Department News
EL Collaborative News
This page provides news, announcements, and administrative resources for staff in the EL Collaborative.
Accessibility Notice
The Sonoma County Office of Education is committed to making its online materials and information accessible to individuals of all abilities.
Individuals may obtain an alternate, accessible version of the content in these documents by contacting webmaster@scoe.org and by including a copy of the document as an attachment. If you are unable to attach a copy of the document, please indicate the document name and website location. SCOE staff will respond to your request within 2-business days.
California Classified School Employees to Teacher Credentialing Program Grant
Date: 04/01/2019
Author: Jenn Guerrero
TIME SENSITIVE! APRIL 2nd!!!!
Sonoma County Office of Education was awarded the California Classified School Employees to Teacher Credentialing Program Grant on behalf of interested districts within the regional consortium and North Coast School of Education Satellite Networks. Due to new available slots, the Sonoma County Office of Education is announcing the re-opening of the California Classified School Employees to Teacher Credentialing Program Grant application.
The Commission on Teacher Credentialing grant funding is available to provide financial assistance for the life of the grant to current classified staff to become multiple subject, single subject, or special education credentialed teachers. Grant funds are provided as a reimbursement to recipients, up to $2,800/year.
This is an excellent opportunity to help grow your bilingual/bicultural teaching staff.
Ed Codes Specific to Assessment of English Learners for Special Education Eligibility
Date: 03/24/2019
Author: Jenn Guerrero
Our EL Collaborative colleague, Rachel Valenzuela, has put together a very useful document that highlights California Ed Codes (and US Codes) specific to assessment of English Learners for Special Education eligibility. You can access the document here. Thank you, Rachel!
March EL Collaborative Follow Up
Date: 03/13/2019
Author: Jenn Guerrero
Please see below for resources and information from the March 12, 2019 EL Collaborative. I have also included responses to the questions that came up at our session.
Language Differences Versus Disabilities
-----
How are students selected for the Computer Based Summative ELPAC Field test?
CDE Response: To ensure a proper demographic sample, ETS will select the grades or grade spans to be tested at each school. The number of students will be a minimum of 20 students per participating school. LEAs are encouraged to involve multiple schools in the field test and may volunteer to test more students if they wish. LEAs will be notified and given a list of students and alternates before testing. Rosters will be based on the 2019 Summative ELPAC school site student level data. In addition, LEAs will be asked to select a few recently identified EL/IFEP students during the 2019–20 Initial ELPAC to participate in the field test.
Is it known what digital platform will be available to use for the CB Summative ELPAC? Computer? Chromebook? iPad?
CDE Response: All digital devices currently available for CAASPP will work for Listening, Reading, and Writing. As for Speaking, we’re getting further clarification of what will be required and will have that out to LEAs soon.
In Fall 2020 we will have status and change (resulting in a color) because at that point we will have three years of ELPAC data.Since the threshold scores have changed for the Summative ELPAC, how will this impact this formula? I know we can't legally compare CELDT/ELPAC, but how does this play out with different threshold scores over three years?
CDE Response: Our team at the CDE plans on bringing similar questions to our Technical Design Group (TDG) and ELPI Workgroup throughout the next several months. Once we have 2 years’ worth of operational annual ELPAC data to do analyses (with the new threshold scores) we’ll be able to at least calculate a “status” for the Fall of 2019 using the new threshold scores.
Once we establish a methodology, we’ll then take our recommendation to the State Board of Education (SBE) for review and approval. Remember that we still have a couple of other outstanding issues (incorporation of the LTEL “bonus” and prior year RFEP students’ inclusion in the ELPI indicator) that we need to hear back from the US Department of Education in order to finalize our formula & methodology.
My team has a LOT of work to do in the next 6-8 months and we plan on providing regular updates to BCN and other stakeholders as we move forward.
Community Engagement Survey
Date: 02/07/2019
Author: Jenn Guerrero
Please see below for information from the CDE regarding an important opportunity to provide input around community engagement.
