Contra Costa Herald

News Of By and For The People of Contra Costa County, California

Oakley’s Almond Grove Elementary celebrated for literacy achievement

By Leave a Comment

Receives Honorable Mention in Read Naturally’s 2024 Read Live School of the Year Awards

By Anne Hauth, Director of Communications, Read Naturally

Schools across North America have been recognized in the 2024 Read Live School of the Year awards for their effective use of Read Naturally’s Read Live program to achieve significant gains in student literacy. Celebrating these schools aims to unite communities around educational success.

This year’s awards spotlight a variety of schools that have excelled at using the Read Live program to enhance literacy in both English and Spanish, meet diverse student needs, build students’ self-confidence in reading, and demonstrate measurable gains on assessments and standardized tests.

It has been gratifying to read the many inspiring success stories from schools far and wide. Join us in congratulating our 2024 winners!

Winner: Main Street Elementary (Lake City, SC)

Main Street Elementary has achieved significant literacy advancements through their dedicated use of Read Live, increasing the percentage of students reading at grade level from 19% to 46.8% within one school year. This success is exemplified by the transformation of a student, Jay, who evolved from self-doubt to confidence in his reading abilities.

Runners-Up: Del Rey Elementary (Del Rey, CA), Estrella Mountain Elementary (Goodyear, AZ), Miami Trace Elementary (Washington Court House, OH)

At Del Rey Elementary, integrating Read Live into the dual language program has significantly boosted student performance on ELPAC and CAASPP assessments. This approach has turned struggles into successes, particularly for a student, Lala, who moved from special education due to low reading skills in first grade to testing in the top ten of her class in reading by sixth grade.

Estrella Mountain Elementary’s community-driven Read Live Lab has established a district-wide standard for educational excellence and collaboration. Teachers report that, thanks to Read Live, Estrella is leading its district in many ELA standards this year.

Miami Trace Elementary School has sustained significant growth in reading fluency and comprehension over the past decade, and even throughout the pandemic, through its implementation of Read Live. With increased confidence in their reading skills and access to high-interest texts, students who previously struggled with learning to read are now excited about reading to learn.

Honorable Mentions:

Additional schools acknowledged for their outstanding efforts include Almond Grove Elementary School (Oakley, CA), North Dickenson County School (Felch, MI), Lower Dauphin Middle School (Hummelstown, PA), Annie L. Gaetz Elementary School (Red Deer, Alberta) and Hamilton Elementary School (Moline, IL). Each has utilized Read Live to improve literacy outcomes and address diverse needs. The schools will each receive a $100 Read Naturally gift certificate.

About Read Naturally:

Read Naturally’s research-based programs provide interventions and differentiated instruction for developing and struggling readers of all ages. Since its founding in 1991, Read Naturally has established itself as a pioneer in the industry and has developed a variety of programs targeting the essential components of reading instruction. For more information visit www.readnaturally.com/ school-of-the-year-winners.

Over 100 San Ramon Valley school district students receive county, state recognition at Science & Engineering Fair competitions 

By Leave a Comment

Dougherty Valley High School student Gatik Trivedi won first place at the state Science & Engineering Fair for his entry entitled NeuroGuardian. Photo: SRVUSD

Four Dougherty Valley High students win amidst 900 entries at state competition.

By Ilana Israel Samuels, Director of Communications, Family and Community Engagement, San Ramon Valley Unified School District

Danville, CA (May 9, 2024) – More than 65 high school students and 40 middle school students recently placed or received special awards at the 2024 Contra Costa County Science & Engineering Fair, including students from Diablo Vista, Gale Ranch, Iron Horse, Los Cerros and Windemere Ranch Middle Schools; and from California, Dougherty Valley and Monte Vista High Schools. Students submitted projects in the categories of Behavioral Sciences, Biological Sciences, Engineering Sciences, Environmental, Math and Computer Science, or Physical Sciences.

The students prepared for the science fairs in part by meeting with coaches to work on their research experiments and craft presentations. The students were excited to participate and represent their schools at this annual fair.

Each year, 18 successful projects are selected by the judges to represent the Contra Costa County Science & Engineering fair at the state-level competition – the California Science and Engineering Fair.  This year, 11 of the 18 projects moved forward for this special honor were submitted by SRVUSD students, who competed against 900 other entries during the event on Tuesday, April 16, 2024.

Four San Ramon Valley Unified School District students from Dougherty Valley High School won big at the California Science & Engineering Fair this year. They each placed 1st or 2nd in their respective categories:

Gatik Trivedi, 1st place, NeuroGuardian: A Multimodal Telemedical Neurodegenerative Monitoring System with Self-learning Predictive Analytics for Late-Stage Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) Patients, Computational Systems Medical

Yizhou (Michael) Wang and Yifan (Frank) Shi, 1st place, Development of a Biodegradable Hybrid Inspired Paper Battery Powered by Carbon-Black with Origami Designs Applicable for Biomedical Smart Systems, Chemistry

Vaishnavi Kolluru, 2nd place, Breastmilk: Nature’s Vaccine Against COVID-19, Mammalian Biology

“I am pleased to recognize our students for their outstanding accomplishments at the California Science and Engineering Fair,” said Dr. John Malloy, Superintendent, San Ramon Valley Unified School District. “Their dedication, creativity, and passion for their research projects showcase the depth of talent and potential we have within our educational community. I look forward to their future contributions to science and research. I also thank all of the educators who supported our students through these achievements.”

