Golden Slate Newsletter: Sacramento Scene | CDE Updates | Parent Mail | AIG Updates

October 2020

In This Issue

Sacramento Scene

Sacramento Scene: October 2020

Department of Education Update

California Department of Education Update, October 2020

News & Views

Positive Parent Mail
Agriculture Incentive Grant Updates
Submit Chapter Highlight Videos

Sacramento Scene: October 2020

By: Matt Patton, CATA Executive Director

The last day of September marked the deadline for Governor Gavin Newsom to pass final judgment on bills passed at the end of the legislative session in August. The following is a summary of two bills related to education that were vetoed.

California Department of Education Update, October 2020

By: Charles Parker, California Department of Education, State FFA Advisor

It continues to remain quiet in Sacramento as the State Superintendent has issued a statement effectively mandating that staff stay at home until December 31. Only essential staff should be in the building. Even when 2021 rolls around, the consensus is that only about 25% of the employees will return to work in the office. There will be a gradual return to maintain safety and address ongoing health concerns.

Agriculture Incentive Grant October Updates

By: Hugh Mooney, Regional Supervisor, California Department of Education

In September, we had a state-wide Zoom meeting to discuss the changes to the Agriculture Incentive Grant that will move us from an input driven funding model to an output driven funding model. Through work done by the committee and the state staff, the new funding model is based on more than forty different factors. In addition to becoming an output-based funding model, it is my belief that we will once again have a funding mechanism that will provide incentives for program improvement.

Positive Parent Mail

By: Shay Williams-Hopper, CATA President-Elect

Getting the mail is my favorite part of the day. While I know that on most days my mail is going to be filled with junk flyers and bills, every once in a while, peeking out from the bills is a special gift, written with love, a note from a family member or friend. I always smile as I run my hands over the seams, wondering what the message inside will be. Occasionally, it is a thank you note, sometimes it is a card just to say hi, but regardless of the message, the feeling of receiving that letter makes my day 100 percent better, each and every time.

Submit Chapter Highlight Videos

By: Hannah Garrett, California FFA Leadership Coordinator

We are looking to highlight chapters throughout California and ask for your help in this venture. We are asking for chapters to submit a 60 second Reel/Tik Tok-esque video highlighting what makes their chapter unique or different from other chapters across the state. These videos will then be used for online conference curriculum and featured across our social media platforms to highlight our diverse 330+ FFA chapters. And to hopefully help us all feel a little more connected during these odd times.