Tag: Ventura County Office of Education

Masks Mandate for Ventura County Students Ends after March 11

by  •  • Comments Off on Masks Mandate for Ventura County Students Ends after March 11

Students at public and private K-12 schools in Ventura County and throughout California will no longer be required to wear masks after March 11, regardless of their vaccination status. Governor Gavin Newsom’s administration made the announcement today, saying COVID-19 conditions have sufficiently improved to warrant the change.

The state’s decision to lift the mask mandate for students is in line with guidelines issued Friday by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The CDC says schools should only mandate masks when COVID cases and hospitalizations are high in the counties where they are located. Ventura County’s rates are in the medium category according to the CDC’s website.

Read more →

Oak Park High School Wins 2022 Ventura County Mock Trial

by  •  • Comments Off on Oak Park High School Wins 2022 Ventura County Mock Trial

The Ventura County Office of Education is pleased to announce that Oak Park High School’s Team A is the winner of the 2022 Ventura County Mock Trial competition. Westlake High School’s Team A came in second, and Newbury Park High School’s Team A took third place. The winning teams were announced during a live virtual awards ceremony this evening following the final rounds of competition. For the second consecutive year, Mock Trial was held virtually due to the pandemic. Tonight’s final rounds were streamed live so friends, family and the public could watch the participants argue their cases.

A total of 30 teams from 22 high schools throughout Ventura County participated in this year’s competition, which began on February 8. Here is how the top eight teams placed:

Read more →

State to Consider Lifting School Mask Mandate in Two Weeks

by  •  • Comments Off on State to Consider Lifting School Mask Mandate in Two Weeks

Starting this Wednesday, vaccinated Californians will no longer be required to wear masks in public places, but the mask mandate will remain in effect for K-12 schools for at least two more weeks. Today, the state set February 28 as the date to consider lifting the mask requirement at schools. Dr. Mark Ghaly, Secretary of the California Health & Human Services Agency, made the announcement today, saying that additional time is needed to evaluate the latest data about the spread of COVID-19.

Read more →

Ventura County Office of Education — Say Thanks to Teachers and School Employees

by  •  • Comments Off on Ventura County Office of Education — Say Thanks to Teachers and School Employees

Ventura County education employees are going above and beyond to keep schools operating during the pandemic. And “thank you” is something they don’t hear often enough.

That’s why Ventura County Superintendent of Schools, Dr. César Morales, is encouraging everyone in the community to send a message of thanks to a school employee and email it to news@vcoe.org. We’ll highlight some of the messages on our website and social media. So please take a minute to write a note to that special someone who’s making a difference for kids.

You can also read Dr. Morales’s own message of gratitude to school employees at this link.

Read more →

Half a Million N95 Masks to be Provided to Ventura County Schools

by  •  • Comments Off on Half a Million N95 Masks to be Provided to Ventura County Schools

The State of California completed delivery of 514,562 N95 masks to the Ventura County Office of Education in Camarillo today. The masks will be distributed to Ventura County public and private K-12 schools for voluntary use by students and staff. Each school and district will develop its own procedure for making the masks available.

N95 masks fit snugly to the face and provide a higher level of protection from the coronavirus than the more common surgical masks. The CDC says N95 masks filter out at least 95% of airborne particles.

Read more →

Ventura County Schools to Prioritize Safety Upon Return from Winter Break

by  •  • Comments Off on Ventura County Schools to Prioritize Safety Upon Return from Winter Break

As Ventura County students prepare to return from winter break amid increasing COVID-19 cases in the community, local school leaders are taking all possible steps to ensure the safety of students and employees

While some colleges and universities have announced plans to revert to distance learning temporarily, this is not an option for Pre-K-12 schools. The State of California does not currently permit Pre-K-12 schools to offer distance learning and expects all schools to keep their doors open for in-person instruction. Schools do provide an independent study option that allows students to learn from home. But unlike distance learning, it must be requested individually by families and is not intended to serve large numbers of students.

“The Ventura County Office of Education is continuing to work closely with Ventura County Public Health and our local school districts to ensure the safety of students and staff,” said Dr. César Morales, Ventura County Superintendent of Schools. “A major effort is underway to expand optional COVID-19 testing for students so we can reduce the chances of the virus spreading at school. Many school districts have been working diligently during the winter break to distribute home test kits to families, and we expect a greater supply of kits to be available soon.” Free testing is also available at locations throughout Ventura County.

