News and Updates - Summer 2026
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NEWS/HOT TOPICS
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EDUCATOR CIVIC ENGAGEMENT OPPORTUNITIES
There is a variety of civic engagement opportunities and resources for civic engagement for youth and high school students, designed to empower our next generation of voters.
Civic Engagement Highlights for Educators:
Youth & High School Initiatives: Access comprehensive toolkits, classroom resources, and program details through the SOS High School and Youth Initiatives page.
Student Poll Worker Program: Under Senate Bill 955, students in grades 6–12 are eligible for one excused absence per school year to serve as poll workers or participate in civic events (prior notice required).
Mock Elections: Engage your students in the democratic process with dedicated Mock Election toolkits and participation guides.
High School & Youth Mock Elections and Election Toolkit and Information
CALPADS WORKSHOP
"Aligned Systems, Accurate Data," led by Dr. Celeste Boggs, designed to help schools move beyond simple reporting.
While one person often handles the final "button-push" for CALPADS, attendance from various positions is critical for several reasons:
Shared Responsibility: Data accuracy is a district-wide responsibility, not just a back-office task. Errors often originate at the point of entry—such as during enrollment or course setup—making the involvement of registrars, secretaries, and site administrators essential to catching mistakes early.
Funding and Compliance: CALPADS data directly impacts district funding levels and meeting state/federal requirements. When superintendents and principals understand these links, they can better support the "culture of quality data" necessary to ensure the district receives its proper resources.
Actionable Insights: Beyond compliance, CALPADS tells the "story" of a district's impact. By attending as a team, leaders can learn how to use these reports to uncover insights, evaluate program effectiveness, and make informed decisions to improve student outcomes.
Cross-Department Coordination: The workshop focuses on strengthening coordination between departments, such as Technology/SIS support and instructional staff. This alignment ensures that everyone understands how their specific role contributes to the district's overall data health and student success.
Event Details - Register Here!
Date: Friday, June 12th
Time: 8:30 am – 3:30 pm
Contact: Patrick Mair or Cathy Henderson
CHARACTER STRONG RESOURCES
Along with the development of our Tier 1, Tier 2, and Tier 3 Solutions, Character Strong created the Student Behavior Checklist, a free resource to help.
The checklist is broken down into common behaviors that educators encounter in the class that can negatively impact self, others, or the learning environment. Each of these common behaviors is then connected to specific Low Burden, High Impact (LoHi) practices for educators.
Character Strong has shared a free Tier 1 Checklist, which is one of their most downloaded tools, with a goal of helping to shift and support the climate of classrooms and schools.
In addition, these two resources have also been provided by Character Strong to support small groups of students who may need more than universal instruction:
Tier 2 & 3 Implementation Guide – This guide walks you through the 5 essential steps of a coordinated, data-driven approach to targeted and intensive student support:
Free Tier 2 Sample Lessons – These digital sample lessons are designed for small group instruction and offer low-burden, high-impact support for students struggling with behavior, regulation, or mental health challenges. You'll get a firsthand look at how CharacterStrong’s Tier 2 Solution can streamline interventions and build educator confidence.
For additional and similar resources, check out the website at www.characterstrong.com
2025-26 LOCAL INDICATOR REPORTING
As you finalize your 2026–27 LCAP, ensure 2025–26 Local Indicators are reported to your governing board as a non-consent item by July 1, 2026.
Scope: Covers priorities where state data is not collected, including Basic Services and Parent Engagement.
Public Meeting: Results must be shared at the same meeting where the LCAP is adopted.
Dashboard Window: The CDE window for uploading opens June 1 and closes July 31, 2026.
Compliance: Failure to complete these steps results in a "Standard Not Met" status.
Resources: View the School Services of California report for a full breakdown.
DATA QUEST UPDATE #28
The latest release includes reports for 2025–26 Annual Enrollment, English Learners, Special Education settings, and 2026–27 Estimated Teacher Hires.
Access reports and files via DataQuest.
Review the 2025–26 Annual Enrollment Flyer for a high-level summary.
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Last week was the deadline for bills to get out of their 1st House’s Appropriations committee. Here is a complete list of the actions taken on a few bills.
STATE & FEDERAL NEWS FLASH
Below are a few highlights of fiscal deadlines for June 2026, including expenditure requirements for one-time state grants (like Prop 28 and ELOP) and the federal CMDC reporting window.
