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Hey Bee readers! It’s Lasherica with the Ed Lab, and that is our weekly newsletter — the Oct. 12 edition.
I don’t know if a lot of you recognize this, but I’m from the deep south, Mississippi, to be exact. Growing up there, then spending the last three-plus years in Tennessee, I’ve noticed areas in education that California could possibly be learning from southern states.
I’ve been reminded of that in ongoing reporting about California failing to get students reading on grade level. EdSource has reported extensively on it. CalMatters has stories about it. But do legislators and educators know proven ways for California to enhance literacy?
Well, The Recent York Times reported on my home state being a model – trust me, this can be a rare occurrence. In six years, Mississippi went from forty ninth to twenty ninth in student reading performance.
I’m not bringing this up due to where the rating began or finished. I’m rising in rank by 20 spots.’
Mississippi has achieved the No. 1 spot within the nation for gains on the National Assessment of Educational Progress, with 4th grade students making the most important rating gains from 2017 to 2019 in reading and arithmetic, eighth grade students outpacing the nation for growth in mathematics, and eighth grade reading holding regular, in line with the Mississippi Department of Education.
But how? In response to journalist David Kaufman, it was:
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Laws:
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Literacy-Based Promotion Act in 2013 required third-grade students to show basic reading proficiency levels to maneuver on to fourth grade.
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the Early Learning Collaborative Act funds collaborative pre-K programs
“Kids who went through pre-K are already scoring higher in kindergarten,” the story discusses.
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Early intervention: reading assessments in the beginning, middle and end of the varsity yr, in addition to quarterly reports on student progress and specific strategies getting used to assist those still struggling
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Concentrate on assessment to discover most vulnerable readers
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Training teachers within the science of reading (one other hot topic here in Cali)
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Specializing in the varsity day and after school programming
Based on 2019 data, California remains to be among the many 10 lowest performing states within the country, a spot they’ve held since no less than 2011.
The proportion of fourth graders in California who performed at or above the NAEP Proficient level was 32% in 2019; the proportion was not much different from the 2017 percentage of 31% but was greater than 20% proficiency in 1998.
Try the complete Recent York Times story here.
HERE’S THE LATEST FROM THE EDUCATION LAB
MacKenzie Scott just gave Fresno Unified schools $20 million. ‘Nothing wanting a miracle’
It’s the most important donation in Fresno Unified’s history.
How Fresno schools got $20 million without asking. ‘MacKenzie Scott found Fresno Unified’
“We didn’t reach out to her. We don’t know her … And we didn’t apply for the cash.”
Clovis Unified celebrates $4.9 million donation from longtime benefactor, Qualcomm cofounder
The Foundation of Clovis Schools provides scholarships and grants to its students and staff, that are things affected by the district’s low funding.
From money to controversy, here’s breakdown of a few of Fresno Unified’s biggest races
With 4 seats up for re-election, Fresno Unified could possibly be facing a shakeup of political power over the following month.
MORE FRESNO-AREA EDUCATION NEWS
The UCSF Fresno Doctors Academy is accepting applications for the 2022-2023 School 12 months. The UCSF Fresno Latino Center for Medical Education and Research has Doctors Academy programs at Sunnyside High School and Caruthers High School.
Greater than 1,000 students have accomplished this system for the reason that first graduation cohort in 2003.
This system was established at Sunnyside in 1999 and expanded to a rural site in Caruthers in 2007.
Students who wish to be an element of this system but don’t live in Caruthers or the Fresno Unified School District must complete an interdistrict transfer to Caruthers or to Fresno Unified.
There will likely be two more informational meetings for college students and fogeys (Caruthers held its informational meeting Monday evening):
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Wednesday, Oct. 19, 5:30 to six:30 p.m. at Sunnyside High School Library
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Wednesday, Nov. 2, 5:30 to six:30 p.m. at Sunnyside High School Library
Open to eighth grade students fascinated about careers in health and medicine, attendants will learn concerning the admissions requirements, program expectations and the right way to apply, in line with a media release.
Applications can be found until Dec. 1.
The UCSF Fresno-Managed California Area Health Education Center was recently awarded $1.98M to develop health professions pathway programs. The education center was considered one of 20 organizations to receive the grant from the Department of Health Care Access and Information, which supports and encourages students from underrepresented regions and backgrounds to pursue health care careers.
Fresno State and Kern Medical Center’s Internal Medicine Residency Program were also awarded grants.
“We’re incredibly blissful to have received this funding in support of HCAI’s statewide goals and native aspirations to extend and diversify our health care workforce,” said Dr. Ivan Gomez, chief of the UCSF Fresno Department of Family and Community Medicine.
The Area Health Education Center was established in 1972 to recruit, train and retain health professionals dedicated to underserved communities, a media release said.
Its five-year proposal focuses on “developing highschool to post-baccalaureate pathway programs and education.”
Fresno City College will provide a community update about its West Fresno Campus on Oct. 20. FCC will introduce its latest president, provide the vision for the West Fresno Campus, give a construction update and supply an outline of student services at that campus, an event flyer detailed.
The brand new campus is part of the Transform Fresno initiative that identifies and implements investments that “will catalyze economic and environmental transformation in Downtown, Chinatown, and Southwest Fresno.”
The event will likely be at Gaston Middle School within the multi-purpose room from 6 pm to eight pm.
Local Fresno journalists are having a Fresno Journalism Panel this Friday on the Paaras Youth Center.
Attendants will find out about profession opportunities in print, audio, digital and photography, the right way to discover a job after college and ways to become involved with the Youth Media Initiative.
Fresno Bee reporters Julianna Morano and Brianna Vaccari, CalMatters photojournalist Larry Valenzuela and KVPR’s Esther Quintanilla will likely be on the panel.
Fresno Unified’s campus culture manager Leslie Loewen has been recognized with the Earl Reum Award, which is voted on by the state board of the California Association of Directors of Activities, the district announced.
The award from the National Association for Student Activities recognizes “outstanding contributions” in training and mentoring student activity directors.
STILL WANT MORE EDUCATION NEWS? HERE’S WHAT WE’VE BEEN READING
Julianna’s List
Biden’s student loan forgiveness application is coming soon. Here’s what you might want to know
The applying, promised in October, could go live as soon as this week. | CNN
How California’s newest community college is shaping its identity
A take a look at how breaking away from Reedley Community College and winning a $1 million grant helps redefine Madera Community College. | EdSource
Lasherica’s List
An island of reading for youth within the California juvenile justice system
Alameda County Library staff fill within the gaps | EdSource
The Key to More Equitable Schools? Deep Commitment
Nothing wanting an education overhaul will achieve equity | EducationWeek
And that’s it for this week’s newsletter.