Read more →

Ventura County Office of Education — Schools Respond to New Social Media Threat

by  •  • Comments Off on Ventura County Office of Education — Schools Respond to New Social Media Threat

The Ventura County Office of Education is aware of new rumors circulating on social media, specifically TikTok, threatening violence at schools nationwide on December 17. While these threats are unsubstantiated and do not mention Ventura County schools specifically, some local schools may be taking extra safety measures around their campuses on December 17. Many also have counselors available for students who would like to speak to someone. Ensuring that schools are safe places for students and staff to learn and grow will remain the top priority.

Despite the recent increase in inappropriate social media activity across the country, we are grateful that the vast majority of students do the right thing every day. Families who would like to talk with their students about this situation may find the attached handout helpful. And here are some key points to make with students:

Read more →

Ventura County Office of Education — Responding to Social Media Threats and Bullying

by  •  • Comments Off on Ventura County Office of Education — Responding to Social Media Threats and Bullying

Across the country and here in Ventura County, schools are seeing a concerning increase in students making inappropriate and potentially dangerous posts to social media, particularly on Instagram. These posts have included threats of violence and embarrassing pictures of students and staff members who didn’t know they were being photographed. In some cases, students create accounts that fraudulently appear to represent their school.

Read more →

Ventura County Office of Education presenting ‘Emotional Wellbeing Conferences for Parents and Educators’ on Sept. 20-24

by  •  • Comments Off on Ventura County Office of Education presenting ‘Emotional Wellbeing Conferences for Parents and Educators’ on Sept. 20-24

The Ventura County Office of Education is presenting two free, virtual conferences to help address the emotional toll the COVID-19 pandemic is taking on parents, caregivers and school employees. Entitled “Living Well: Healthy Children Need Healthy Adults,” the conferences will give attendees strategies and tools to use every day to increase resiliency, manage stress and improve overall wellness.

“Over the past year and a half, there’s been much well-deserved attention to the emotional impact the pandemic is having on children,” said Dr. César Morales, Ventura County Superintendent of Schools. “It’s also vital that we recognize the ways it’s affecting us as adults. When we take the time to improve our own wellbeing, we’re better able to meet the needs of our kids as educators and parents.”

Read more →

Bilingual report — Ventura County Office of Education — Live Back to School Q&A on Monday, August 16 at 6:00 PM

by  •  • Comments Off on Bilingual report — Ventura County Office of Education — Live Back to School Q&A on Monday, August 16 at 6:00 PM

From COVID-19 safety to student mental health, there are many questions about the new school year that is now getting underway in Ventura County. Dr. César Morales, Ventura County Superintendent of Schools, will address some of these pressing questions in a live virtual Q&A on Monday, August 16 at 6:00 PM.

Read more →

Ventura County Office of Education — State to Require Vaccination or Testing for School Employees

by  •  • Comments Off on Ventura County Office of Education — State to Require Vaccination or Testing for School Employees

Dr. César Morales, Ventura County Superintendent of Schools, (on Aug. 11) applauded a new move by the State of California to require all school employees to be vaccinated against COVID-19 or undergo weekly testing. “With the continuing spread of the highly contagious Delta variant, this is a commonsense step that will help ensure the safety of students and employees as schools reopen for the new year,” said Dr. Morales. “Most school employees are already vaccinated, and I’m confident others will now follow suit.”

Read more →

Combatting Teen Vaping is Focus of New Website

by  •  • Comments Off on Combatting Teen Vaping is Focus of New Website

The Ventura County Office of Education has launched a new website called The Triple Threat to Teen Health that’s aimed at combatting the serious problem of teen vaping. The website is available in English and Spanish at vaping.vcoe.org. “While many may think vaping is a safer alternative to smoking cigarettes, the most popular vaping products all contain nicotine and have a high potential for addiction,” said Dr. César Morales, Ventura County Superintendent of Schools. “This new website gives parents, guardians, students and educators an important tool to learn about the real risks that vaping poses to our students,” he said.

Read more →

The Ventura County Class of 2021 Impresses and Inspires Amid Pandemic Challenges

by  •  • Comments Off on The Ventura County Class of 2021 Impresses and Inspires Amid Pandemic Challenges

After an entire school year in the shadow of the coronavirus pandemic, we are beginning to see the light at the end of the tunnel. Last year’s drive-through graduation events are being replaced with in-person ceremonies – some of them even held indoors.

Like the class of 2020 before them, high school students in the graduating class of 2021 have shown incredible resilience and perseverance throughout the pandemic. They’ve adapted to distance learning and social distancing and the strange realities of returning to school during a global health emergency.

