2017 Merced County Schools Annual Education Report

MERCED COUNTY SCHOOLS ANNUAL EDUCATION REPORT 2017

MESSAGE FROM THE SUPERINTENDENT

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ou might have noticed that the annual report has a new look this year; the color orange has replaced aqua and reinforces the excitement we feel for our new guiding principle: NURTURE – SERVE – LEAD As you read this year’s Annual Education Report, please note that every program, partnership, and policy is designed with this principle at its core. Additionally, the work of each department is focused on this standard. Early Education and the Special Education departments work at nurturing children and their parents. Educational Services guides school districts and staff as programs are developed and implemented.

Business Services and Human Resources departments ensure that schools are equipped with the best technology and most qualified staff to lead innovation. We provide leadership to our county in many ways beyond the traditional K-12 education.

Of special interest in this year’s report are the many services the Early Education department provides our youngest learners and their parents. Quality early education is absolutely critical to the academic success of students and their eventual ability to realize their goals and talents and to lead fulfilling lives. The most important learning years in a child’s life are from birth to three years old.

This report emphasizes the teamwork necessary to create a quality preschool program – especially in such a large geographical area as Merced County. While some of our school districts run their own preschool programs, others rely on the support of the Merced County Office of Education. MCOE, together with our partner institution Merced College, provides training programs to develop the high-quality workforce needed to staff both public and privately-run preschools. The Early Education Department also provides referral services for parents looking for high-quality child care in Merced County and works to ensure those preschools and private home placements meet state standards. Additionally, the Merced County Parent Institute works to nurture parents in their role as their child’s first teacher. This highly effective program is sponsored by MCOE’s Early Education Department, the Merced Union High School District, and other agencies.

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Dove-tailing on our early education spotlight is our focus on literacy (because the ability to read well stems from being read to as a child). Too frequently I hear from parents that, “I want my child to do better in school than I did, but I don’t know how to make that happen.” Statements like this are heartbreaking.

They also inform us that a focus on literacy is absolutely crucial.

Inadequate literacy is a barrier to improved economic stability for too many children and residents in our county.

On April 20th, community and business leaders will convene.

Our goal is to build a culture of improved literacy that will increase not only academic performance, but also build a better job skills set with the ultimate goal of creating better job opportunities for our county’s children. If you feel compelled to help change educational and vocational opportunities for the children of Merced County, please join us on April 20th.

On another note, renovations at Camp Green Meadows are moving forward. Septic system plans are complete and being reviewed by the U.S. Forest Service. The new nurse’s station and classroom plans are being finalized. We are excited to begin these projects.

Five hundred acres of almond trees have just been planted on the Virginia Smith Trust property south of UC Merced. These trees will grow the scholarship fund to $500,000 per year by the time the current high school sophomores reach their junior year in college (and qualify for the scholarships).

This is academic competition and science fair season. Please come out and cheer for your local school at these events: STEM Fair – March 8th at the Merced Fairgrounds and Academic Pentathlon – April 14th at Merced High School.

I hope that you find this year’s report informative and useful.

Merced County is a great place to raise children. Let's make the most of 2018!

Steve M. Tietjen, Ed.D. Merced County Superintendent of Schools

MERCED COUNTY OFFICE OF EDUCATION Steve M. Tietjen Ed.D. County Superintendent of Schools

Christie Hendricks Assistant Superintendent Early Education

John Magneson Assistant Superintendent Educational Services

Susan Coston Assistant Superintendent Special Education

Janet Riley Assistant Superintendent Business Services

Eva Chavez Assistant Superintendent Human Resources

Mission The mission of Merced County Office of Education, as the educational leader of the Central Valley and trusted community partner, is to transform education and inspire personal, social, and academic achievement of students through collaborative partnerships, accountable leadership and innovative, high-quality programs and services.

Overarching Strategic Goals Annually, all staff will report improved communication, morale, trust, and accountability within MCOE. All clients will report that MCOE has provided innovative and high quality programs that resulted in increased learning.

Clients will report that MCOE has promoted a college-going culture and meaningful career pathways; the number of Merced County students enrolling and succeeding in institutions of higher education increased annually.