The California Engagement Initiative is funded by the State of California to build the engagement capacity of school districts and their communities, with the ultimate focus of improving student outcomes. The San Bernardino County Superintendent of Schools (SBCSS), the California Collaborative for Educational Excellence (CCEE, a statewide agency), and two community-based organizations, the California Association for Bilingual Education (CABE) and Families In Schools (FIS) are leading this effort.
Together, these four entities are designing and will operate networks of district teams to help identify effective models of community engagement and metrics to evaluate those models. These district teams will include individuals from many different perspectives - from students and their families to school site staff to district administrators to staff from the local county office of education.
The four entities are seeking your input through this anonymous survey on the substance as well as the design and structure of the networks. Your input will be invaluable in creating effective networks and in the ultimate success of the Initiative.
We would also like for you to share this survey with your education stakeholders. Please feel free to share this with your networks.
Take the survey HERE
January EL Collaborative Follow up
Date: 01/24/2019
Author: Jenn Guerrero
Please see below for materials and resources from the January 24, 2019 EL Collaborative.
Conversational Capacity excerpt
17-18 ELPAC Summative Scale Score Ranges
18-19 ELPAC Summative Scale Score Ranges
Pixabay (free, high-resolution images)
Updated Reclassification Guidance for 2018–19
Date: 01/18/2019
Author: Jenn Guerrero
The California Department of Education (CDE) has provided new reclassification guidance for 2018-2019. We will discuss this at our next EL Collaborative on January 24th.
Rescheduled Workshop: English Learners and Special Education
Date: 01/15/2019
Author: Jenn Guerrero
Sonoma County SELPA has rescheduled the canceled December session of English Learners and Special Education. The two new dates are February 7th and February 21st. This training will cover areas of working with students who are English Language Learners who have IEPs (Individualized Education Programs). Topics include: Identification of students as ELs; Assessment; Services and supports; Instruction; Writing compliant, meaningful IEPs, including linguistically appropriate goals; and reclassification of EL students with disabilities.
Register for the 2/7/19 session
Register for the 2/21/19 session
EL Parent Leadership Institute
Date: 12/14/2018
Author: Jenn Guerrero
The EL Parent Leadership Institute will take place on Friday, February 8th at SCOE. This free event is conducted entirely in Spanish and includes breakfast and lunch. Please spread the word and remind parents to register soon, this conference fills up very quickly.
Event flier (English and Spanish)
Letter to employers (English and Spanish)
Sessions include
- What's new? Updates, Reclassification, and Information for Parents of English Learners
- Connecting Families: Helping Families Navigate Their Digital Lives
- Education is the Most Powerful Weapon Which You Can Use To Change the World
REGISTER TODAY! EL Leadership Conference on January 11th
Date: 12/05/2018
Author: Jenn Guerrero
If you haven't done so already, REGISTER TODAY for the EL Leadership Conference on January 11th. Space is filling up fast and you won't want to miss this event. Sessions are tailored for elementary educators, secondary educators, and administrators. Don't miss the EL student panel, moderated by Dr. Orlando Carreón, which places English Learner youth voices at the center of our thinking and learning.
Sessions include
- Communication with Families of English Learners: Connecting Families, Cultures, and Languages
- Equitable Classroom Cultures
- Cultivating Agency and Identity in ELs: The Power of Digital Storytelling
- Engaging Meaningfully with ELPAC Data
- Unlocking Learning: Science and Math as Levers for English Learner Equity
- The Educability of All Students: Exploring the Relationship Between Equity and Language Acquisition
- Effective Teaching of Latinx Students: A Community Responsive Approach
Parent notification of language acquisition programs
Date: 11/26/2018
Author: Jenn Guerrero
Please see below for the CDE response regarding parent notification of language acquisition programs.
Question
As per the Ed.G.E FAQ, LEAs are required to provide information to parents or legal guardians on the types of language and language acquisition programs available in the district in the parent handbook or upon enrollment. Are LEAs only required to provide information on what they offer OR do they have to list what options are available in general?
Also, In both the Initial Parent Notification letter and the Annual Parent Notification, are LEAs required to provide descriptions of the language acquisition programs they currently offer OR do they have to list what options are available in general?
CDE Response
"In response to both questions, the LEA includes the programs that are offered in both types of parent notifications. They are not required to include additional program information."