California Department of Education 2018 California Teacher of the Year Program

Nominations from eligible districts must be received by the Marin County Office of Educaton by Friday, May 5, 2017.

MCSAA Annual Back to School Kick Off - August 10, 2017 3:30-5:30 p.m.

Save the Date for MCSAA's Annual Back to School Kick Off with keynote presentation by Ronen Habib who will speak about mindfulness in our roles as school administrators. More information forthcoming.

Safe Prom and Graduation Season - A Message From Mary Jane Burke

Please see the attached op-ed related to teen alcohol and drug abuse.  This is also posted on Mary Jane's blog. Please distribute this message as broadly as possible.

MCSAA Scholarship Opportunity

MCSAA Executive Board is excited to announce the annual MCSAA scholarship process for our High School students. Below is the Scholarship Letter and Scholarship Application from the MCSAA Executive Committee's President, Bob Marcucci.  Please share this opportunity with all applicable staff and students.  Applications are due by April 21, 2017.

• Scholarship Letter
• Scholarship Application

Equal Access to Public Education

Under Federal law, State and local educational agencies are required to provide all children with equal access to public education at the elementary and secondary level.  Recently we have become aware of student enrollment practices that may chill or discourage the participation, or lead to the exclusion, of students based on their or their parents' or guardians' actual or perceived citizenship or immigration status.  These practices contravene Federal law. Both the United States Department of Justice and the United States Department of Education write to remind you of the Federal obligation to provide equal educational opportunities to all children residing within your district and to offer assistance in ensuring that you comply with the law.

Also noted on the Immigration Documentation and the question: should a district inquire into the immigration or citizenship status of a student or parent as a means of establishing the student's residency in the district? Answer: No.  Immigration or citizenship status is not relevant to establishing residency in the district, and inquiring about it in the context of establishing residency is unnecessary and may have a chilling effect on student enrollment.

Presidential Award for Excellence in Math and Science

The Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching (PAEMST) are the highest honors bestowed by the United States government specifically for K-12 mathematics and science (including computer science) teaching. Established by Congress in 1983, the PAEMST program authorizes the President to bestow up to 108 awards each year. Awards are given to mathematics and science (including computer science) teachers from each of the 50 states.

Principals, teachers, parents, students, or members of the general public may nominate teachers in the 7-12 grade level in public or private schools for the 2017 Award Year.  Click here to submit a nomination, instructions and application. The deadline for applications is May 1, 2017.

California 2017 Science Standards Communication Toolkit

Please see the attached letter from the California Department of Education regarding California Science Standards Communication Toolkits adopted by the State Board of Education.

U.S. Department of Education and U.S. Department of Justice Withdraw Guidance on Transgender Students

Please see the attached Legal Update from the School & College Legal Services of California regarding the February 22, 2017 Dear Colleague Letter on Transgender Students.

Travel Restrictions Using State Funds to Certain States That Have Enacted Discriminatory Laws

Assembly Bill 1887 (2016) prohibits state agencies from requiring any of its employees, officers, or members to travel to, or approving a request for state-funded or state-sponsored travel to, any state that, after June 26, 2015, has enacted a law that voids or repeals, or has the effect of voiding or repealing, existing state or local protections against discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression. The California Office of the Attorney General (OAG) has been identified as the agency responsible for posting a list of states that fall within AB 1887's prohibition.  Currently the OAG lists four states which are currently subject to the travel ban: Kansas, Mississippi, North Carolina and Tennessee.

New Reporting Procedures for Paid Lunch Price Report for School Year 2016-17

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) issued a Policy Memoranda regarding new reporting procedures for FNS-828 paid lunch price report for school year 2016-17. Please see the attached for more information on the USDA School Meals Policy.

School Food Service Online Training

The California Department of Education, Nutrition Services Division, has announced that the 2016-17 Annual Mandatory Training for School Nutrition Program (SNP) Sponsors in now open. All sponsors are required to complete the training by April 14, 2017.