The California Science & Engineering Fair is the final science fair of the academic year for students throughout the State of California in grades 6-12, serving California’s future scientists and engineers since 1952. The fair is hosted by the California Science and Engineering Foundation.

SRVUSD partners with Bay Area LEEDS to ensure students have access to the tremendous resources the organization provides for the region’s youth to prepare them for a future in STEM careers. In an email, Bay Area LEEDS Executive Administrator, Janice Fujii, and CEO April Treece, noted that this was an outstanding achievement and that our students “worked very hard to excel in their field of study.”

San Ramon Valley Unified School District congratulates all of its participating students for their remarkable science fair achievements and excellence in research.

About Bay Area LEEDS: Bay Area LEEDS helps prepare the region’s youth for tomorrow’s STEM careers with relevant industry tools and skill sets, strengthening the workforce pipeline. We collaborate with business and educators to excite students about pursuing purposeful post-secondary pathways aligned with high-wage, high-skill, high-demand jobs in the global economy. The organization improves STEM education in regional communities by providing STEM teachers professional development, and providing students with meaningful and engaging STEM learning opportunities, while involving current STEM professionals in educating the next generation of STEM leaders and creators. Linking Education & Economic Development Strategies Bay Area LEEDS is one of the few business/education intermediaries in the Bay Area that brings long-term talent development solutions to workforce shortages by engaging STEM career pathway educators (K-16) and employers who have high-demand, difficult-to-fill STEM jobs. Through innovative programming, we develop, plan and execute industry- supported approaches that build a more diverse, inclusive and equitable talent base, assuring economic vitality in our local communities.

About San Ramon Valley Unified School District: Located in the San Francisco Bay Area, San Ramon Valley Unified School District (SRVUSD) is one of the highest-achieving school districts in California. With approximately 29,000 students, the district encompasses the communities of Alamo, Danville, San Ramon, and a small portion of Walnut Creek and Pleasanton.

SRVUSD has been recognized at state and national levels with many awards and achievements. The district is designated by AASA, The School Superintendents Association, as a Learning 2025 Lighthouse District because it serves as a model of positive change in public education and is committed to the whole child. Based on a foundation of academic excellence, SRVUSD’s work is guided by the district’s Strategic Directions, and broadening the definition of success so all students can thrive. The district maintains graduation rates above 96%. The Learner Profile outlines the competencies the district aspires for students to possess upon graduation, preparing students to be Critical Thinkers, Creative Contributors, Intentional Collaborators, Adaptable Learners, and Effective Communicators.

California colleges agree on how to interpret in-state tuition law for illegal immigrant students

By Leave a Comment

Students between classes at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo. Credit: Ashley Bolter / EdSource

Some have been exempt from paying out-of-state tuition since 2001

By Zaidee Stavely, EdSource – Republished with permission

More than 20 years ago, California passed a law allowing some undocumented immigrant students to attend college with in-state tuition, if they meet certain requirements.

But immigrant rights advocates say many students who should have been eligible have been wrongfully denied in-state tuition because of confusion over requirements, misinformation and different interpretations of the law at different college campuses.

“We lose that incredible brain power and colleges are losing enrollment,” said Nancy Jodaitis, director of higher education for Immigrants Rising, a nonprofit organization that advocates for undocumented people to achieve educational and career goals.

Immigrants Rising brought together officials from all three public college systems — California Community Colleges, California State University and University of California — to discuss and agree on answers to frequently-asked questions about the law.

Source: Immigrants Rising

The result is a document called the Systemwide AB 540 FAQ, which all three systems have now signed. The document includes answers to 59 questions, such as:

  • What if a student graduated from a California high school (completing three years’ worth of high school credits), but did not attend three years at a California high school?
  • Does a student have to take classes full time for their attendance to count?
  • Does all their coursework have to be taken at the same school?

Spokespeople from UC, CSU and California Community Colleges all celebrated the document.

Paul Feist, vice chancellor of communications and marketing for the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office, said the document is particularly important because there are several different laws regarding the nonresident tuition exemption.

The first bill exempting some undocumented immigrants from out-of-state tuition, Assembly Bill 540, was signed into law in 2001. Since then, three other bills have been passed to expand the law, in 2014, 2017 and 2022.

“While the intent was to expand access to AB 540 financial assistance, they had the unintended effect of making it more difficult to navigate,” Feist said. “This FAQ is designed to provide clearer explanations and provide additional resources in advising students.”

Under current California law, students who are undocumented or have temporary protection from deportation such as Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), or who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents, are eligible for in-state tuition and state financial aid, if they attended at least three years of high school, adult school or community college in California and obtained a high school diploma or equivalent, an associate degree or fulfilled the minimum requirements to transfer to a UC or CSU.