Read more →

Relaxed School Distancing Rules are Another Sign of Progress

by  •  • Comments Off on Relaxed School Distancing Rules are Another Sign of Progress

In a new sign of progress in the battle against the coronavirus, health officials have reduced the minimum required distance between students in a classroom from six feet to three feet. The change came quickly after the CDC announced the new three foot guidelines last Friday. The California Department of Public Health, which sets the baseline rules that Ventura County schools must follow, soon followed suit. Ventura County Public Health, which has the authority to impose stricter rules than the state, also adopted the three foot distancing guideline. Studies show the reduced distancing between students in class does not significantly increase the risk of virus spread as long as students and staff are all correctly wearing masks on a consistent basis. The rules still require six foot distancing between students and staff members.

Read more →

More Schools to Reopen as Ventura County Moves to Red Tier

by  •  • Comments Off on More Schools to Reopen as Ventura County Moves to Red Tier

More public schools will be reopening to in-person instruction now that Ventura County is moving to the less restrictive red tier in the State’s coronavirus monitoring system. The move from the purple to the red tier will take effect this Wednesday as COVID-19 rates decline in Ventura County and after the State eased the threshold to switch tiers because of increasing vaccination levels.

The change opens the door for schools that had not reopened the last time the County was in the red tier to do so at all grade levels, including middle and high school. Most schools that open to in-person instruction use hybrid schedules that include some time on distance learning. This is necessary because social distancing requirements prevent many schools from bringing all students back to class in-person full time.

Read more →

More Elementary Schools Permitted to Reopen as Educator Vaccinations are Set to Begin

by  •  • Comments Off on More Elementary Schools Permitted to Reopen as Educator Vaccinations are Set to Begin

Ventura County has reached a COVID-19 case rate that allows all elementary schools to resume in-person instruction as early as today if they choose to do so and have taken required safety measures. At the same time, the County of Ventura will begin vaccinating teachers starting next Monday. “These two developments are encouraging steps in the effort to safely bring more students and teachers back to the classroom,” said Dr. Cesar Morales, Deputy Superintendent for the Ventura County Office of Education.

Read more →

Magana Education and the Ventura County Office of Education Announce New CyberLeader Lab

by  •  • Comments Off on Magana Education and the Ventura County Office of Education Announce New CyberLeader Lab

Breakthrough, peer-reviewed research from Dr. Sonny Magana was shown to double student learning productivity regardless of grade band or content area. The Ventura County Office of Education has partnered with Magana Education to expand their highly successful CyberTeacher training system with the new CyberLeader Lab.

Read more →

Ventura County School Reopening Plans Impacted as COVID-19 Cases Rise Statewide

by  •  • Comments Off on Ventura County School Reopening Plans Impacted as COVID-19 Cases Rise Statewide

In response to a statewide spike in new coronavirus infections, Ventura County and 28 other counties were suddenly moved back to the most restrictive purple tier of California’s color-coded tracking system on Monday, November 16. Facing an unprecedented surge in COVID-19 cases, Governor Gavin Newsom said he was “pulling an emergency brake.”

Now that Ventura County is back in the purple tier, schools and districts that had already reopened are permitted to continue with in-person instruction according to state and local regulations. However, individual schools that have not yet reopened will need to wait until the County moves back to the less restrictive red tier and stays there for 14 days.

Read more →

School Reopening Plans May Change as Ventura County COVID-19 Cases Rise

by  •  • Comments Off on School Reopening Plans May Change as Ventura County COVID-19 Cases Rise

Some Ventura County schools could have to delay their plans to resume in-person instruction if the County falls back to the most restrictive level – the purple tier – on the state’s coronavirus watch list, which is looking increasingly likely. Due to a growing number of COVID-19 cases, County health officials anticipate the move back to the purple tier could happen as early as next Tuesday, November 17, but is most likely to occur a week after that on Tuesday, November 24.

Read more →

Ventura County Schools Will Consider Reopening Dates as Ventura County Coronavirus Status Improves

by  •  • Comments Off on Ventura County Schools Will Consider Reopening Dates as Ventura County Coronavirus Status Improves

Ventura County (on Oct. 6) moved off the most restrictive tier of the state’s COVID-19 watch list, which means schools could soon have the option of reopening for in-person instruction at all grade levels. If Ventura County maintains its status for two additional weeks, schools may choose to reopen as early as Wednesday, October 21. However, it will be up to each individual school district to determine exactly when they can safely begin welcoming students back to class. Some schools may choose to reopen their campuses later than October 21 for a variety of reasons.

