 
CALIFORNIA FRAMEWORKS AND INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS ADOPTIONS
On July 28, 2009, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger signed AB X4 2 (Chapter 2, Statutes of 2009-10 Fourth Extraordinary Session). In Section 28, this bill stops all work on instructional materials adoptions and curriculum framework revisions effective immediately and continuing until the 2013-14 school year. The pertinent section of the bill states:
60200.7. Notwithstanding Sections 60200 and 60200.1, the state board shall not adopt instructional materials or follow the procedures adopted pursuant to Sections 60200 and 60200.1 until the 2013-14 school year.
As a result, Governor Schwarzenegger cut funding to the California Department of Education by $705,000 in order to suspend the work on frameworks and instructional materials adoptions. For this reason, further work on the frameworks for history-social science, science, health, and mathematics has been stopped. All instructional materials adoptions requirements (English-Language Arts, History-SS, Science, and Math) are suspended for a 5-year period.
On July 17, 2009, the Curriculum Development and Supplemental Materials Commission (Curriculum Commission) approved the draft update of the History-Social Science Framework for California Public Schools for field review. The draft framework will be posted on the CDE Web page at http://www.cde.ca.gov/ci/hs/cf/, but the actual field review and online survey will not occur at this time. The State Board of Education’s appointment of members to the Curriculum Framework and Evaluation Criteria Committees (CFCCs) for the health and mathematics frameworks has been suspended. The previously scheduled meetings of the science, health, and mathematics CFCCs have been cancelled.
For more information go to the Curriculum Frameworks and Instructional Materials Web page at http://www.cde.ca.gov/ci/cr/cf/index.asp
EDUCATION AND THE ENVIRONMENT INITIATIVE (EEI) CURRICULUM AVAILABLE FOR PUBLIC COMMENT
The Final Draft Education and the Environment Initiative (EEI) Curriculum is currently posted for public review and comment. California is poised to lead the nation in environmental literacy as a result of the EEI. The goal of EEI is to increase environmental literacy for California K-12 students by teaching Science and History-Social Science academic content standards to mastery within an environmental context. EEI is a unique opportunity to formally include environment-based education into California’s classrooms. The EEI Curriculum is currently undergoing a rigorous review by Content Review Experts and Instructional Materials Reviewers approved by the State Board of Education. Their Report of Findings will be reviewed by the Curriculum Development & Supplemental Materials Commission (Curriculum Commission) in September. The Curriculum Commission will submit its recommendation to the Secretaries of the California Environmental Protection Agency and the California Natural Resources Agency. The Secretaries will then submit the materials to the State Board of Education for approval in January 2010.
You are invited to submit comments regarding the EEI Curriculum. A link to the EEI Curriculum and instructions for submitting public comment are available on the
California Department of Education EEI Web page at http://www.cde.ca.gov/ci/sc/ee/.
TAKING CENTER STAGE II PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT RESOURCE
The new Web portal: Taking Center Stage – Act II (TCSII), Ensuring Success and Closing the Achievement Gap for All of California's Middle Grades Students, was developed by CDE's Middle and High School Improvement Office — and is a first example of the Brokers of Expertise program and the type of information the department can gather and disseminate to educators and administrators throughout the state and beyond. The Web portal is a dynamic, interactive resource for middle level educators built on 12 recommendations for middle level educators that are organized by four focus areas: academic excellence, developmental responsiveness, social equity, and organizational structures and processes. This on-line resource is a complete set of user-friendly modules, based on the 12 research-based recommendations, for a staff or individual teacher to explore, use, and discuss. All teachers and administrators of grades 5-9 will be impressed with this state-of-the-art resource. This resource may be accessed at http://pubs.cde.ca.gov/TCSII
REQUEST FROM COLONIAL WILLIAMSBURG FOR HIGH SCHOOL TEACHERS
Colonial Williamsburg has developed a new digital interactive high school American history program called The Idea of America. I’m writing to see if you and/or others in your school or district might be interested in beta testing the program for us during the 2009-2010 school year. Colonial Williamsburg will provide the program, training, and technical support at no charge. In return, we will ask teachers and students to report “bugs” they encounter with the program. We will also ask teachers and students to evaluate materials. The program consists of 65 American history case studies covering the whole of the high school curriculum from pre contact to the 21st century. Each case study includes text, timelines, video, activities, and assessments. The program is delivered across the Internet and so you will need to make sure you have the minimum technology set up.