Access to state financial aid and in-state tuition can be a critical factor for undocumented students, who are barred from receiving federal financial aid. Without the law in place, some of them would be charged tuition rates for international students, often much higher than in-state tuition.

“This is huge,” said Maria Gutierrez, a college counselor at Chabot College in Hayward and a doctoral student at San Francisco State University. “It helps us be aligned and have something in writing.”  Before the FAQ document, Gutierrez says college staff in charge of approving exemptions from out-of-state tuition were sometimes afraid to make decisions without written proof of how to interpret the law.

Gutierrez herself has benefited from AB 540. She came to the U.S. when she was 5 years old on a visa, which later expired. She attended elementary, middle and most of high school in California. She also graduated from high school in California. But when she applied to attend community college in California, different campuses disagreed on whether she was eligible for in-state tuition because she had spent two years of high school in Utah. At the time, a second law had recently been passed to allow colleges to consider years of attendance in elementary and middle school for AB 540 eligibility.

“One college that I went to in So Cal, I was approved for AB 540. When I had to go back to the Bay Area, I was not approved for AB 540. So then I was confused that there was this inconsistency,” Gutierrez said.

A few years later, when she applied to transfer to a four-year college, both UC and CSU campuses told her she was not eligible for in-state tuition, even though by then, a law had passed that clarified that attendance at community college could be counted toward the requirements. She spent a semester paying out-of-state tuition at San Jose State University, before the university finally acknowledged she was legally eligible for in-state tuition.

As a college counselor, Gutierrez continues to meet students who have been incorrectly told they are not eligible for in-state tuition.

“It’s crazy because in reality it hasn’t changed much,” she said. However, she said, the financial burden is harder now, because most students graduating from high school cannot apply for work permits under DACA, because the government has not accepted new applications since 2017.

“I see my students now and I see the struggles they’re going through. If I didn’t have DACA, I honestly don’t think I would be where I am now,” Gutierrez said. “There’s no way that I would’ve been able to pay nonresident fees or wait for whoever it is that is determining that to learn what they need to do for me to be able to go to college.”

Advocates say they hope the document will help colleges give correct information and avoid students having to research on their own for information.

California also recently streamlined the process for undocumented students to apply for financial aid and exemption from in-state tuition on the same application when they fill out the California Dream Act application. In the past, students had to both fill out a California Dream Act application and an AB 540 affidavit form for each college. Now, the AB 540 form will be part of the same application.

Diana Aguilar-Cruz said that change is significant. Aguilar-Cruz is currently pursuing a master’s degree in public health at Cal State Fullerton. When she first began her undergraduate education at Cal Poly Pomona, she was charged nonresident tuition, which was almost double the in-state tuition. She had immigrated to the U.S. from Mexico City in 2015, when she was 14 years old, and lived with her grandmother in Baldwin Park while attending high school.

She had completed a California Dream Act application, but no one told her she also had to complete a separate form. After researching it herself online, she found the form and completed it, at which point the university finally changed her tuition to in-state.

“If I didn’t find it in my Google search, would I be paying in-state tuition for my four years of college?” Aguilar-Cruz said. “I always think to myself, what would have happened if I was a more fearful student or a student who did not have a strong support system at home?”

According to the Renewing the Dream page on the California Student Aid Commission’s website, “In 2021-22,  only 29% to 30% of undocumented college students who applied for financial aid through the California Dream Act Application (CADAA) ultimately enrolled in school. Moreover, only 14% of California’s estimated undocumented student population in postsecondary education ultimately received state financial aid.”

Allen D Payton contributed to this report.

 

Los Medanos College celebrates “50 years of excellence in education”

By Leave a Comment

Unveils anniversary logo

By Juliet V. Casey, Director of Marketing, Los Medanos College

Pittsburg, Calif. – Los Medanos College (LMC) this year celebrates its golden anniversary, and to kick off recognition of its 50 years of excellence in education, workforce training and innovation, the college released its 50th Anniversary logo.

The golden logo harkens back to LMC’s retired brand. At the center, the stylized compass rose in which each direction spells LMC is indicative of its mission to help students find their future. While that mark has gone out of use, it remains a sentimental favorite among alumni and long-time residents of the East Bay community.

The anniversary logo’s looping five and zero of the 50 touching the inner golden circle conveys the infinite search for knowledge and truth, and unwavering service for the greater good. The Contra Costa Community College District (4CD) opened Los Medanos College in Pittsburg in 1974 to serve east Contra Costa County. Today, its service area includes Pittsburg, Antioch, Bay Point, Clayton, parts of Concord, Brentwood, Oakley, Knightsen, Bethel Island, Byron, and Discovery Bay. It is the third of three colleges within 4CD.

“Over the past five decades, LMC has grown and adapted to the needs of our students and the greater community,” President Ralston said. “Our program offerings have grown to over 90, we’ve added the new state-of-the-art Brentwood Center, and we have established ourselves as a cultural focal point for the community. Looking ahead to the next 50 years, we are focused on continuing this legacy with our alumni leading, innovating and shaping a sustainable and equitable future for generations to come.”