MCOE Schools

Atwater Valley Community School­­ 1800 Matthews Ave., Atwater 209-381-4550

Los Banos Valley Community School­­ 715 West H St., Los Banos 209-827-5600 Merced Valley Community School­­ 1850 Wardrobe Ave., Merced 209-381-4500 Floyd A. Schelby School 6738 N. Sultana Dr., Livingston 209-394-1800

Merced Scholars Charter School 808 W. 16th St., Merced 209-381-5165

Green Meadows Outdoor School 77798 White Chief MT. Rd., Fish Camp 559-642-0122

Merced County Juvenile Court School 2840 W. Sandy Mush Rd., Merced 209-381-1414

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MERCED COUNTY SCHOOLS Merced County schools were incorporated 160 years ago in 1856 when the first County Superintendent of Schools, William Nelson, petitioned the Board of Supervisors to divide the county into three school districts.

DELHI UNIFIED

HILMAR UNIFIED

MERCED RIVER

WINTON ELEMENTARY

LIVINGSTON UNION ELEMENTARY

MERCED CITY ATWATER ELEMENTARY

PLANADA ELEMENTARY

MC SWAIN UNION ELEMENTARY

WEAVER UNION ELEMENTARY LE GRAND ELEMENTARY

GUSTINE UNIFIED PLAINSBURG UNION ELEMENTARY EL NIDO ELEMENTARY

The first high school was established in 1895 with 27 students and two teachers under the administration of the County Board of Education. In 1897, a new high school was completed on the corner of 22nd and M Streets in Courthouse Square.

County Board of Education

LOS BANOS UNIFIED

Dennis Hanks

Area 1

Chris Chavez

Area 2

Merced Union High School District encompasses 8 districts

Stan Mollart

Area 3

Fred Honoré

Area 4

Le Grand Union High School District encompasses 3 districts

Tom Bates

Area 5

DOS PALOSORO LOMA UNIFIED

SCHOOL DISTRICT

SUPERINTENDENT

PHONE

Atwater Elementary School District

Sandra Schiber, Ed.D.

209-357-6100

Delhi Unified School District

Adolfo Melara

209-656-2000

Ballico-Cressey Elementary School District Dos Palos-Oro Loma Joint Unified School District El Nido Elementary School District Gustine Unified School District Hilmar Unified School District

Le Grand Union Elementary School District Le Grand Union High School District

Livingston Union Elementary School District Los Banos Unified School District

McSwain Union Elementary School District Merced City School District

Merced County Office of Education

Merced River Union Elementary School District Merced Union High School District

Plainsburg Union Elementary School District Planada Elementary School District

Snelling-Merced Falls Union Elementary School District Weaver Union School District

Winton Elementary School District

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BALLICOCRESSEY

TURLOCK

The 1860 census reported a population of 1,141 in Merced County and in 1863, the County Superintendent reported an enrollment of 267 children and a county schools budget of $1,000.

Today, there are 20 school districts with their own Boards of Trustees and Superintendents serving more than 58,000 TK-12 students with Steve M. Tietjen, Ed.D., as the 29th County Superintendent of Schools.

SNELLING-MERCED FALLS

Bliss Boesch (Interim) William Spalding

Rae Ann Jimenez Bryan Ballenger

Isabel Cabral-Johnson Rosina Hurtado Donna Alley

Andres Zamora

Mark Marshall, Ed.D. Steve Rosa

RoseMary Parga-Duran, Ed.D. Steve M. Tietjen, Ed.D. Richard Lopez Alan Peterson

Kristi Kingston

Jose Gonzalez Alison Kahl John Curry

Randall Heller

209-632-5371 209-392-0200 209-385-8420 209-854-3784 209-667-5701 209-389-4515 209-389-9403 209-394-5400 209-826-3801 209-354-2700 209-385-6600 209-381-6600 209-358-5679 209-325-2000 209-389-4707 209-382-0756 209-563-6414 209-723-7606 209-357-6175

BUDGET & STAFFING MCOE Staff

Merced County Schools Enrollment

Classified

798

65%

2014-15

57,011

Certificated

262

21%

2015-16

57,477

Management

170

14%

2016-17

58,271

TOTAL

1230

2017-18

58,811

The Merced County Office of Education provides services and support to the county’s 20 school districts.

