This month we our featured topic is on the importance of employing trauma-informed practices to support our children. Our goal is to support the removal of barriers that impact student success.

Learning about trauma can significantly impact students' academic performance and overall well-being. Trauma can result from a range of experiences, including abuse, neglect, violence, toxic stress, and loss, and it can manifest in various ways. By understanding how trauma affects the brain and behavior, teachers can better support students who may have been impacted by trauma. This includes creating a safe and supportive classroom environment, being aware of potential triggers and developing strategies for managing behaviors that might be challenging within a classroom setting. By learning about trauma-informed teaching practices, educators can foster a positive school culture that supports all children.

Educators have the opportunity to implement a trauma-responsive lens to attune to children and family needs to support a strong start and build resilience. Additionally, learning about the impact of toxic stress and trauma on the developing brain and understanding how to respond appropriately will not only support each child and family but prepare educators to feel equipped to do so. Below, you will find resources to support your efforts in creating learning environments that supports school districts, schools, students, and families.

The SDCOE P-3 Design team is looking for school sites interested in providing the team with tours of their P-3 programs. If you would like us learn about your program or interested in designing a long-term P-3 plan within your program, please complete this interest form.

Investigate powerful P-3 practices! The SDCOE P-3 team invites district and school administrators to a two-day institute where participants will develop and explore their P-3 system. This institute provides intentional, in-depth time for participants to examine their current strengths and opportunities within their P-3 system in order to make actionable and relevant site-based changes. This exciting opportunity will foster learning, collaboration, and action-planning to build a cohesive P-3 continuum. Come and leverage county partners in this exciting work. Please access the July 12-13 or August 1-2 registration links to learn more.

The San Diego County Office of Education offers a number of professional development opportunities on a variety of topics for preschool, infant / toddler teachers and administrators, and family child care providers. The workshops are intentionally offered to align to program quality goals and build upon existing skills. Check out the Early Education Professional Development catalog to explore how the workshops are differentiated by levels of expertise and target audience.

For registration or workshop questions, please email the SDCOE Early Education team.

Join us May 5 and 12 for a two-part introduction to a range of trauma-responsive and resilience-building teaching strategies that educators can use to create strength-based environments that support children’s health, healing, and resiliency. Trauma-Responsive and Resilience-Building Practices for Early Childhood Educators provides:

Please access the registration link for more information.

SDCOE's P-3 team invites you to join us for a workshop designed to support school districts and charters with the Revised Universal Prekindergarten Planning and Implementation Grant Program — Planning Template that was released in February 2023.

This session will highlight the key changes to the revised 2022-23 template and provide on-the-spot guidance on what to expect when the UPK reporting survey is released. As a result of the newly revised planning template, LEAs and charters will be required to provide information to the California Department of Education, via survey, in the summer of 2023.

This workshop will be held from 9 to 10 a.m. on two dates: April 25 and May 18.

Join the virtual, two-part training series to set a strong foundation on brain development and why that matters, explore the importance of relationships, developmentally appropriate expectations, and instructional strategies. This training is geared to support expanded learning staff members in ASES, 21CCLC, and ELO-P programs. Find more information and register for Setting the Foundation to Support Our Youngest Learners.

The Expanded Learning Programs: Getting Started session will provide participants with an overview of CA Education requirements for expanded learning programs. This session is geared toward supporting district or charter leadership with deepening their understanding of expanded learning programming and required programming components.

The session will be held from 9 to 10 a.m. on April 18 and registration is now open.

The San Diego Dual Language Conference brings together local, regional and national advocates of multilingualism with excellent speakers, panelists, sessions, and networking from April 26-29. Designed for teachers, teacher candidates, administrators, and other family/community champions of language learners, this conference invites educators and their partners to strengthen their resolve, knowledge, and joy at the annual conference in beautiful San Diego.

Updated information on the immunization requirements for students entering transitional kindergarten (TK) is now available on the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) TK Immunization FAQ web page for schools and families. More information is also available on California’s school immunization requirements.

UPK Planning and Implementation Expenditure report for the reporting period of Nov. 1, 2022, to April 30, 2023, are due to the CDE on May 31.

The professional development calendar highlights offerings from SDCOE that may be a good fit for your staff.

SDCOE's grant team keeps an updated list of grant opportunities based on topic. For more information about grant opportunities and applying for grants visit the SDCOE Grants webpage.