Hot Topics

  • Title IX - Posting Requirement Due July 1

    Senate Bill 1375 includes requirements for all public schools, COEs, charter schools and private schools which are subject to Title IX requirements. Entities are required to post inormation related to Title IX on their websites in a "prominent and conspicuous location" no later than July 1. School & Collge Legal Servies provided the following legal update and sample posting to assist education agencies in complying with this requirement. 

    ​13ReasonsWhy - Community Forum at MCOE - June 8, 2017

    Schools have an important role in preventing youth suicide, and being aware of potential risk factors in students' lives is vital to this responsibility.  The trending Netflix series 13 Reasons Why, based on a young adult novel of the same name, is raising such concerns.  The series revolves around a 17-year old girl who takes her own life and leaves behind audio recordings for 13 people who she says in some way were part of why she killed herself.Producers for the show say they hope the series can help those who may be struggling with thoughts of suicide.  However, the series, which many teenagers are binge watching without adult guidance and support, is raising concerns from suicide prevention experts about the potential risks posed by the sensationalized treatment of youth suicide.
     
     

    Text Application: Register 2Vote for High School Students

    We have been in communication with our Marin County Registrar of Voters regarding a smartphone text application that will be available for every high school in Marin County later this year.  This application is specifically aimed at high school students who want to pre-register to vote at age 16+ or actually vote at age 18.

    CAL Grant Funding for Class of 2018

    Please see the attached letter from Tom Torlakson, State Superintendent of Public Instruction, regarding state-funded financial aid for students preparing for college in 2018-19 Award Year (Class of 2018).  Please note update to timeline of submissions. 

    Supporting Youth in Grief

    Please see the attached briefing on supporting youth in grief and guidelines for facilitating classroom discussion. 

    ACLU of California Education Equity Project

    Education is a fundamental right and the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) works to preserve and guarantee the protections of the Constitution's Bill of Rights.  Children in California have rights under the U.S. and California Constitutions and state and federal civil rights laws to equal educational opportunity.  Please see the attached from the ACLU with more information. 

    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 attached 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. 

    Marin County Plan for Equity Capacity Building and Learning

    Per the attached Marin County Plan for Equity Capacity Building and Learning document, Marin County Office of Education has assembled a team of educators from Local Educational Agencies across Marin to look carefully at our work on equity.  In order for this multi-faceted work to be effective and sustainable it must have a strand-approach for our stakeholders: students, educators, and family/community.  The purpose of this plan is to:

    • Provide professional development around equity, cultural competency and inclusion that is differentiated and increases cultural proficiency levels
    • Offer strategy and curriculum workshops such as but not limited to: A world of Difference Institute & No Place for Hate to support various agencies with resources for our community
    • Emphasize importance of an inclusive school climate and culture
    • Positively impact the social character and academic achievement of our student population

    Medical Cannabis Dispensary Licenses Not Approved

    ​​​After reviewing 10 vendor and site locations, the County Administrator has not approved any of the applications and has recommended a revised approach to licensing medical cannabis dispensaries in unincorporated areas.  Please see the attached News Release from County Administrator Matthew Hymel for more information. 

    Transgender Youth

    Stanford Medicine has launched the attached short online course to boost understanding of transgender kids.  See attached for more information. 

    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. US Department of Agriculture Policy Memo SP 24-2017On April 6, 2017, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) issued Policy Memorandum SP 24-2017: Local School Wellness Policy (LSWP): Guidance and Questions and Answers. You can view the policy memo on the USDA FNS School Meals Policy Website. The LSWP final rule requires local educational agencies to have a revised policy in place by June 30, 2017. This policy memo provides further guidance to address the LSWP requirements.A California Department of Education Management Bulletin will be forthcoming.Please remember that you are required to keep your contact information updated in the Child Nutrition Information and Payment System (CNIPS). Notification e-mails are sent to the two primary contacts listed in the CNIPS.Contact Information : If you have any questions regarding this subject, please contact Heather Reed, Nutrition Education Consultant, by phone at 916-323-3581 or by e-mail at hreed@cde.ca.gov.

    2017–18 Schools to Watch - Taking Center Stage Program

    Please see the attached letter from the California Department of Education to County and District Superintendents, Charter School Administrators, and Middle School Principals regarding the California Schools to Watch - Taking Center Stage program and application.

    Marin County Induction Update – Program Fee

    The Marin County Induction Update 

    The Marin County Induction Update provides candidates (new teachers) the support they need through regular mentoring, personalized professional development aligned with school and district goals, and standards-based guided practice required for program completion. Mentor teachers assigned to new teachers receive professional development in mentoring for candidates that include "just-in-time" coaching and long-term analysis of teaching practice to help candidates develop professional skills.  State law requires teachers to complete a Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CTC) accredited Teacher Induction program in order to be recommended for a clear teaching credential – new teachers can access this support through their local county office of education or universities/colleges.

    In 2014-15, Marin County Teacher Induction Program phased out the district subsidies and began charging a program fee of $530 to Participating Teachers.  Some local educational agencies have chosen to cover this fee for their Participating Teachers. 

    This spring, the state surveyed county offices about their teacher induction programs.  Twenty-one of the twenty-four or 88% of COEs who responded shared they are charging districts for induction services.  The average fee for service is $2,600 per year with an additional cost for the mentor.

    Effective in 2018-19 the Marin County Induction Program will continue charging participating teachers the program fee, as well as institute an operational fee for the districts per participating teacher.  The operational fee amount is still to be determined, but will be based on the operational costs of the current program.