MCOE has an elected County Superintendent of Schools and a governing board.

The County Superintendent is responsible for examining and approving school district budgets and expenditures and approving each school district's Local Control and Accountability Plan (LCAP). The passage of Assembly Bill 1200 in 1991 gave the County Superintendent additional powers to enforce sound budgeting to ensure the fiscal integrity for each school district. The Superintendent is also responsible for calling school district elections and assisting with school district emergencies by providing necessary services.

County Offices of Education support school districts by performing tasks that can be done more efficiently and economically at the county level. COEs provide or help formulate new curricula, staff development and training programs, and instructional procedures; design business and personnel systems; and perform many other services to meet changing needs and requirements.

When economic or technical conditions make county or regional services most appropriate for students, COEs provide a wide range of services, including special and vocational education, programs for youths at risk of failure, and instruction in juvenile detention facilities.

In addition, several statutes now give COEs responsibility for monitoring districts for adequate textbooks, facilities and teacher qualifications.

MCOE Operating Funds

Merced County School

Revenue 2014-2018

Districts' Budget 2014-2018

$110

$700

$650

$105

$600 $100

Millions

Millions

$550

$500

2014-15

2015-16

2016-17

2017-18

Totals include Local Control Funding Formula, federal, state and other local funding received through the general fund.

$95

2014-15

2015-16

2016-17

2017-18

Totals include Local Control Funding Formula, federal, state and other local funding received through the operating funds.

Source: Merced County Office of Education

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STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT & ACCOUNTABILITY Local Control When the Local Control Funding Formula (LCFF) was implemented by the state in 2013, school districts received freedom to locally design educational programs that address the eight state priorities and other locally established priorities.

As part of the budget planning process, school districts now have to design a Local Control and Accountability Plan (LCAP). LCAPs are a three-year plan that describes actions and services to meet goals that support positive student outcomes. Each LCAP is required to address the eight priorities identified by the state as integral to a student's success. Those include Basic (teachers, facilities, and instructional materials), Implementation of Academic Standards, Parent Engagement, Pupil Achievement, Pupil Engagement, School Climate, Course Access and Other Pupil Outcomes. Two additional state priorities, Expelled Pupils and Foster Youth, only apply to County Offices of Education.

Graduation Rates Merced County continues to outpace state gains in high school graduation rates, showing schools are better preparing students to succeed in the real world. In the 2009-10 school year, graduation rates hovered just over 78% in Merced County.

Since then, rates have soared more than 10 percentage points to 89.1%. Programs like Merced County Project 10% help to create a culture where students strive to do well in school and graduate. A partnership between UC Merced, the Merced County District Attorney’s Office, Merced College and MCOE allows college students to present to eighth graders across the county and inspire those students to finish high school and pursue college or university study.

GRADUATION RATE

SCHOOL DISTRICT Delhi Unified

Dos Palos-Oro Loma Joint Unified

California Dashboard

California’s new accountability and continuous improvement system, The California School Dashboard, contains reports that display the performance of local education agencies (LEAs), individual schools and student groups. The reports help to identify strengths, challenges and areas in need of improvement. The Dashboard covers different indicators or topics that impact overall student achievement and success.

The multilayered Dashboard replaces the single number or score used to rank a school or district's performance. It uses multiple measures to keep the focus on student equity and strengthen local control. The Dashboard measures how those priorities are being addressed and gives a layered look across districts, schools and student groups. This first year of the dashboard will establish a baseline to monitor progress over time. There will be changes as measures for indicators are finalized. The Dashboard ensures families, teachers, students and community members can review the performance of the school as they continue to engage in improving educational outcomes and ensuring all students are fully supported.