For LMC, 2024 will be a golden year of celebrating its collective successes and achievements. LMC in the past year has emerged in the Top 150 U.S. Community Colleges for the fifth consecutive time. The college is among the best community colleges for math, according to BestAccreditedColleges.org, and LMC athletes consistently win the conference and make it into post-season play.

Stay tuned for upcoming events throughout the year.

About Los Medanos College (LMC): LMC is one of three colleges in the Contra Costa Community College District, serving the East Contra Costa County community. Established in 1974, LMC has earned federal designations as a Minority-Serving and Hispanic-Serving institution. It offers award-winning transfer and career-technical programs, support services, and diverse academic opportunities in an inclusive learning environment. With exceptional educators, innovative curriculum, growing degree and certificate offerings, and state-of-the-art facilities, the college prepares students to succeed in their educational pursuits, in the workforce, and beyond. LMC’s Pittsburg Campus is located on 120 acres bordering Antioch, with an additional education center in Brentwood.

LMC to honor five recipients of 2024 César Chávez: Honoring a Legacy awards April 5

By Leave a Comment

Award for Exemplary Community Service, East County Educator Award, Spirit Award

By Juliet V. Casey, Director of Marketing, Los Medanos College

Los Medanos College (LMC) is pleased to announce honorees of the 2024 César Chávez: Honoring a Legacy Awards Celebration. Honorees will receive recognition at 5 p.m. on Friday, April 5 in the Student Union Conference Center, 2700 E. Leland Road in Pittsburg.

This event celebrates the life of labor leader and human rights activist César Chávez and recognizes East Contra Costa County community members who follow his example of service, activism, and non-violent social change. Event details are posted at www.losmedanos.edu/chavez.

 

This year’s honorees:

Concepcion James, chair of United Latino Voices of Contra Costa County, earned the César Chávez Award for Exemplary Community Service forher long-standing commitment to service and for demonstrating the core values modeled by César Chávez: Service to Others, Sacrifice, Help the Most Needy, Determination, Non-Violence, Acceptance of All People, Respect for Life and the Environment, Celebrating Community, Knowledge, and Innovation.

Rosa Armendáriz, interim dean of Equity & Inclusion at LMC, and Jessica Linares Boyle, Puente counselor at LMC, earned the East County Educator Award for demonstrating the qualities of César Chávez and a commitment to student success and equity, particularly for students of color and those from low-income families.

Teyoltlahui Gonzalez, a student leader from Pittsburg High School and Gabriel Perez-Cano, a student leader from LMC, earned the César Chávez Spirit Award in recognition of their efforts over the past year to affected change through advocacy and social justice.

About Los Medanos College (LMC): LMC is one of three colleges in the Contra Costa Community College District, serving the East Contra Costa County community. Established in 1974, LMC has earned federal designations as a Minority-Serving and Hispanic-Serving institution. It offers award-winning transfer and career-technical programs support services, and diverse academic opportunities in an inclusive learning environment. With exceptional educators, innovative curriculum, growing degree and certificate offerings, and state-of-the-art facilities, the college prepares students to succeed in their educational pursuits, in the workforce, and beyond. LMC’s Pittsburg Campus is located on 120 acres bordering Antioch, with an additional education center in Brentwood.

Maya Cinemas Pittsburg holds scholarship drive through April 15th

By Leave a Comment

Get free passes for donating to Maya Community Foundation

By Greg Heckman, Director of Marketing, Maya Cinemas

Maya Cinemas, known for developing movie theatres in underserved communities with state-of-the-art presentation, first-class amenities and community involvement, is offering free movies passes for donations to the Maya Community Foundation. Beginning on April 1st and running through April 15th, movie-goers can make a donation at any Maya Cinema and receive 1 free movie passes (valid 4/1/24 – 5/15/24) for every $10 they donate and 3 passes for every $25. One hundred percent of donations will be granted as college scholarships to members of the communities surrounding the theaters. Scholarship applications are live at wearemaya.org/scholarship-applications.html and will be open until May 30th.

The Maya Community Foundation is dedicated to the development and enrichment of the lives of people in the community in which Maya Cinemas’ theatres serve. The foundation is dedicated to fostering and supporting under-served, low-income communities through a variety of programs.

Donations can be made in-theatre at any of Maya’s six locations:

Pittsburg, CA – 4085 Century Boulevard

Salinas, CA – 153 Main Street

Delano, CA – 401 Woollomes Avenue

Fresno, CA – 3090 East Campus Pointe Drive

Bakersfield, CA – 1000 California Avenue

North Las Vegas, NV – 2195 North Las Vegas Blvd.

“Support of higher education is an important building block. The Maya Community Foundation and Maya Cinemas endeavors to enrich the community through several efforts with education being a primary focus.” said Heidi Garcia, Maya Community Foundation.

ABOUT MAYA CINEMAS

Maya Cinemas was chartered in 2000 with a mission to develop, build, own and operate modern, first-run, multi-plex movie theaters in underserved, family oriented, Latino-dominant communities.  Maya Cinemas offers first-run Hollywood movies and unique content through its Canal Maya program in high-end theaters focused on quality of design, state-of-the-art film presentation technology, and providing first-rate entertainment with superior customer service.  The Maya Community Foundation is dedicated to the development and enrichment of the lives of people in the community in which Maya Cinemas serve.

