In this difficult time, LACOE remains committed to improving the lives of students and our educational community through service, leadership and advocacy. Here, we share best practices, tips and success stories from the county’s 80 districts as we innovate and adapt together to ensure continuity of learning and safety of students, staff and families.
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Follow us on social media for more frequent updates:
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Student leaders voice their priorities for education
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LACOE Supt. Debra Duardo and her 35-member Student Advisory Council have voiced their priorities for education in a letter to the new Biden Administration. Those priorities include increased funding for public schools, improvements to public school curricula and inclusion of more resources to assist students with varying needs, particularly in the area of mental health.
In a Jan. 22 statement, Supt. Duardo says President Joe Biden’s newly signed executive orders have provided our education community with hope as we face the challenges of COVID-19, remote learning, isolation and racial inequality.
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Mentoring Amanda Gorman and the next generation
of women leaders
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When Amanda Gorman, the youngest inaugural poet in U.S. history, shared her moving piece “The Hill We Climb” at the 2021 Presidential Inauguration, LACOE Business Advisory Services Coordinator Allison Deegan couldn't have been more proud.
"It was a thrill to see Amanda Gorman rising to a global platform, something she has been growing toward for many years," says Deegan, one of Gorman's mentors at the LA-based WriteGirl. "She was always a poetic star with a voice loud enough to represent many." Deegan has served as WriteGirl associate director for 20 years and started the college pathway program that has successfully guided all mentees into college. When Amanda joined WriteGirl as a 14-year-old student, Deegan helped her with college applications.
Deegan says the mentees and the volunteers at WriteGirl contribute to a supportive community that is guiding the next generation of leaders to success and supporting students in challenging times, including LACOE students at the juvenile halls and camps.
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Large-scale vaccination begins at LACOE facility and
four other sites in LA County
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LACOE's Education Center West facility in Downey was selected by LA County officials as one of five large vaccination sites across the region that opened last week. "We are excited to be a resource for our community, and we're doing whatever we can to support vaccine distribution," says Supt. Debra Duardo in a weekly update shared with district superintendents. Each site will be able to vaccinate approximately 4,000 people per day. The goal is to complete 500,000 additional vaccinations among healthcare workers by the end of January.
LACOE also is working with the California Department of Public Health and Valencia Branch Lab to establish a partnership to set up surveillance and outbreak response COVID-19 testing for LA County school districts. "We hope this will be a viable option for districts to conduct COVID testing when schools return to in-person instruction," says Duardo.
Access vaccination resources and help spread the word:
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Know where you are in the COVID-19 vaccine rollout. You may check the phases and estimated time frames by visiting VaccinateLACounty.com
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Innovation, teacher dedication keep learning alive
for justice-involved youth
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Ensuring that students continue to receive high-quality instruction has been the focus of LACOE’s Juvenile Court School educators since the onset of COVID-forced closures. Inside a juvenile hall or camp, educators must contend with unique circumstances and challenges.
LACOE's Technology Services team rose to the challenge, working tirelessly to build the custom JCS Online Learning System. Other county offices of education have expressed interest in replicating the system in their court schools.
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Equity-focused professional development
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Navigating Difficult Conversations During Challenging Times
(4 Day Event) 01/25/2021 - 02/10/2021
Event Dates: 01/25/2021 I 01/27/2021 I 02/03/2021 I 02/10/2021
3:00 pm - 4:30 pm
Offered by LACOE in collaboration with Museum of Tolerance and partners
This workshop series for teachers and administrators will offer insights and strategies for navigating challenging conversations in schools, exploring what makes conversations difficult, the opportunities they present and the mindset and skills to lead them with better outcomes. The series includes live sessions with speakers and asynchronous experiences such as virtual museum tours, videos and readings.
Participants will walk away with toolkits and teacher guides. Certificates of completion are provided for 7.5 hours including synchronous and asynchronous learning.
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Nurturing Positive School Culture and Climate to Facilitate Anti-Bias and Social Justice Education
(4 Day Event) 02/15/2021 - 03/03/2021
Event Dates: 02/15/2021 I 02/17/2021 I 02/24/2021 I 03/03/2021
3:00 pm - 4:30 pm
In this virtual institute, participants will focus on cultivating a school climate that supports the goals of anti-bias and social justice education. Live workshops will be led by Sarah Wicht from Teaching Tolerance. Guest speaker Dr. Terrence Roberts, one of the Little Rock Nine, will talk with participants about how to grapple with difficult history and perspectives on achieving racial justice in schools today. Asynchronous content includes on-demand museum virtual tours, videos and readings.
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State Seal of Civic Engagement
Los Angeles County Collaborative
Wednesday, Jan. 27, 2021
3:30-4:30 pm
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Is your school or district interested in the State Seal of Civic Engagement for your students? California students in 11th and 12th grades are now eligible to earn the Seal during the current school year. School districts will need to develop local criteria based on guidance adopted by the State Board of Education. LA County educators are invited to join a collaborative to brainstorm ideas and share resources to implement guidance for the Seal.
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Art4Change
The role of street art in eradicating racism
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As part of its ongoing commitment to explore the intersections of art and equity, NoGoingBackLA is proud to present Art4Change, a virtual forum about the role of street art in eradicating anti-Black racism and injustice. The virtual event will be held on February 1, 2021, 12 pm to 1:15 pm.
NoGoingBackLA is part of the Committee for Greater LA, a group of LA County leaders working together to help the county's most marginalized communities recover from the impact of COVID-19. Supt. Debra Duardo is a member of the group's steering committee.
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Meeting the Moment:
Advancing Equity Through Community Schools
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This Friday, Jan. 29, LACOE and the Greater LA Education Foundation will host a virtual convening to expand opportunities for community schools in LA. Hear from practitioners and learn how community schools are well-positioned to address the effects of COVID-19 and racial injustice.
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CCU offers college scholarship grants
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The California Credit Union (CCU) invites college‐bound students in LA County to apply for its 2021 College Scholarship Program. CCU provides $20,000 in scholarships annually to recognize Southern California students who are motivated in their academic studies and active in their schools and communities. “We realize that managing the costs of higher education can be difficult for many families," says CCU CEO Steve O’Connell. "Now more than ever, during these challenging times, we want to extend a hand to help support our local students and their families.”
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Judges needed for LA County Academic Decathlon
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Are you looking for a rewarding way to show your support for public schools and students?
Then don’t miss the chance to volunteer “virtually” for the 2021 LA County Academic Decathlon!
Speech and interview judges are needed for Day 2 of the competition, set for Sat., Jan. 30. The event will be held virtually using Zoom. No judging experience is needed and all training will be provided.
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Top Arts High School in US Looking for Diverse LA Students
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LACOE's LA County HS for the Arts is working to advance equitable access for young artists across the county.
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LACOE Deputy Supt. Arturo Valdez weighs in on Pres. Biden's plan for reopening schools in this Telemundo 52 story.
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Resources for Families & Schools
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Don’t forget, LACOE is regularly updating several pages of resources:
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