Read more →

The Road to Reopening Ventura County Schools

by  •  • Comments Off on The Road to Reopening Ventura County Schools

The prospect of students returning to their classrooms is getting closer to reality as the coronavirus situation in Ventura County starts to improve. Before schools are allowed to reopen to all students, Ventura County must move off the most restrictive level – the purple tier – on the state’s coronavirus watch list and stay off of it for two weeks.

Read more →

Two Ventura County Schools Win National Blue Ribbon Honors

by  •  • Comments Off on Two Ventura County Schools Win National Blue Ribbon Honors

Two Ventura County Schools have been named National Blue Ribbon Schools for 2020 by the U.S. Department of Education. The schools were selected based on or their progress in closing achievement gaps among student subgroups. The Ventura County winners are among 367 public and private schools to be selected nationwide. The local honorees are:

Meadows Arts and Technology Elementary School in Thousand Oaks
Charter school authorized by the Ventura County Office of Education

Weathersfield Elementary School in Thousand Oaks
Conejo Valley Unified School District

Read more →

All Ventura County Schools to Begin New Year with Only Distance Learning

by  •  • Comments Off on All Ventura County Schools to Begin New Year with Only Distance Learning

Following the release of new state guidelines announced (on July 17) by Governor Gavin Newsom, all Ventura County school districts and charter schools will begin the new school year using distance learning without bringing students back to their campuses. The new guidance comes a day after most Ventura County schools had already committed to beginning the year with distance learning in support of the effort to slow the spread of the coronavirus.

Read more →

Framework for Reopening Ventura County Schools is Released

by  •  • Comments Off on Framework for Reopening Ventura County Schools is Released

The Ventura County Office of Education on July 10 released a document intended to help local public schools prepare for the start of the 2020-2021 school year. The Framework for Reopening Ventura County Schools was prepared by the Ventura County Office of Education in consultation with Ventura County Public Health and the county’s school districts and charter schools.

Read more →

In an Unsettled World, the Ventura County Class of 2020 is Ready to Lead

by  •  • Comments Off on In an Unsettled World, the Ventura County Class of 2020 is Ready to Lead

It’s safe to say there has never been a senior year quite like this one. In March, the coronavirus crisis abruptly forced students from their schools and into a strange new world of distance learning. Then at the end of May, the death of George Floyd and resulting protests threw important and difficult issues of racism and equity into the spotlight in a way most students have never experienced.

This is the time of year when graduating seniors are usually celebrating with friends, attending proms and receiving their hard-earned diplomas in front of crowds of beaming family and friends. Instead, they are participating in car caravans, watching virtual graduations and contemplating an unsettled world where our economy, our social fabric, even our basic health and safety seem far from secure.

Against this backdrop, I am proud to introduce you to some remarkable Ventura County graduates who aren’t letting the difficulties of our current moment extinguish their spirit or stop them from pursuing their dreams. Among them are students who have personally felt the sting of social inequity and found the inner strength to rise above.

Read more →

VCOE Statement on Potential Early Reopening of School Campuses

by  •  • Comments Off on VCOE Statement on Potential Early Reopening of School Campuses

The California Department of Education on April 29 announced it is studying options for reopening school campuses after Governor Newsom suggested they could open as early as July or August. Many questions remain about the safety, fiscal and labor implications of reopening campuses before the traditional start of the next school year. For now, there has been no alteration to existing school calendars.

Read more →

All Ventura County School Districts to Close Campuses Through Remainder of School Year

by  •  • Comments Off on All Ventura County School Districts to Close Campuses Through Remainder of School Year

Distance Learning and School Meals Will Continue VENTURA COUNTY — All Ventura County School Districts today agreed to keep their campuses closed through the end of the school year in support of the coronavirus mitigation effort. The decision was made…

Read more →

$10,500 in Grants Available to Ventura County Teachers

by  •  • Comments Off on $10,500 in Grants Available to Ventura County Teachers

IMPACT II Grant Applications Due April 2, 2020 Teachers in Ventura County are invited to apply for a share of $10,500 in grants that reward innovative teaching methods. The IMPACT II grant program is accepting applications through April 2, 2020.…