Dozens of educators to be laid off in West Contra Costa

By Leave a Comment

The total number of layoffs won’t be finalized by the school board until May

WCCUSD says preliminary layoffs due to county Office of Education directive for “fiscal solvency”

By Monica Velez, EdSource.org

Dozens of educators in the West Contra Costa Unified School District (WCCUSD) will be laid off in the upcoming school year, including grant-funded positions the district can’t afford to absorb.

The district plans to eliminate 104 positions, nearly 40 of those grant-funded, according to district officials. Assistant principals, instructional specialists, psychologists, bilingual paraprofessionals, academic support providers, special education and general education teachers are among the positions being eliminated.

Although some educators received preliminary layoff notices on March 15, the board won’t finalize the total number of eliminations until May, officials said. Some of the eliminated positions were already vacant.

“We understand the community’s concerns about the impact of these layoffs on classroom staffing,” district spokesperson Raechelle Forrest said in an email. “It is important to note that the district is committed to hiring and maintaining qualified and credentialed individuals and that classroom teachers have not received preliminary notices.”

The school board approved layoffs at a meeting earlier this month. Dozens of parents, educators and students spoke during the public comment period, pleading with the board to vote against the layoffs. In particular, many people spoke about the importance of school community outreach worker positions that will be eliminated.

School community outreach workers serve as liaisons between schools and families. Many of those workers are bilingual and can help with translations and teaching non-English speaking parents and students how to navigate the school system. Outreach workers also connect families with resources and can help facilitate meetings when there are language barriers.

Outreach workers were among the grant-funded positions district officials said they couldn’t afford to keep without the extra money. The district would need about $9.4 million to keep the nearly 40 positions that are being axed, district data showed. Many of the positions relying on grant money provided extra support for students: bilingual instructional aides, graduate tutors, coordinators, academic support providers and bilingual paraprofessionals.

In the 2022-23 school year, nearly 32% of students in West Contra Costa Unified were English learners, according to data from the California Department of Education. The percentage of English learners in the district who became fluent in English has dropped significantly since 2018, data shows, dropping from nearly 13% to about 3% in the 2020-21 school year, the most recent data available.

The majority of English learners speak Spanish, about 27% or nearly 8,000 students in the 2022-23 school year. About 30,000 students are enrolled in West Contra Costa Unified.

During public comment, parents and teachers spoke about the vital role outreach workers have for schools and the community. Without them, people contemplated how some families would continue to stay engaged in school communities.

Educators were also outspoken about how the lack of staffing in schools has been affecting learning. Because of larger classes, there are fewer one-on-one opportunities; there’s an uptick in behavioral issues in classes with consistent substitutes, and teachers are losing prep periods in order to fill in for other classes. One student said he hasn’t had permanent teachers in core classes in recent years and, as a result, he hasn’t learned much.

Three complaints were filed with West Contra Costa Unified earlier this year alleging some schools failed to provide students with qualified teachers. The complaints also allege there’s been a pattern of filling vacancies with long-term substitutes, which attorneys at Public Advocates, a nonprofit civil rights law firm, say is illegal.

WCCUSD Says Preliminary Layoffs Due to County Office of Education Directive for “Fiscal Solvency”

Dr. Kenneth Chris Hurst, WCCUSD Superintendent and all five board trustees were asked via email for their perspective.

In response, Forrest, the district’s Interim Communications Director, wrote, “It’s important to clarify that the recent preliminary staff layoff notices are not due to declining enrollment or a shift in priorities, but rather a response to the directive from the Contra Costa County Office of Education to improve our fiscal solvency. We are making difficult decisions with complete transparency and integrity, striving to reduce the impact on classrooms.”

“While it’s true that positions are being eliminated, we are working to retain as many positions as possible, such as SCOWS (School Community Outreach Workers) and music teachers, by making cuts in other areas of the budget,” she continued. “We also want to clarify that while 104 employees received layoff notices, it is inaccurate to state that 104 positions were affected. Of the positions, 58.9 positions were vacant.”

“We want to clarify that SCOWS and music teachers were not included in the RIFs (Reductions in Force) approved by the WCCUSD School Board,” Forrest added.

Monica Velez covers West Contra Costa Unified school district, student well-being and math.

Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.

What to know about money waiting in CalKIDS state-funded savings accounts | Quick Guide

By Leave a Comment

Photo: EdSource.org

Webinar April 17

By Lasherica Thornton, EdSource.org

Over 3.6 million school-aged children across the state qualify for at least $500 in savings with the California Kids Investment and Development Savings program (CalKIDS), a state initiative to help children from low income families save money for college or career.

Just 8.3% of eligible students, or 300,000, have claimed their accounts as many families are unaware of CalKIDS or face challenges accessing the accounts once aware.  The money is automatically deposited into the savings account under a student’s name, but families must claim the accounts by registering online.

Here is information you should know about the state-funded accounts:

What is CalKIDS?

The CalKIDS program was created to help students, especially those from underserved communities, gain access to higher education. It helps families save for post high school training by opening a savings account and depositing between $500 and $1,500 for eligible low-income students in the public school system. Gov. Gavin Newsom, who launched the program in August 2022, invested about $1.9 billion in the accounts.

