May 28, 2009

 

SACRAMENTO — State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O'Connell and the State Board of Education, in support of the Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger's Free Digital Textbook Initiative, today announced that content developers of digital textbooks may submit materials to the California Learning Resources Network (CLRN) for review.

 

"The time has come for California to be the leader in promoting this effort, especially now when school districts are struggling to survive the current budget crisis," O'Connell said. "To help schools reduce expenses, we must determine whether free educational materials already found on the Internet are suitable for use by schools, teachers, and students and whether these digital textbooks are aligned to rigorous state standards."

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February 3, 2009

SACRAMENTO — State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O'Connell today delivered his sixth annual State of Education address. As California grapples with an unprecedented budget shortfall and the nation's economic crisis, O'Connell made the case for school-funding reform and increased investment in public education as keys to California's economic recovery. O'Connell also urged educators and policymakers to continue the focus on closing the achievement gap even as schools prepare for staggering cuts in funding.  

"The state of public education in California is precarious," O'Connell said. "Beyond the immediate crisis and even more alarming to me is the long-term future of our common education system. If we continue down the road we are on, our public schools and our state itself face certain, perhaps irreparable, damage."

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December 15, 2008

 

SACRAMENTO — State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O'Connell today announced that 200 California schools have been selected for the 2008-09 Title I Academic Achievement Award. They represent 88 school districts in 27 counties. The list of winners is attached.

 

"These schools deserve high praise for improving student achievement," said O'Connell. “They have addressed barriers to student success and were able to create a school environment conducive to learning. I congratulate the teachers, staff, paraprofessionals, parents, and students who all worked hard this past year to improve. I hold these schools up as models for their success in ensuring that all students without regard to race, economic status, or physical or mental challenges are given the kind of education that allows them to achieve to their fullest potential."

 

CONGRATULATIONS to the following schools

-     Ventura Unified School District: Portola Elementary School

-     Santa Paula Elementary School District: Grace S. Thille Elementary School

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December 1, 2008

 

SACRAMENTO — State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O'Connell today announced 134 grantees will share nearly $3.9 million in National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS®) Incentive Awards.

 

"I know many dedicated educators who need no incentive, except for the love of teaching, to educate the children who need help the most," said O'Connell. "National Board Certified Teachers could pick and choose where they want to work. However, this wonderful program is designed to encourage some of our most highly qualified teachers to work in low-performing schools where their skills could make a dramatic difference in the lives of the children attending these schools."

 

The following Ventura County school districts received a combined total of $15,000.00!!

 

Hueneme Elementary School District        $10,000.00

Oxnard Elementary School District            $5,000.00

 

Congratulations!

 

For the list of grantees, please visit Funding Results: National Board for Professional Teaching Standards Incentive Award

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June 9, 2008

SACRAMENTO — State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O'Connell today announced that Simi Valley High School in Simi Valley is the winner of the California Department of Education's Career Technical Education (CTE) Web Page Design Competition.

"I congratulate teacher Stephen Caswell and the students in his Web design class at Simi Valley High School," O'Connell said. "These students have designed a wonderful example site for career technical education information in the state. This Web site will help us prepare all students for the more globally competitive jobs of the future, whether they go straight into the workforce after graduating from high school or to college."

Simi Valley High School was selected among the nine entries for producing the best proposed Web design that met accessibility requirements, ease of use, the way it communicated information, and its visual appeal. The new pages are expected to provide valuable information about CTE opportunities, resources, and programs.

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April 30, 2008

SACRAMENTO – State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O'Connell today announced 16 new grantees will share $755,000, part of $6.2 million in Specialized Secondary Programs (SSP) funding.

 

"These grants will help high schools develop exciting new and advanced programs focused on such topics as geospacial technology, nanotechnology, bioinformatics, biotechnology, geothermal, solar, or wind energy," said O'Connell. "These are exactly the type of cutting-edge curricula we need to prepare students for more challenging careers whether they go straight into jobs after high school or continue their education in college."

 

CONGRATULATIONS to the following schools

-     Simi Valley Unified School District: Santa Susana High School $100,000 NEW funding

-     Simi Valley Unified School District: Santa Susana High School $15,000 continued funding

-     Ventura Unified School District: Ventura High School $125,000 continued funding

 

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