One-Time Programs: Expenditure & Spending Deadlines
One-Time Programs: Expenditure & Spending Deadlines
Expenditure Deadline: June 30, 2026 Local Educational Agencies (LEAs) must fully expend and liquidate funds for the following programs:
A–G Completion Improvement Grant, FY 2021–22
Arts, Music, and Instructional Materials Discretionary Block Grant, FY 2022–23
Educator Effectiveness Block Grant, FY 2021–22
Prop 28 (23-24 Funds)
ELOP (FY 24-25 Funds)
Attendance & Independent Study
Attendance & Independent Study
CDE Updates
CDE Updates
The California Department of Education (CDE) has updated its Independent Study Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs).
PROPOSITION 28: ARTS & MUSIC FUNDING
Avoid leaving 2023–24 funds unexpended.
80/20 Rule: If you exceeded the 20% limit on materials/services, submit a Prop. 28 Waiver immediately.
CODA is an excellent resource to give you updates on your Prop. 28 funding, provide templates and examples of waivers you can edit and help explain your need. CODA-cacountyarta.org
CDE is accepting waivers for the 2023-24 school year for Prop. 28 80/20 rule - it is not too late!\
CODA AI Tool: Use the CA County Arts website to access CODA, an AI specifically for Prop. 28 compliance, allocations, and queries.
Guidance: Review the SSC Prop 28 Reporting Guidance.
Contact Jordyn Tinsley, County Arts Lead, or myself with questions or additional information.
PENDING LEGISLATIVE ACTIONS
These legislative actions are in the active proposal stage of the 2025–2026 California Legislative Session. Most are currently moving through the committee process in the Assembly, where they are being debated and refined before they can move to a full floor vote. Here is the current status for each:
60-Day Substitute Flexibility — AB 2490 (Valencia) - UPDATED!
** PASSED: AB 2490 (co-sponsor). Our only co-sponsored bill, AB 2490 permits general and special education substitutes to serve for up to 60 days with additional training and mentoring.
Status: Active / In Committee.
Current Action: Most recently amended in the Assembly and re-referred to the Committee on Education (March 17, 2026).
Description: This bill is a "stopgap" measure to address teacher shortages. It would reestablish the authority for substitute teachers to serve up to 60 days in a single assignment (up from the standard 20 or 30 days) through January 1, 2033. It requires local educational agencies to report these instances annually to ensure transparency.
Automatic Sunset on Reports — AB 2008 (Patel)
Status: Active / Introduced.
Current Action: Referred to the Committee on Education (March 2, 2026).
Description: This proposal aims to curb "red tape" by ensuring that any new reporting requirement imposed on schools automatically expires after four years. This forces the legislature to re-evaluate whether a report is actually useful before it becomes a permanent administrative burden.
Reporting Consolidation — AB 2496 (Solache)
Status: Active / Pending Committee Hearing.
Current Action: Introduced in February 2026; it is currently scheduled for or eligible to be heard in committee.
Description: This is a "streamlining" bill. It intends to eliminate the School Accountability Report Card (SARC) and shift that data over to the California School Dashboard. The goal is to provide parents and the public with a single, clear source of information rather than multiple duplicative reports.
Resolution on School Reports — HR 87 (Muratsuchi) - This has been approved as of May 2026!
Status: Active / Proposed Resolution.
Current Action: Currently being considered within the Assembly.
Description: Unlike a bill, this is a House Resolution. It doesn't change the law directly but establishes a formal policy stance. It urges the legislature to ask "six key questions" before passing any new mandate, such as whether the data already exists elsewhere or if the cost of the report outweighs its benefit.
Safer School Worksites — AB 1961 (Ahrens)
Status: Active / Scheduled for Hearing.
Current Action: Amended and re-referred to the Committee on Labor and Employment; a hearing is set for April 8, 2026.
Description: This bill addresses "group threats." Under current law, it is difficult for a school to get a restraining order unless a specific person is named. AB 1961 would allow schools to protect an entire "identifiable group" of employees (like a specific department or school site) if a credible threat is made against them collectively.
NEW ACHIEVEMENT LEVEL DESCRIPTORS
Beginning with the 2025–26 Summative Assessments, California will implement new reporting labels for Smarter Balanced ELA/Math and the CAST.
Communications Toolkit: Access the CDE ALD Communications Toolkit to help explain these changes to stakeholders.
CAASPP INFORMATION
CERTIFY STUDENT DATA: The deadline to certify the CAASPP and ELPAC student data for the 2024–25 test administration is May 22, 2026. If your LEA does not certify their student data by the deadline, the amount reflected on the CAASPP and ELPAC student data files will be the total amount allocated to your LEA. There will be no room for changes after the deadline.