Teachers who beta test the program will need to have at least one classroom computer with:
- A broadband connection to the Internet (DSL is the minimum)
- A monitor with at least an 800 X 600 resolution
- If you have a PC—Internet Explorer 6 or better—or—Firefox 3 for your Internet browser
- If you have a MAC—Safari 3.2 or Firefox 3 for your Internet browser
- Flash Player Plug-in 10 loaded for your Internet browser
We also recommend that teachers have access to some way to project a computer screen in the classroom (like an LCD projector or interactive white board). Teachers and students can use the program on as many computers as they and their students have access to as long as those computers have the appropriate browser and Flash Player plug-in.
We will also ask that teachers:
- Register a group of at least five students into The Idea of America system and use the materials throughout the school year
- Report “bugs” and problems that teachers and students encounter as they use the program
- Complete a short written evaluation
- Participate in a phone focus group
We will provide each teacher a $200 honorarium after participating in a focus group and upon receiving the completed evaluations. We are very excited about the program and what we have accomplished. And I know that you, your colleagues and students will be invaluable as we work to make revisions and finalize the program in the next few months. We have posted a few samples of the case studies online. If you would like to take a peek at what we have been working on, go to http://hatteras-ems.net/demo/demo.html where you can find three of the case studies.
Please let me know if you or others in your school or district can help. And if I can answer any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me. I look forward to hearing from you. And thank you for all your help and support.
William E. (Bill) White, Ph.D. Director, Educational Program Development Colonial Williamsburg Foundation www.history.org
DONALD PERRYMAN FUND FOR THE SOCIAL STUDIES GRANT APPLICATION 2009-2010
To support the furtherance of Social Studies, the Donald Perryman Fund will be awarding mini- grants not to exceed $1,000. Social Studies departments, individual teachers, projects, and special programs are invited to apply for these grants. Grants applications can be submitted at 5 different times during this fiscal year. Applications will be considered at each meeting of the Perryman Fund Board of Trustees. Deadlines are: June 1, 2009, September 1, 2009, December 1, 2009, February 1, 1010, and June 1, 2010. Grant applications received after any of these dates will be considered at the next quarterly meeting of the Board.
E-mail completed application (attached) to: Bonnie Sima, President, The Perryman Fund for the Social Studies, at bontchr1@hotmail.com OR mail to 4326 Park Arroyo, Calabasas, CA
ON-SITE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
The Trinity County Office of Education Curriculum Services has several resources available for loan (up to 8 weeks) to Trinity County Schools for on-site professional development. If you are interested in developing an on-site professional development program for your school, please contact Cricket Kidwell at 530-623-2861 ext. 253 or by email at cfkidwell@tcoek12.org for more information or on-site assistance. Resources include Response to Intervention and Professional Learning Communities materials as well as curriculum-specific and school improvement sets.
CURRICULUM RESOURCES – REQUIRED AND SUPPLEMENTAL
Curriculum resources are available for all subjects and required topics including Constitution Day, Cesar Chavez Day, service learning, writing, rubrics, and more. Contact Cricket F.L. Kidwell at 530-623-2861 ext. 253 for more information
CDE ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE SURVEY INSTRUMENTS
The CDE Nine Essential Components and Academic Performance Surveys for school and district continuous improvement are available for use at your discretion. Curriculum templates and data analysis tools are also available.