Who qualifies?

Low-income students and all newborns qualify.

According to program details, low-income public school students are awarded $500 if they:

  • Were in grades 1-12 during the 2021-22 school year
  • Were enrolled in first grade during the 2022-23 school year, or
  • Will be in first grade in subsequent school years.

An additional $500 is deposited for students identified as foster youth and another $500 for students classified as homeless.

For newborns,

  • Children born in California after June 2023, regardless of their parents’ income, are granted $100.
  • Those born in the state between July 1, 2022, and June 30, 2023, were awarded $25 before the seed deposit increased to $100.
  • Newborns get an additional $25 when they claim the account and an additional $50 if parents link the CalKIDS account to a new or existing ScholarShare 529 college savings account.

The California Department of Education determines eligibility based on students identified as low income under the state’s Local Control Funding Formula or English language learners. The California Department of Public Health provides information on newborns.

How can students use the money?

The money can be used at eligible higher education institutions across the country, including community colleges, universities, vocational or technical schools and professional schools, according to CalKIDS.

The funds can be used for: tuition and fees, books and supplies, on or off-campus room and board as well as computer or other required equipment, according to the CalKIDS program guide.

Click here to search for schools that qualify as an eligible higher ed institution. 

Does the CalKIDS account have restrictions similar to those for a 529 savings account?

CalKIDS accounts are a part of the ScholarShare 529 program — California’s official tax-advantaged college savings plan — and administered by the state’s ScholarShare Investment Board.

Transportation and travel costs are usually not considered qualified expenses for 529 savings accounts.

According to the guide for CalKIDS, if a student has no account balance with their higher education institution — which receives the CalKIDS distribution check —  the institution can pay the funds directly to the student.

Does the money in the CalKIDS accounts earn interest?

The deposits grow over time because CalKIDS accounts are interest-bearing.

How aggressive that growth is depends on the age of the student, said Joe DeAnda, communications director with the California State Treasurer’s Office, which oversees the CalKIDS program.

“If it’s a newborn, (the seed deposits are) invested in a fairly aggressive portfolio that assumes 18 years of investing time,” DeAnda said. “If they are school-aged, they’re invested in a more conservative portfolio that assumes a shorter investing timeline and is a more secure portfolio.”

Even among students, the younger a child is, the more aggressive the savings portfolio will be. The investment provides “opportunity to grow savings while the child is younger and better safeguard savings against market fluctuations when the child nears college age,” according to the CalKIDS program guide.

Specifically, accounts for newborns, each new class of first graders and students in grades 1-5 during the 2021-22 school year are invested in a portfolio that corresponds to the year that they’re expected to enter a program after high school, or at age 18. The portfolio will become more conservative as the child gets older.

For students in grades 6-12 during the 2021-22 school year, the accounts are invested with a guaranteed, or fixed, rate of return on the investment.

Can I add to the account?

No, you cannot add money to the CalKIDS account. Parents or guardians can open a ScholarShare 529 account, which can be linked to the CalKIDS account so they can view the accounts in one place.

In fact, CalKIDS encourages families to open a ScholarShare 529 college savings account, which is a way for families to save even more money for their children, DeAnda said.

What if my student already graduated? What happens to unclaimed money?

The accounts remain active under a student’s name until the student turns 26 years old. Up until that age, students can claim the money.

If the account is not claimed by age 26, the account closes, and the money is reallocated to others in the CalKIDS program, DeAnda said.

What if I’m not sure if my child is considered low income?

CalKIDS has sent notification letters of program enrollment to over 3.3 million eligible students and nearly 270,000 students in last school year’s class of first graders.

Without the letters, to check student eligibility, families must enter students’ Statewide Student Identifier (SSID), a 10-digit number that appears on student transcripts or report cards, according to the CalKIDS website.

The California Department of Education provides CalKIDS with data on first graders in the late spring or early summer and asks parents to wait until then before checking for their child’s eligibility.

How do I access that SSID number to check eligibility or to register the account?

The SSID may be found on the parent’s or student’s school portal, transcript or report card.

The CalKIDS website instructs families to contact their child’s school or school district if they’re unsure of how or unable to locate the number.

How do I access or ‘claim’ the account?

The notification letter that CalKIDS sends families contains a unique CalKIDS Code that can be used to register the accounts. Even without the code, families can register the accounts.

To claim the student account:

  1. Visit the CalKIDS registration page to claim the account. Click here to register. 
  2. Enter the county where the student was enrolled (for a student in grades 1-12 in the 2021-22 school year; for a first grader, where the student was enrolled in 2022-23 or subsequent years)
  3. Enter student’s date of birth
  4. Enter the SSID or CalKIDS Code from the notification letter
  5. Click Register
  6. Set up the account, either as the child or as the parent/guardian, with a username and password

To claim the newborn account, which should be available about 90 days after birth:

  1. Visit the CalKIDS registration page to claim the account.
  2. Enter the county where the child was born
  3. Enter child’s date of birth
  4. Enter the Local Registration Number on the child’s birth certificate or CalKIDS Code from the notification letter
  5. Click Register
  6. Set up the account, either as the child or as the parent/guardian, with a username and password

I still need help. How do I get additional support?

