matter rally

By Maggie Hickey

On May 6, the U.S. Department of Education released new Title IX regulations that establish how education programs that receive federal funding must respond to sex discrimination, including sexual harassment. A lot has been written about how the new rules apply in college classrooms, parties and dormitories, but the new regulations also apply to elementary school playgrounds and high school sports programs. In fact, the regulations detail specific minimum responsibilities and requirements that apply to kindergarten through 12th grade.

Source: Title IX regulations impose new requirements on K-12 districts | Education Dive

By Angela Jones

Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Kappa Beta Omega Chapter in Vallejo is pleased to announce that applications are now available for the 2020 African American Graduation Recognition Celebration which will be presented as a virtual program. Interested high school seniors should contact their school counselor to obtain an application for participation instructions, or go to www.kappabetaomegaaka1974.com to apply online. All applications are due by Wednesday, May 13.

This is the 17th year that the chapter has sponsored the event will be livestreamed by the Friendship Missionary Baptist Church Media Department on Sunday, June 7 at 4 p.m.

Source: Good News: Sorority seeks applicants for virtual high school graduation

By Thomas Gase

It was a day of celebrating firsts on Sonoma Boulevard in Vallejo as a grand opening was held for the First5 Center, a new community gathering area designed to spark children’s creativity and love for learning by encouraging them to play and grow.

The goal of the center (which is not a daycare) is to give parents and caregivers a safe and welcoming place where they can receive information and be connected to community resources. That includes basic support services, housing employment, food, health, dental and child support services — all provided at no cost.

The event drew approximately 400 people, many of them kids under the age of five running around in a jungle gym like area consisting of a fake mushroom and ladybug as well as a bridge. Others at the event included elected officials as well as featured speakers Erin Hannigan (Supervisor District 1), Lisette Estrella-Henderson (Solano County Superintendent of Schools), Vallejo Mayor Bob Sampayan and Stephanie Hochman (Program Director, Bay Area Community Resources).

Source: Vallejo adults, kids celebrate opening of First5 Center – Times-Herald

By Nick Sestanovich

The Leaven made sure that first responders were not left out of Valentine’s Day festivities.

Kids in the Fairfield-based agency’s after-school mentoring program made cards for law enforcement officers, firefighters, medics and Travis Air Force Base airmen and presented them to the first responders as part of the “Heroes of the Heart” program Thursday.

Throughout The Leaven’s many after-school centers, children colored, cut, pasted and wrote messages of support to first-responders and troops.

“They’re always doing something for us to keep us safe, so we’re giving back to them,” said Dina Johnson, site director at Signature at Fairfield Apartments.

Source: Leaven after-school program makes Valentine’s cards for troops, first responders – The Reporter