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Gustine Unified Hilmar Unified

95.1% 94.2% 93.8% 95.4%

Le Grand Union High

90.2%

Los Banos Unified

95.5%

Merced Union High

91.1%

Merced County Average

89.1%

California Average

83.8% Source: California Department of Education

English Learners English Learner students who have improved their English to a degree that they have been reclassified to fluent English proficient (RFEP) are among the best performing students in the state. In the 2016-17 school year, there were 12,643 students in this sub-group in Merced County, making up just over 20% of the overall student population. There are four criteria that must be met to reclassify a student as proficient: an assessment of English language proficiency (ELP); teacher evaluation; parent opinion and consultation; and comparison of student performance in basic skills.

OUR STUDENTS Merced County 6%

California

3% 3%

6%

7% Asian

9%

17%

Black Hispanic

72%

24%

SCHOOL DISTRICT

White

54%

ENROLLMENT

Other

ENGLISH LEARNERS

Atwater Elementary School District

4,964

1,445

29.1%

Delhi Unified School District

2,644

1,144

43.3%

164

111

Ballico-Cressey Elementary School District Dos Palos-Oro Loma Joint Unified School District El Nido Elementary School District Gustine Unified School District Hilmar Unified School District

Le Grand Union Elementary School District Le Grand Union High School District

Livingston Union Elementary School District

373

2,325

138

620

1,890

642

503

174

401 504

552 104

2,522

1,255

859

95

26.7% 67.7%

34.0% 23.0% 43.4% 20.7%

49.8%

Los Banos Unified School District

10,785

Merced City School District

10,902

2,632

24.1%

175

73

41.7%

McSwain Union Elementary School District Merced County Office of Education

Merced River Union Elementary School District Merced Union High School District

1,169

3,121

37.0%

257

10,377

880

807

428

Weaver Union School District

2,866

1,018

Winton Elementary School District

1,942

992

Plainsburg Union Elementary School District Planada Elementary School District

Snelling-Merced Falls Union Elementary School District

124 76

28.9%

11.1%

22.0% 8.5%

16

12.9%

25

32.9%

53.0% 35.5% 51.1%

Source: California Department of Education

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MERCED COUNTY PROGRAMS & PARTNERSHIPS MCOE & DA Team Up for Mock Trial For the first time since 1950, the original Merced County Courthouse hosted a trial. But this trial had high school students from throughout Merced County as the prosecution and defense and Merced County District Attorney Larry D. Morse II served as the presiding judge. In partnership with the Merced County District Attorney’s Office, MCOE hosted the county’s first Mock Trial and students from Dos Palos High School, Pacheco High School in Los Banos and Delhi High School participated in the trials in the historic courtroom on the second floor of the iconic building in Courthouse Park.

The hypothetical case gives students a better knowledge of the legal system and increases their analytical abilities, selfconfidence and communication skills. In 2018, MCOE has expanded the program to include more schools.

STEM Fair at Merced Fairgrounds MCOE hosted the county’s first STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) Fair showcasing 33 science projects from 66 students in grades 5 through 8, including Atwater Elementary, Delhi Unified, Merced City and Our Lady of Mercy. MCSD took top honors at the event and students from Tenaya and Hoover Middle Schools advanced to the state competition. Judges included local scientists or professors from UC Merced and Merced College, among others. In addition to projects on display from those school districts, other exhibits included a green screen provided by Merced Educational Television (METV), the MCOE Fab Lab and MCOE Teacher’s Center. This event was made possible by sponsorship from PG&E, MID and the Merced County Education Foundation.

Young Patriot Challenge The Merced County Young Patriot Challenge gives students an opportunity to give their perspective on the U.S. Bill of Rights in modern times through a poster, essay or speech. The contest, which is an annual event, is open to all Merced County students, including homeschooled students, and helps to assist teachers in complying with the federal mandate that the U.S. Constitution should be the subject of lessons and activities for appropriate classes during Constitution Day, which is Sept.

17. The theme for the 2017 Young Patriot Challenge was “Is the Bill of Rights still applicable in the 21st Century?” Middle school students competed by writing an essay and high school students gave a prepared speech explaining their position on the prompt. Elementary school students compete by developing posters around the theme “Symbols of the Constitution."

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Merced County Parent Institute The Merced County Parent Institute is one of the county's largest parent-engagement events with more than 500 participants.