Contact CalKIDS at (888) 445-2377 or https://calkids.org/contact-us/

The CalKIDS team is also hosting an April 17 webinar to outline the program, eligibility, account registration, fund distribution and benefits. To sign up for the webinar, click here. 

How does my high school graduate make a withdrawal to use the money?

According to the CalKIDS program guide, to request a distribution, log into the claimed CalKIDS account and request a distribution, which doesn’t have to be for the entire amount. The funds are tax-free for the qualified expenses of tuition, books, fees, computers and equipment.

The student must be at least 17 years old and enrolled at an eligible institution.

The CalKIDS money, which will be sent to the institution, is considered a scholarship from the state of California.

 

 

30th Contra Costa Annual César E. Chávez commemorative celebration & 2024 Youth Hall of Fame Awards presentation March 26

By Leave a Comment

Ballet Folklórico Netzahualcoyotl dancers will perform accompanied by Mariachi Monumental. Photo from Contra Costa County District 5 Chief of Staff David Fraser.

Únase a nosotros el martes 26 de marzo de 2024 para la 30ª Celebración Conmemorativa Anual de César E. Chávez.

During Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors meeting

This year’s theme: Perseverance & Progress – Perseverancia y Progreso.

By Kristi Jourdan, PIO, Contra Costa County

(Martinez, CA) – The Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors will honor César E. Chávez in a celebration recognizing his commitment to social justice and respect for human dignity. The 30th Annual César E. Chávez Commemorative Celebration will be at 11 a.m., Tuesday, March 26, in Board Chambers at 1025 Escobar Street in Martinez.

“We honor César E. Chávez and recognize his legacy of fighting injustice and improving the lives of farmworkers, their families, and so many others. We are inspired to once again commit ourselves to service to others,” said Board Chair Supervisor Federal Glover. “We also recognize our 2024 Youth Hall of Fame awardees whose commitment to service and community are to be celebrated and are the force moving forward Cesar Chavez’s legacy.”

The theme for this year’s celebration is Perseverance & Progress – Perseverancia y Progreso. The festival will feature keynote speaker Contra Costa Community College District Trustee Fernando Sandoval who was raised in the City of Pittsburg where he also attended school. Fernando joined the U.S. Navy like Cesar Chavez. Fernando played an instrumental role aboard the USS Enterprise during the Vietnam War, where his expertise in data systems previewed the vital importance of STEM education, a field he continues to support passionately. Fernando’s book, “From Tortilla Chips to Computer Chips,” is a testament to his life’s work and an educational and motivational touchstone for students and educators alike. Fernando continues to embody the value of education, community, and family like Cesar Chavez.

The event will include presentation of the 2024 Youth Hall of Fame Awards to students who make outstanding community contributions, live performances by Mariachi Monumental and Ballet Folklórico Netzahualcoyotl, spoken word performance by Jose Cordon, and celebratory remarks from members of the Board of Supervisors.

County’s 2024 Youth Hall of Fame Awards winners:

High School Awardees:

Volunteerism: Mariella Cajina, Carondelet High School

Teamwork: Neil Chandran, Monte Vista High School

Perseverance: Aditya Narayan, Dougherty Valley High School

Leadership & Civic Engagement: Morelia Gil-Cubillo, Antioch High School

Good Samaritan: Nitya Varanasi, California High School

Innovation and Empowerment: Alice Zhou, Miramonte High School

Middle School Rising Stars:

Volunteerism Rising Star: Samhita Chikoti, Gale Ranch Middle School

Leadership & Civic Engagement Rising Star: Dhruv Subramanian, Windermere Ranch Middle School

The annual celebration honors the diversity and richness of our community. Community members can also join the event live on Contra Costa Television channels and the County’s website.

To learn more about the César E. Chávez Ceremony, visit www.contracosta.ca.gov/6039 on the Contra Costa County website. The community can also watch the event live online at www.contracosta.ca.gov/6086 or www.contracostatv.org. The celebration will broadcast live on Contra Costa Television channels: Comcast Cable 27, ATT/U-Verse 99, and Astound 32 & 1027.

CCC College District Ward 5 Trustee Sandoval issues report on the district

By Leave a Comment

Ward 5 Trustee Fernando Sandoval official photo. Source: 4CD

I thought I would update our communities. In this day and age, it’s so important that we continue to provide accessible quality education for our communities so we can build and sustain a skilled and educated workforce.

Heading into 2024 and final year of my term as a Trustee for Ward 5 in Contra Costa Community College District I would like to underscore my role and the successes of the District.

Coming onto the board I brought my experiences as a positive collaborator, consensus builder, positions in Technology and Finance and understanding the issues in the communities we serve. Coming out of  the pandemic my role is to contribute to support increasing enrollment, oversight of policies, helping set priorities, educational quality, financial review’s for approval of budget, selection of our Chancellor  and approve key leadership positions.