CAASP FOUNDATION SESSION: Our next CAASPP Foundation Session will held on May 19 and will cover Data and Next Steps for CAASPP/TOMS testing reports and data. Join us and help create a plan for using the 2025-26 student CAASPP reports to drive goals for the 2026-27 school year. Register here!
TCDE CAASP RESOURCES: Check out our TCDE CAASPP webpage with resource information (BELOW) , the slide decks we used for our current CAASPP Workshop Sessions, and other information.
- 2026 California Assessment Conference: Registration and the Call for Presenters are now open for the conference held in Riverside, CA, on October 27–29, 2026. This year's theme is "Elevating Best Practices, Inspiring Teachers, and Students". This event offers a valuable opportunity for educators to connect with peers to discover assessment tools and strategies for improved learning and teaching.
CAC Website: Register now
PREPARE FOR STUDENT SCORE REPORTS (SSRs)
With summative testing underway, now is the time to prepare for Student Score Reports (SSRs). Ensure that each student’s primary language is accurate in the student’s profile in the Test Operations Management System (TOMS) prior to testing so parents/guardians receive translated SSRs as needed. Note that available languages for translated SSRs include Spanish, Vietnamese, Mandarin, Cantonese, Filipino, Korean, and Arabic.
If you would like to order personalized video SSRs for the students in your LEA, you can request a quote now! Learn more on the Video Student Score Reports web page.
CAASPP and ELPAC Manuals Library
The CAASPP and ELPAC Manuals Library is full of manuals and guides that help LEA coordinators, site coordinators, test administrators, and test examiners during test administration, including the following:
Megan Palermo / Emma Gordon
TCDE ATTENDANCE PROCESS OVERVIEW
Attendance meetings play a key role in identifying barriers and connecting students and families with support. The information below provides an overview of the attendance process and the various levels of attendance meetings and supports available to schools. Running attendance letters helps to identify students who may need additional support. Truancy letters and the 10% Attendance letter are key indicators for when an attendance meeting should be considered. If you need assistance in how to run these reports/queries in Aeries, please reach out and we can support your school sites with these reporting how-tos.
School Attendance Review Team (SART) Meetings
We recommend scheduling a SART meeting after a student receives their second truancy letter, typically when they have 4–7 unexcused absences.
Students with an excessive amount of excused absences should also be scheduled for a SART meeting after the 10% attendance letter is sent.
Who Participates in a SART Meeting
A SART (School Attendance Review Team Meeting) brings together:
The student
Parents or guardians
School administration
School and district support
The County Attendance Department
If absences are related to illness, physical or mental health concerns, it is strongly recommended that the school nurse and counselor or mental health support be invited. The purpose of the team is to identify barriers to attendance, provide education, and connect families with appropriate supports, resources, and community referrals.
Additional Support
At any point in the attendance process, schools may request a home visit from the County and District Attorney SARB Investigator. These visits are intended to strengthen or reconnect communication between the home and school and to directly offer support.
Referral to SARB
If a student has:
Received all three truancy letters, and
Participated in an attendance meeting (or an attempt has been made to hold a meeting), and
Continues to be truant
The student should then be referred to SARB (School Attendance Review Board) for further support.
SARB Resources
Below are a few links for SARB resources. Should you have any questions, don't hesitate to reach out.
Barbara Weaver / Dani Taylor
RESOURCES
Resources for homeless education information and the McKinney-Vento definition can be found at the following links:
https://www.cde.ca.gov/sp/hs/homelessdef.asp
https://www.cde.ca.gov/sp/hs/cy/index.asp
Resources for Foster Youth education rights can be found in the following links:
https://www.cde.ca.gov/ls/pf/fy/fyedrights.asp
https://www.cfyetf.org/_files/ugd/e7e2f5_4a5e194dfaa14bca8645b44e28189a70.pdf
TEHAMA COUNTY RESOURCES
Updated and Extensive list of Support programs, Food shelters, Housing assistance and Shelters, Public assistance, Counseling Resources, along with Medical and Dental Services offered throughout all of Tehama County.
drive.google.com/file/d/19ZgBYzmwzky-U1hkWe2MsE0jWHZ-E1DK/view?usp=sharing
ABOUT US
The Foster, Homeless, & Student Resource Program supports students and families in need by providing advocacy, guidance, and essential resources to promote well-being and educational success. Services include clothing and school supplies, educational rights support, trauma-informed training, and coordination between schools, families, and community agencies.
Flyers to have a conversation at your school site. English and Spanish
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Liz Lurie
Summative ELPAC and Summative Alternate ELPAC
The test administration window is Feb. 2, 2026-May 31, 2026.