Held annually at Merced’s Golden Valley High School, the event is hosted by MCOE's Early Education Department and the Merced Union High School District along with several other agencies and stresses the role parents have as their child's first teacher. Participants come from throughout the Central Valley and attend 25 workshops conducted in English, Spanish and Hmong. They also have the opportunity to visit nearly 100 exhibitors, including the Livingston Medical Group, area high schools, UC Merced, Merced College, the county’s Human Services Agency, parenting initiatives, Behavioral/Mental Health, credit unions, law enforcement, special education and migrant education programs, among others.

Dinner With A Scientist Middle school students are lucky enough to break bread with scientists at Dinner With A Scientist each spring. MCOE, in conjunction with UC Merced, hosts the event annually at the university. Dinner With A Scientist gives Merced County students the opportunity to interact with scientists from a variety of fields of study over dinner. Each table is assigned at least one scientist representing local organizations, such as UC Merced, San Luis Wildlife Refuge, Green Meadows Outdoor School, Hilmar Cheese, Foster Farms, Merced College and Fresno Chaffee Zoo, to name a few. Scientists have hands-on demonstrations for students. MCOE has hosted the event for more than a decade and now some students that attended in middle school are students at UC Merced.

Student-Run Credit Union Branches The Merced School Employees Federal Credit Union opened student-run branches at Le Grand and Delhi high schools in 2017. The branches serves students, staff members — and MSEFCU members in the community — several afternoons each week. Students can open checking and savings accounts and services are open to the community. Students must take finance classes and attend teller training to work at the satellite branches. The schools are trying to prepare students for the real world by teaching marketable skills and providing on-the-job experience. Students also learn about finances and lending. MSEFCU also has a branch at Merced High School and will open a branch at Golden Valley High School in 2018.

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EARLY EDUCATION EARLY EDUCATION IN MERCED COUNTY Why Does Early Education Matter?

Evidence overwhelmingly demonstrates that experiences from birth through preschool are critical to children’s development and that highquality early learning provides young children with the foundation that enables healthy development and academic success. Research finds long-term benefits throughout school and beyond — including greater educational attainment and life success — especially for English learners and children from low-income households and yields a return of up to $13 for every $1 invested.

High quality early education

provides a return of up to

$13 for every $1 invested

CHILD CARE OPTIONS

~ James J. Heckman

Child Care Options

California’s current early care and learning system is composed of a patchwork of programs with overlapping designs and purposes, which are administered by multiple state and federal agencies. They include State Preschool, offered by many of our school districts, licensed family child care homes, non-licensed family, friend and neighbor care, Head Start and Early Head Start, operated through MCOE and transitional kindergarten offered at each school site, as well as programs to support working parents through the voucher-based Alternative Payment programs. Navigating this system can be tricky for caregivers; however, the Early Education Department’s goal is to streamline and coordinate resources and processes for families who are seeking child care and early learning services.

CENTERS STATE, FEDERAL, PRIVATE PRIVATE

FEDERALLY FUNDED

STATE FUNDED

Alexander Street Montessori School School Districts (36) Head Start (17) Bear Country Preschool and Day Care Merced Comm. Action Agency (5) Early Head Start (3) Buhach Preschool Merced College Child Dev. Center (1) Migrant Head Start (6) Dina's Daycare and Preschool Fruitland Christian Preschool Gateway Educare Infant Center and Preschool Hilmar Christian Children's Center Merced Montessori School Our Lady of Fatima Preschool Our Lady of Mercy Preschool Our Lady of Miracles Preschool HOME BASED Pennington's Little Friends CHILD CARE Providence Christian Preschool SonShine Christian Preschool St. Anthony’s Preschool LICENSED EXEMPT LICENSED St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Church of Merced UC Merced Early Childhood Education Center Family, Friends Family Child Care Homes (250)

and Neighbors

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COGNITIVE IMPACTS Critical Brain Development

Decades of research shows that the experiences and interactions during the first years of a child’s life are critical for a child’s brain development, with the brain reaching 80% of its adult size by age 3; the brain is the only organ that is not fully developed when we are born. Each experience shapes the architecture for a strong or weak foundation, which is essential for all future learning, behavior and health. When a child doesn’t receive positive interactions with a caring and nurturing adult, the brain’s architecture is pruned back and often doesn’t develop to its fullest potential.