CONTINUING EDUCATION UNITS FROM CSU, CHICO
Continuing education units from CSU, Chico are available for Trinity County teachers for every 15 hours of professional development activities that meet CSU Continuing Education requirements. Most workshops offered through Trinity County Office of Education meet this requirement. Please contact Cricket F.L. Kidwell at 530-623-2861 ext. 253 for more information. .
www.region2online.org
NOTE: Some of these dates and times may be subject to change over the course of the 2009-10 school year. Verification can be obtained by calling the Trinity County Office of Education or checking the website regularly at http://www.tcoek12.org
Workshops & In-service Programs – 2009-10 (at TCOE unless otherwise indicated)
- Aug 13 – After-School Staff Inservice (9:00–3:00)
- August 14 – Special Educ Back-To-School (8:30-3)
- Sept 15 – English-LA Materials Toolkit (1-4 pm)
- Sept 16 – Homeless Liaison wkshp (1-4)
- Sept 19 - Substitute Teacher Workshop (9-12)
- Oct 28 - Life Skills Training (8:30am - 4:00pm)
- Nov 4 - Too Good for Drugs (8:30am - 4:00pm)
- Jan 29 – Project Citizen wkshp (9-3)
- Mar 17 - Conflict Resolution (8:30am - 4:00pm)
Student Events 2009-10
- Indian Day – Sept 25 (Hayfork)
- Spelling Bee – February 1 (5:30 p.m./Location: TBD)
- Academic Pentathlon – March 24 (9:00-3:00) WES
- Mock Trial – TBD
- Young Artists Showcase Opening (Main St. Gallery)– TBD
State and National Days of Recognition – Required
- September 17 – Constitution Day
- March 31 – Cesar Chavez Day
Trinity County Office of Education Board Meetings (3:30)
August 20 Sept 17 Oct 15 Nov 19 Dec 17
Jan 21 Feb 18 Mar 18 April 15 May 20 June 17
Trinity County School Administrators Meetings (2:30-4:30)
and SELPA Governance (1:00-2:30)
Sept 29 Oct 27 Nov 24 Jan 26
Feb 23 Mar 30 Apr 27 May 25
Trinity County Office of Education Meetings
- TCOE Home School Parent Mtgs (1:30-3:00) - Sept 23, Dec 16, Mar 17
K-12 Instructional Materials Display/State Adoptions (TCOE Resource Room)
- Display– Open Viewing every Friday between August 7 through May 14 (Other days by appointment)
- Adopted Materials Review Meeting for Trinity County Schools – Jan 25 (TCOE Resource Room 3:00-5 p.m.)
Special Education (TCOE)
- August 14 Back To School Meeting (8:30-3 TCOE)
Paraprofessional Instructional Aide Testing (at TCOE)
- Test (9:00–12 noon) – Aug 5, Sep 3, Jan 28, May 14
Trinity County Meetings - Curriculum & Instruction
- TC GATE Coordinators Inservice (9:00-3:30) – Oct 6, Mar 10
- Academic Pentathlon Coaches (3:30-5) – Jan 11
- RIF Coordinators (3:30-5) – Mar 15
- Indian Ed (3:30-5:00) – Sept 2, Nov 4, Jan 6, Mar 3, May 5
- Preschool/School Readiness (10-4:30) Sep 14, Nov 2, Mar 1, May 3
- AfterSchool Coordinators (9-12) Sept 11, Oct 9, Nov 13, Dec 11, Jan 8, Feb 9, Mar 12, May 14
- TUPE (1:30-4:30) Oct 7
- CO-OP (9:30-12) – Oct 27, Feb 23
Trinity County Meetings – Community Organizations and Agencies
- Juvenile Justice Commission (9:00 am) – TBA
- Homeless Liaison Mtg (2-4) Nov 18
- LPC (2-4) Sept 8, Nov 10, Jan 12, Mar 9, May 11
- LCC (3-5) Sept 21, Nov 16, Jan 19, Mar 22, May 17
- SARB (TCOE 8:00- 1:00) – Sept 17, Oct 15, Nov 19, Jan 21, Feb 18, Mar 18, April 15, May 20 (Hayfork: 9/24 10/22 1/28 2/25 3/25 4/22 5/27)
For More Information on Trinity COE Curriculum & Instruction
Cricket F.L. Kidwell, Ed.D.,
Assistant Superintendent, Curriculum & Instruction
Trinity County Office of Education
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