2025-26 ELPAC LEA Coordinator Checklist
NEW CDE RESOURCES
Integrated ELD Strategies for Content Teachers Handout
Title III Immigrant Student Program Funds Quick Reference Guide
A collection of CDE Resources that Support the Success of ELs: ELD Compendium
California's Great Start Preschool through 3rd Grade TOOLKIT
Jordyn Tinsley / Elena Velasquez / Erin Sutter
KIM SUTTON IS COMING TO TCDE!
Join us for an engaging professional learning
experience focused on making math meaningful,
hands-on, and fun for TK–5 students!
What You’ll Learn:
Creative strategies to boost math
engagement
Hands-on activities for TK–5 classrooms
Practical tools you can use immediately
Questions? Contact Elena at evelasquez@tehamaschools.org
CALIFORNIA LITERACY CONFERENCE
Join educators statewide for the California Literacy Conference 2026, a free virtual event on June 16 focused on evidence-based literacy and the Science of Reading. With 50+ sessions led by national experts, participants will gain practical, classroom-ready strategies to support all learners.
Civic Learning Year-Long Professional Development with Teach Democracy
Bring civic inquiry into your classroom in the 2026/2027school year — no matter which content area you teach. Through monthly sessions with Teach Democracy (3:30–5:00), educators explore discourse and student voice, inquiry-based instruction, writing for civic action, media literacy, digital citizenship, environmental stewardship, and global citizenship — leaving each session with ready-to-use tools and strategies to support your teaching practice. Open to teachers of any content– Social Studies, ELA, Science, Arts, etc., counselors, and support staff at any Tehama County high school; $1,200 annual stipend for all participants.
MATH TEACHERS LOUNGE
A monthly meet-up for North State math teachers to connect, collaborate, and share ideas. Join fellow educators to discuss classroom challenges, exchange strategies, and build community.
When: Last Tuesday of every month, 6:30–7:30 PM
Where: Fratelli’s Pizza, Redding
Come be part of the conversation—because we’re stronger together.
Questions? Contact Elena: evelasquez@tehamaschools.org
Math Community of Practice Series - Grades 6-12th
HS meets 4 times next year and MS meets 2 times next year
Join us for a series of four Community of Practice (CoP) sessions focused on strengthening math instruction across Tehama County’s upper grades, including middle and high school. These sessions are designed to support teachers in upper-level math courses while building coherence across the system.
Grounded in the California Math Framework (FW), participants will engage in structured time for collaboration, planning, and professional learning. Together, we’ll dive into FW chapters and explore curriculum design for advanced coursework, while strengthening alignment across sites and better supporting students in rigorous mathematics pathways.
Tehama LETRS Cohort- FULL but accepting for Waitlist
The Tehama County Department of Education LETRS® Virtual Cohort is designed to build deep expertise in evidence-based reading instruction and strengthen literacy systems across classrooms and intervention programs. Through a shared cost model—$700 covered by the county and $1,000 by the district—this high-impact professional learning opportunity is available for just 22 participants, with sessions beginning August 31, 2026. We are now FULL, but accepting interested participants for a WAITLIST.
Building Thinking Classrooms Math Book Study Toolkit 1 & 2
Bring your math instruction to life with this engaging and hands-on learning series designed to help educators create more student-centered, thinking-focused classrooms. Participants will explore practical strategies from the very start, including how to launch meaningful problem-solving experiences, design rich thinking tasks, and “thin slice” lessons into manageable steps that keep students actively engaged and moving forward.
Throughout the series, you’ll collaborate with fellow educators to build a supportive professional community, share ideas, and deepen your practice. Sessions also focus on making student thinking visible and consolidating learning in impactful ways you can immediately apply in your classroom. With a provided book, structured sessions, and the opportunity to earn CEU credit, this is a valuable and accessible way to grow your instructional toolkit and strengthen student engagement in math.
Contact evelasquez@tehamaschools.org for more information
NEXT GEN PERSONAL FINANCE CAMP
With the personal finance requirement coming up, we want to make sure you feel fully prepared and we've got a great opportunity to help! Join us for a FREE full-day FinCamp at Chico State on Thursday, July 23rd (8:30 AM – 3:30 PM), open to history/social science teachers, math teachers, counselors, administrators, and anyone involved in rolling out personal finance at your school. You'll walk away with classroom-ready tools, 7 NGPF Academy Credits, and a $300 stipend just for attending.
Register here: ngpf.org/chico1
Contact jtinsley@tehamaschools.org for more information about the event or personal finance requirements.