80%

of a child’s brain

development

happens before

age 3

Toxic stress damages developing brain architecture, which can lead to life-long problems in learning, behavior and physical and mental health. Scientists now know that chronic, unrelenting stress in early childhood, caused by extreme poverty, repeated abuse, or severe maternal depression, for example, can be toxic to the developing brain. While positive stress (moderate, short-lived physiological responses to uncomfortable experiences) is an important and necessary aspect of healthy development, toxic stress is the strong, unrelieved activation of the body’s stress management system. In the absence of the buffering protection of adult support, toxic stress becomes built into the body by processes that shape the architecture of the developing brain.

Numerous scientific studies support these conclusions: providing supportive, responsive relationships as early in life as possible can prevent or reverse the damaging effects of toxic stress. Every moment matters!

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EARLY EDUCATION ADMINISTRATION OF EARLY EDUCATION SYSTEMS VARIES COUNTY BY COUNTY Merced County First 5

County Office of Education

LPC Coordinator

Resource and Referral

Alternative Payment Program

Merced

Head Start

First 5 IMPACT

State QRIS Block Grants

San Bernardino County

County Office of Education

Child Care Resource Center (Nonprofit)

LPC Coordinator

Resource and Referral

State QRIS Block Grants

Alternative Payment Program

Preschool Services Department First 5 (County Board of Supervisors) San Bernardino

State Preschool

Head Start

First 5 IMPACT

San Luis Obispo County County Office of Education

State Preschool

Community Action Partnership of San Luis Obispo County (CAPSLO) (Nonprofit)

Alternative Payment Program

LPC Coordinator

Resource and Referral

Head Start

First 5

San Luis Obispo

State QRIS Block Grants

First 5 IMPACT

Source: Learning Policy Institute

MCOE's Early Education Department implements the majority of early learning programs in Merced County, which is in line with the goal of streamlining and coordinating resources and processes for families who are seeking child care and early learning services. On the next page, learn more about the many programs the department administers.

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MCOE EARLY EDUCATION DEPARTMENT California Preschool Instructional Network

CPIN provides technical assistance, professional development and trainings on research-based best practices for TK teachers, early childhood education teachers, child care providers and administrators in a six county area. CPIN supports early education programs by providing exemplary practices for children ages 3-5, including preparing dual-language learners and children with special needs for success in elementary school and beyond.

Family Resource Council

The FRC provides parenting education programs for families served by Merced County Human Services Agency as well as families with children 0-17 across Merced County.

FRC develops and coordinates the community’s prevention, detection and response to child abuse and family violence. FRC provides specialized programs for families in the education, courts and justice system such as the Re-Direct Program and Supportive Ongoing Services (SOS).

Local Child Care & Development Planning Council

The Merced County LPC is the community collaborative for children and families. Council members are representative of consumers, child care providers, the community and public agencies. LPC’s are represented in every California county and plan for child care and development services based on the needs of the local community. The LPC serves as a forum to address the child care needs in the community for all types of care.

There are five sub-committees of the LPC: QRIS, Workforce/Professional Development, Family Engagement, Collaboration, and Public Relations/ Outreach. Each subcommittee is responsible for establishing goals and support for the community, which meet the mission of the Council and respond to needs assessment findings.

Head Start, Early Head Start & Early Head Start-Child Care Partnership

Head Start/Early Head Start provides comprehensive child development services to children ages 0-5 and their families in order to prepare children for success in school and to help children and their families develop to their fullest potential. Services are provided in 17 centers, in homes, and in partnership with other child care programs. Options include centerbased, home-based, and family Child Care, for part-day, school day and full-day sessions. Options vary by location. Head Start provides fullinclusion opportunities for children with disabilities.

A.C.C.E.S.S. Child Care Subsidy Programs

A Childe Care and Education Services System, A.C.C.E.S.S. is designed to meet the child care needs for children and their families. Families who are eligible based on income and need criteria receive help in paying for child care. Families choose their child care provider, which may include a licensed child care center, large or small licensed family child care home, or a family, friend or neighbor. Staff provide information to increase the understanding of available quality early education services.