Read more →

2020 Ventura County Academic Decathlon Winners

by  •  • Comments Off on 2020 Ventura County Academic Decathlon Winners

VENTURA COUNTY — The Ventura County Office of Education is pleased to announce the winners of the 2020 Ventura County Academic Decathlon, which was held in Oxnard over the past two Saturdays. Calabasas High School won both first and second place…

Read more →

California Distinguished Schools Include Nine in Ventura County

by  •  • Comments Off on California Distinguished Schools Include Nine in Ventura County

VENTURA COUNTY — Nine Ventura County elementary schools are being honored as 2020 California Distinguished Schools by the California Department of Education. Schools are awarded for their work toward closing the achievement gap and for achieving exceptional student performance. Schools that…

Read more →

Ventura County School Data Available in 2019 Dashboard

by  •  • Comments Off on Ventura County School Data Available in 2019 Dashboard

VENTURA COUNTY — A wealth of data about the performance of Ventura County schools and districts is now available in the 2019 California School Dashboard, which was released today by the California Department of Education (CDE). In addition to reporting on…

Read more →

Get to Know Ventura County’s School Districts

by  •  • Comments Off on Get to Know Ventura County’s School Districts

  Fall 2019 Stanley C. Mantooth, Ventura County Superintendent of Schools 20 School Districts – Each as Unique as Ventura County Ventura County is home to twenty different school districts, each one as diverse as the students they serve. The…

Read more →

Dr. Cesar Morales Honored with National Educational Award

by  •  • Comments Off on Dr. Cesar Morales Honored with National Educational Award

VENTURA COUNTY — Dr. Cesar Morales, Associate Superintendent of Student Services at the Ventura County Office of Education, is one of just 17 educators nationwide to receive the 2019 Excellence in Educational Leadership Award from the University Council for Educational Administration…

Read more →

Meet the 2019 Ventura County Teacher of the Year: Jan-Erik Sand from Isbell Middle School in Santa Paula

by  •  • Comments Off on Meet the 2019 Ventura County Teacher of the Year: Jan-Erik Sand from Isbell Middle School in Santa Paula

VENTURA COUNTY —The Ventura County Office of Education (VCOE) is pleased to announce that Jan-Erik Sand of Isbell Middle School in the Santa Paula Unified School District (SPUSD) is the 2019 Ventura County Teacher of the Year. Sand and his…

Read more →

Ventura County Mock Trial Semifinalists Announced

by  •  • Comments Off on Ventura County Mock Trial Semifinalists Announced

Public Invited as Competition Continues Tonight and Tomorrow The eight high school teams that will advance to the semifinals of the 2019 Ventura County Mock Trial were announced Feb. 27 by the Ventura County Office of Education. The semifinalists received…

Read more →

Updated Dashboard Provides Clearer Picture of School Performance in Ventura County, throughout the state

by  •  • Comments Off on Updated Dashboard Provides Clearer Picture of School Performance in Ventura County, throughout the state

A redesigned and expanded California School Dashboard is now available to the public at www.caschooldashboard.org. The Dashboard, which debuted in 2017, has a new look that makes it easier to see how individual schools and districts are performing in six…

Read more →

Ventura County CAASPP Test Scores Released

by  •  • Comments Off on Ventura County CAASPP Test Scores Released

VENTURA COUNTY — Ventura County students maintained their scores on the statewide California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP) test, according to new data released by the California Department of Education. The percentage of Ventura County students who met…

Read more →

Ventura County Office of Education update for June 6

by  •  • Comments Off on Ventura County Office of Education update for June 6

Summer 2018 Stanley C. Mantooth, Ventura County Superintendent of Schools Graduating seniors inspire hope in uncertain times As thousands of Ventura County high school students don their caps and gowns and receive their diplomas this year, they’re graduating into a…

Read more →

Winners of the VC Innovates 2018 Pathfinder Awards Announced

by  •  • Comments Off on Winners of the VC Innovates 2018 Pathfinder Awards Announced

CAMARILLO — VC Innovates 2018 Pathfinder Awards on May 10 were presented to this year’s most innovative educators, business and community partners for their support of Career and Technical Education. Twenty-five award recipients selected by each of the education partner school…

Read more →

Ventura County Teachers Honored for Innovation in the Classroom

by  •  • Comments Off on Ventura County Teachers Honored for Innovation in the Classroom

VENTURA COUNTY — Teachers from throughout Ventura County are being honored with $13,000 in grants for developing innovative lessons for their students. At a ceremony tonight in Oxnard, the Ventura County Office of Education presented 22 IMPACT II grants to 30 teachers from 12…

Read more →