News and Updates - Summer 2026
Embedded Files
Summer Edition – Looking Ahead While Taking Time to Recharge
As another school year comes to a close, we want to share how much our team enjoyed working with you this past year through workshops, collaboration, improvement work, professional development, and the many opportunities to work together. We hope this summer provides opportunities to rest, recharge, and enjoy well-deserved time with family and friends.
While summer offers a chance to slow down, it also marks the beginning of our planning for a strong start to the new school year. In this Summer Edition, you’ll find professional learning opportunities, Back-to-School preparation resources, leadership supports, curriculum and assessment updates, and tools to prepare for the 2026-27 school year. From instructional planning and continuous improvement efforts to systems that support student success, our goal is to provide practical resources that make the transition back to school as smooth as possible.
Our team is here to support you throughout the summer and beyond. We look forward to partnering with you as we prepare for another year of learning, growth, and opportunity.
Have a wonderful, relaxing, and well-deserved summer!
Warm regards,
Cathy Henderson
Cathy Henderson
UPCOMING PD & LEARNING EVENTS:
July 23rd: Personal Finance
Join us for a FREE full-day Next Gen Personal Finance Day at Chico State and walk away
with classroom-ready tools, 7 NGPF Academy Credits, and a $300 stipend just for attending.
Register here.
July 29-30th: Designing Units to Drive Learning Register Here! Join us for a two-day collaborative planning workshop where teachers and teams work together to build ready-to-teach, standards-aligned unit plans.
August 3rd: Kim Sutton - Creative Mathematics
Join us at TCDE for hands-on professional learning workshop led by Kim Sutton that equips TK–5 educators with engaging, practical strategies and classroom-ready activities to make mathematics more meaningful, creative, and enjoyable for students.
August 18th: Civic Learning
Join a year-long professional learning cohort supporting the State
Seal of Civic Engagement and get paid for your time.
August 20th: Getting Reading Right
Join us for a yearlong virtual Professional Learning series grounded in the Science of Reading that helps TK–5 educators, coaches, administrators, and paraeducators strengthen foundational reading instruction through evidence-based strategies and ready-to-use resources. Participants will engage in practical learning sessions throughout the school year, with opportunities to earn credits while building effective literacy practices.
September 2nd: Foster, Homeless, & Attendance Annual Workshop
September 15th: Math Community of Practice Sessions
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.
Community Event!
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.
You can access the Professional Development Calendar here!
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NEWS/HOT TOPICS
The 2026 Dashboard reporting window will be open from June 1, 2026 through July 31, 2026. CDE Local Indicators Reporting: Quick reminder that the CDE window to upload Local Indicators opened on June 1st and indicators need to be input at MyCDEConnect by July 31st.
LCAP Reminder: Please share the PDF of the Board-adopted LCAP with me at chenderson@tehamaschools.org within 5 days of board approval and adoption.
AI COHORT & KICK-OFF
We are exploring the launch of an AI in Education Training and Cohort designed for teachers, administrators leaders, paraeducators, classified staff, instructional coaches, and any education professionals interested in learning how artificial intelligence can support their work in education.
The cohort would include: A full-day kickoff learning session, Monthly 1-hour follow-up sessions, Practical applications of AI for education and Opportunities to collaborate and share best practices with colleagues across districts.
Topics for administrators, leaders, and educators may include:
Designing professional development agendas.
Creating discussion questions for PLCs.
Connecting observed practices to evidence-based strategies
Summarizing assessment data.
Identifying patterns in attendance, behavior, or achievement data.
Topics for teachers and paraeducators may include:
Saving time with AI tools
Lesson planning and instructional support
Content creation and communication
Responsible and ethical AI use
Supporting diverse learner needs
Policies specific to AI (i.e. Board, Student, Educators, etc)
To help us determine interest and select the best kickoff date, please take a few minutes to complete the survey below as soon as you can: Survey Link
DASHBOARD UPDATES & INFORMATION
Combined Dashboard and Assessment Release
• October 15, 2026: the California School Dashboard and statewide assessment data release on the same day for the first time, with a one day private preview. Plan a single, unified communication to the board, staff, and community.
2026 Dashboard Changes (effective this fall)
• ELA and Math Indicators: “Distance from Standard” becomes “Distance from Proficiency.” New achievement labels are Minimal, Developing, Proficient, and Advanced. The Dashboard adds stacked bar trends across all performance levels.
• Teacher Assignments (Priority 1): “Clear” becomes “Fully Credentialed and Properly Assigned.” A new table compares schools within the same LEA by school type.
• LTEL and ELPI: Reclassified students now count as a level within ELPI for the LTEL group only. A school or district LTEL status can only increase. Roughly 15 more districts and 205 more schools will newly receive a color. The overall ELPI is unchanged.
• College and Career Indicator: Expanded to count high quality Work Based Learning (50 plus hours), the State Seal of Civic Engagement, the ASVAB AFQT paired with Military Science, Cambridge exams, and IB course completion at C minus or better.
CBO MENTOR PROGRAM - FCMAT
FCMAT is now accepting applications for the 2027 cohorts of the CBO Mentor Program and Small LEA CBO Mentor Program.
Application Deadline: August 3, 2026.
Program Timeline: January 2027 through December 2027
Applications and detailed program information are available on FCMAT’s website:
Small LEA CBO Mentor Program Link
Cohort 3 of the Small LEA CBO Mentor Program and Cohort 23 of the CBO Mentor Program will consist of 12 in-person training sessions beginning in January 2027 and concluding in December 2027. Sessions will be held on Friday evenings and Saturdays at the Yolo County Office of Education in Woodland.
Each participant will be paired with an experienced mentor. There is no tuition cost to participate; however, participants and/or their local educational agencies are responsible for travel expenses. FCMAT underwrites all other program costs associated with this professional learning activity.
2025-26 RESULTS RELEASE TIMELINE
• Mid May 2026 (live): Summative ELPAC and Alternate ELPAC scores.
• Late May 2026 (live): Smarter Balanced ELA and Math, and CAST scores.
• Early September 2026: Alternate Assessments (ELA, Math, Science) and the California Spanish Assessment.
• October 15, 2026: Statewide aggregate results, released with the 2025–26 Dashboard.
UPCOMING CONFERENCES & TRAINING STATEWIDE
Virtual Briefing: UCLA Report on Alternative Education
Join the California County Superintendents, UCLA, ACCBE, and Reaching At-Promise Students Association (RAPSA) for a virtual briefing on the new UCLA report, Beyond One-Size-Fits-All Education Approaches: Rethinking California’s Alternative Education System. Hear findings, county superintendent responses, and discuss implications for advocacy. Please be sure to invite your staff! See the flyer linked here for more details.
Portrait of a Learner IGNITE 2026 Summit – September 27-29
Registration is now open for the Portrait of a Learner IGNITE 2026 Summit, taking place September 27–29, 2026, in San Jose, bringing together educators and partners to share practices and advance student-centered, whole child learning. The event will feature breakout sessions, networking opportunities, and a call for presenters (proposals due April 2), with districts encouraged to attend in teams. Book your room here.
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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).
June:
30: A-G Completion Improvement Grant
Prop 28 (23-24 Funds) Expenditure Deadline
EFF Final Expenditure Deadline
ELOP (FY 24 - 25) Expenditure Deadline
Spring Con App Deadline
July:
1: 2026 - 27 LCAP & Budget Adoption
Local Indicator Report to Governing Board
10: ESSER III Summer Reporting
31: ESSER III backe ELO Grant Funds Final Expenditure Report
View State & Federal Updates in this Slide Deck
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
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
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 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.
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!
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.
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