Early Education Workforce Development

The Local Child Care and Development Planning Council is responsible for the administration of AB 212 and CTKS, which provides training, incentives and/or reimbursement to encourage state preschool teachers and TK teachers to complete non-unit and unit bearing coursework, advance on the Child Development Permit Matrix, receive professional growth advising and meet Education Code Section 48000(g) for TK teachers.

Child Care Resource & Referral Programs

The Resource and Referral Program provides services to parents and child care providers including free child care referrals for families seeking care and education for their children; classes, trainings, community resource information, technical assistance, resource library; and provide one-onone coaching to Family Child Care Providers and Private Centers.

Caring Kids & Early Connections

Caring Kids: Funded by Prevention and Early Intervention funds from the Merced County Mental Health Services Act, Caring Kids helps children learn appropriate social skills and helps parents and caregivers learn the best approaches to promote positive social and emotional development.

Early Connections: A collaboration between Merced County Human Services Agency & MCOE, Early Connections provides developmental screenings to children ages 0-5 (connected to H.S.A. with CPS reports). We help get children connected to early intervention services when necessary.

Quality Counts!

Merced County Office of Education has developed and continues to promote a local Quality Rating and Improvement System, Quality Counts! (supporting Merced and Mariposa counties) by setting regional goals to improve the quality of early education programs. The focus is in three areas of quality: Child Development and Readiness for School; Teachers and Teaching; and Program and Environment. Early Education programs receive coaching, training and professional development to and ratings of program sites are performed periodically to assess program quality in the three areas.

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ARTS & RECOGNITION Children's Concert

MCOE has partnered with school districts and the Merced Symphony Association to bring county students to the Merced Theatre to learn about music, ranging from classical to more modern — even television-show theme songs. More than 3,000 students throughout Merced County enjoy this event every January at both the Merced Theatre and Pacheco High School in Los Banos. San Francisco-based guest violinist Dawn Harms provides an educational component to the performance, teaching the children about the makeup of a symphony orchestra, historical aspects of the songs and even lets students play a tune on her violin. The symphony raises money to help pay for the concerts, which are free for the schoolchildren. MCOE, the Merced County Education Foundation and other donors also provide support for the Children's Concert.

Excellence in Education

Parents, students, educators and community members celebrated with educators and school employees from throughout Merced County as MCOE and the Educational Employees Credit Union hosted the annual Excellence in Education Awards Reception.

The event recognizes teachers and school employees for the work they do to make our schools a safe and compelling place for students to learn and gain the skills to thrive in the real world. School districts submit teachers and school employees for the awards program and representatives from local government, K-12 and higher education serve as the selection committee. Carrie O’Bara, who teaches at Peggy Heller Elementary School in Atwater, is 2017 Merced County’s Teacher of the Year and Marisela Picazo from Harmony Elementary School in Delhi is 2017 School Employee of the Year.

Livingston, Planada Murals Schools in Planada and Livingston have new art that adorns their schools, thanks to UC Merced and an internationally renowned artist. UC Merced art professor Richard Gomez and muralist Joel Bergner worked to rejuvenate a wall in Planada that was a victim of tagging and create a 60-foot mural in Livingston. In Planada, the artists and Planada community collaborated on a large mural on the bleachers, retaining wall and buildings at Glen Davis Ballpark on the east side of Planada Elementary School. In Livingston, Campus Park Elementary School’s mascot, the bald eagle, can be seen towering over scenes of its students and San Joaquin Valley landmarks. Projects like this help to bring the campus and community together.

Children's Opera at UC Merced MCOE, along with Arts UC Merced, the Merced County Education Foundation and the Betty Scalice Foundation, sponsor the Children's Opera at UC Merced every spring.

About 3,700 Merced County students age 3 to 12 attend the annual event at UC Merced’s Lakireddy Auditorium. Most recently, students enjoyed “There’s a Martian in the Opera House,” written by Nancy Steele Brokaw, the mother UC Merced professor Katherine Steele Brokaw, who directed the performance. UC students, professors and community members often perform in the 45-minute production and there is no charge for the participating schools. The Children's Opera lets children experience the joy and energy of live theater and opera while also visiting the university campus — many of them for the first time. Producers also provide teachers with companion curriculum kits for each opera, so students can discuss the opera’s vocabulary, review audience etiquette or use the show as a springboard for creative projects.