THE WRITING REVOLUTION SCHOLARSHIP
The Writing Revolution is pleased to announce that applications are now open for the 2026–2027 Abrahamson Scholarship Program.
These scholarships are intended specifically for public and charter school-based educators who lack access to school or district funding to enroll in The Hochman Method training. Priority consideration will be given to educators working in underserved communities.
Each year, The Writing Revolution seeks donor support to fund this scholarship program. Awards are based on the availability of donor funding, as well as the specific needs of applicants and their students.
Educators...Learn More and Apply Here!
CHICO STATE MATH PROJECT - FRACTIONS WITH FRIENDS!
The Chico Math Project is excited to announce our Summer 2026 program, Fractions with Friends! Applicants will be accepted on a rolling basis. Space is limited. All of Chico Math Project's programs are free to attend and have stipends associated with participation.
Join the Movement!
Reading Pals is expanding across Tehama County, and we need your help spreading the word! We're looking for community volunteers to read just one hour a week with students at school sites across the county. If you know someone who would make a great Reading Pal, encourage them to sign up! Monthly orientations are held at TCDE to get volunteers started. For questions or more information, contact Jordyn Tinsley at jtinsley@tehamaschools.org.
Join Us for a Special Community Film Showing of Sentenced
Literacy is for everyone and we want you to be part of the conversation. Join us on September 3, 2026 at 5:30 PM at TCDE (1135 Lincoln St, Red Bluff) for a free community screening of Sentenced, a powerful documentary that explores the deep connection between literacy and our communities. Following the film, local community partners will share current literacy data and ways you can get involved in the literacy efforts already happening right here in Tehama County.
Pizza and drinks will be provided, and childcare will be available so the whole family can participate. Whether you're an educator, a parent, a community member, or simply someone who believes in the power of reading — this night is for you.
Come watch. Connect. Get involved. Invite a friend.
26/27 Science Bowl and Math Counts Teams WANTED!
It is time to start building your teams! Don't miss these opportunities for Enrichment and Competition for both Math and Science. Please see the attached flyers for more information or reach out to Elena Velasquez via email evelasquez@tehamaschools.org
Getting Reading Right!
2026/2027 Learning Series
Getting Reading Right is a free virtual series running throughout the 2026/2027 school year, diving deep into foundational reading skills grounded in the Science of Reading. Each session is packed with evidence-based strategies and vetted resources you can put into practice right away. TK-5 educators, coaches, and administrators meet 3:30–5:00 PM, and paraeducators meet 1:00–2:00 PM, both on select Wednesdays beginning August 20. University credit is available! For more information, contact jtinsley@tehamaschools.org.
UPCOMING PD & LEARNING EVENTS:
June 12th: A CALPADS workshop: Aligned Systems & Accurate Data
June 11-12th: Tehama Civic Learning Summit
July 29-30th: Designing Units to Drive Learning Register Here! Access the flyer HERE! !
August 3rd: Kim Sutton - Creative Mathematics
August 18th: Civic Learning
August 31st: LETRS Cohort - Mastering Reading Instruction
You can access the Professional Development Calendar here!
TEHAMA CIVIC LEADERSHIP SUMMIT
Join us June 11–12 at TCDE for the Tehama Civic Leadership Summit ($400 stipend). Over two days, you'll build a shared foundation in civic learning and the CGEP framework, hear from student and community speakers about what civic engagement looks like in Tehama County, and collaborate with colleagues to develop the criteria your site will use to support students earning the State Seal of Civic Engagement — leaving with tools and a plan you can actually use.
Sign up via the linked flyer and attend all or specific topics.
SAVE THE DATE - DESIGNING UNITS TO DRIVE LEARNING
SAVE THE DATE - DESIGNING UNITS TO DRIVE LEARNING
July 29–30
8:30 AM – 3:00 PM at TCDE, 1135 Lincoln Street, Red Bluff
Prepare for the upcoming 2026-27 School Year and leave with a full unit plan in this two-day workshop where participants will:
Prepare for the upcoming 2026-27 School Year and leave with a full unit plan in this two-day workshop where participants will:
Unpack standards to identify essential learning
Create clear, student-friendly learning targets
Align assessments with daily instruction
Design effective common formative assessments
Analyze student evidence collaboratively
Plan timely supports, interventions, and enrichment opportunities
This work supports high-quality, best-first instruction grounded in standards and aligned curriculum. Through collaborative planning and data-informed decision-making, teams will strengthen coherence across classrooms and grade levels while responding effectively to individual student needs.
Register Here! Access the flyer here!
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