Education is a key to helping our communities improve as valued members of our workforce. Beyond Associate Degree Transfer programs we continue to support pre-apprenticeship and apprenticeship programs as part of our wide array of CTE programs with valuable skills certifications.

Some of our priorities included Leadership Stability, Educational Quality and Equity, Workforce Development and Community Partnerships. I am sharing the results of these efforts as the recent President of the Governing Board of Trustees and overall, as a key member of the board.

I worked to create a respectful approach in building relationships with fellow board members and restoring the trust of the 3 Academic Senate bodies as we together moved forward in a shared governance model.

Our faculty and staff are the heart of the District and we worked closely with United Faculty and Local 1 on new contract agreements to ensure the needs of its members were addressed and aligned with our priorities and ensuring financial stability for the future.

Leadership Stability: Having a transformative leadership team drives our mission, prepares us to meet the challenges of the future and provides stability for our faculty, staff and for student success.  Approvals completed for the following key positions:

Chancellor – Mojdeh Mehdizadh

Executive Vice Chancellor – Micaela Ochoa

Chief Finance Officer – Tony Wold

Director of Human Resources – Dan Cueva

President Los Medanos College – Pamela Ralston

President Contra Costa College – Kimberly Rogers

Educational Quality and Equity:  Our Colleges continue to receive recognition and here is a snapshot of these recognitions. The commitment of our faculty and classified professionals are underscored in the way students thrive and rise to succeed.

Los Medanos College – Aspen Institute Award – Recognized as 1 of the top 150 colleges for Community College excellence. The 6 critical areas reviewed for this award are teaching and learning, transfer and bachelor’s attainment, workforce success, access, and equity for students of color and students from low-income backgrounds. Received 2021 Equity Champion Award for transferring students.

Diablo Valley College – Ranked as #1 in the state in transfers to UC Berkeley, Saint Mary’s College, and Cal State Maritime Academy.

Additionally, DVC ranked in the top 5 for large schools Community Colleges in California based on graduation and transfer rates.

Contra Costa College – Chosen as one of the 10 US Colleges to participate in Achieving the Dream (ATD), a program that uses high-level coaching and other resources to help community colleges collect and analyze data, then use those findings to help students succeed.

Recognized for their Center for Science Excellence and Green Energy Programs and also offering the only Hybrid Technician Certification in the Bay Area. CCC continues to be a leader in Culinary Arts and Journalism.

Equity– The District was awarded a grant by the State Chancellor’s office to research and create the framework for a Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging framework as part of an Institutional Effective Plan to improve our culture of belonging and improve student success.

Los Medanos College and Contra Costa College are recognized as Hispanic Serving Institutions with robust STEM programs. The Puente, Umoja, and African American Male Leadership programs thrive in the District and lead to a unique experience for students and faculty.

Partnerships and Community Engagement: I diligently provided the details needed to have Diablo Valley College partner with United Latino Voices and the Mount DIablo School District to increase enrollment and pilot an augment outreach and enrollment through culturally and linguistically diverse approaches.

The pilot may lead to DVC submitting and receiving a Hispanic Service Institution (HSI) designation allowing for additional grant proposals. LMC and CCC are existing HSI colleges in our District.

Working on partnerships with the East Bay Leadership Council, Contra Costa School Board Association, Dual Enrollment, Concurrent Enrollment and Non-profits continue to reap benefits.

Workforce Development: The Colleges offer unique leadership opportunities and continue to innovate in the area of workforce development for future jobs to support the growing needs of the county. Our new Learning Aligned Education Program (LAEP) offers for-profit employers 50% reimbursement and non-profits 90% reimbursement for the cost of internships if they invest in our students. Our advanced robotics program in which we partner with Tesla provides the skills for immediate employment.

Certifications for Firefighting, Process Power Technology, Nursing, Early Childhood Education and Police Services continue to provide valuable skills.

Graduates and Certificates: The most recent graduating class in 2023 conferred completions for 7,702 degrees and certificates, including 2,133 Associates in Science, 2,204 Associates of Arts and 3,365 Certifications across our District.

Enrollment: The efforts of the colleges to regain students as part of outreach and enrollment associated with the pandemic and economy continues to show results. Year to year enrollment has continued to increase FTE’s enrollment is up by 9.3% across the district prior year point in time.

Our work is not done. We need to keep our bar raised to improve enrollment and provide educational services for our communities to support our labor needs.

Financial Stability: The recent audit just completed showed strength in our finances and no issues with our Bond Oversight continuing to ensure that our expenditures are in alignment with policies and practices and align with the voters expectations as we invest in our facilities and as we review future needs.

Modernization: Bonds passed by our residents resulting in a new Science Building at Contra Costa College, a new Student Union and Kinesiology Building at Los Medanos College as well as modernizing facilities at Diablo Valley College. This investment will support the future needs of our students.

Advocacy: We continue to work with our legislators to aid in support and this resulted in a $1,000,000 grant by Congressman DeSaulner and Senator Padilla to the District for driving our Open Educational Resources program to reduce the cost of books for our students.

Thank you, again for support in my role

Fernando Sandoval

Ward 5 Trustee

Past President- Governing Board of Trustees

Contra Costa Community College District