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Marisela Picazo

ABOUT OUR SPONSORS Stifel Nicolaus & Company is the leading underwriter of municipal bonds for California K-12 school districts. We assist school districts with general obligation bonds (for district-wide elections and school facilities improvement districts), bond anticipation notes, certificates of participation and leases, community facilities district special tax bonds, tax and revenue anticipation notes and the refinancing and restructuring of previously-issued bonds.

Carrie O'Bara

Educational Employees Credit Union is the 73rd largest credit union in the U.S., the 15th largest in California, and the largest locally-based credit union in the central San Joaquin Valley. As of December 31, 2017, the credit union has more than 274,000 members and over $2.9 billion in assets. EECU has branches in Fresno, Clovis, Hanford, Madera, Merced, Reedley, Sanger, Selma, Tulare and Visalia.

Merced School Employees Federal Credit Union is the hometown credit union, where you always see a familiar face and you feel like family. We have proudly served our educational community and their families for over 60 years. Designed with you in mind, we're a fullservice financial institution with a wide variety of products and services. We offer everything a bank does from savings and checking accounts, to credit cards and auto loans with everything in between! At MSEFCU, we not only take care of all your banking needs, but we exist to serve our members! Check out all the benefits of membership and experience the MSEFCU difference!

Headquartered in Vacaville, Travis Credit Union is a not-for-profit, cooperative financial institution serving those who live or work in Solano, Yolo, Sacramento, Placer, San Joaquin, Stanislaus, Napa, Contra Costa, Alameda, Sonoma, Colusa and Merced Counties.

Currently, Travis Credit Union is the 14th largest credit union in California, with more than 203,000 members and over $2.9 billion in assets.

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MERCED COUNTY EDUCATION FOUNDATION Sign up for our quarterly newsletter and receive information about Foundation events and activities.

Together, we can make a difference for Merced County students.

Stacie Arancibia, Executive Director • sarancibia@mcoe.org www.mcoe.org/foundation • P.O. Box 1, Merced, CA 95341 The Merced County Education Foundation works together with the Merced County Office of Education, county school districts and the community to provide learning opportunities beyond the classroom, expanding the horizon for Merced County students. The Foundation focuses primarily on outdoor science, visual and performing arts, college and career readiness, STEM education and foster youth.

Camp Green Meadows Camp Green Meadows Outdoor School is an ideal place for outdoor education, offering experiences that build science knowledge and exploration of what is in our own backyard.

Owned and operated by MCOE, more than 2,500 students attend each year from Merced County and surrounding regions. Camp Green Meadows is in dire need of updates to technology and improved spaces for students with special abilities, areas for enhanced learning activities and a new nurse’s station.

The MCE Foundation is committed to improving the experience for all who enjoy Camp Green Meadows.

Visual & Performing Arts Visual and performing arts activities increase student’s confidence and self-esteem, encouraging them to express their thoughts and feelings.

Through a partnership with Playhouse Merced, MCOE and MCEF have released a grant opportunity for districts to bring the Play Anywhere program to their schools. The Playhouse Merced Play Anywhere staff spends two weeks at participating schools where students have the chance to participate in the audition, rehearsal and performance of a full play. The grant will assist 6 schools in the cost of the program and bring the experience to schools who may not otherwise be able to participate. Through the MCE Foundation’s support of visual and performing arts activities, nearly 7,000 Merced County students attend their first opera or experience their first live orchestra.

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VIRGINIA SMITH TRUST Our Land, Our Children, Everyone’s Future With a goal of helping future generations of Merced students achieve academic excellence, the Virginia Smith Trust Board leased land to a local farmer in 2017 that could produce scholarship revenue for decades to benefit Merced students. In the lease agreement, Forebay Farms will pay $100,000 per year for rent and a percentage of the crop when the trees mature. With increased revenue from this lease agreement, the VST Board will have the ability to support more scholarships for Merced students. Future plans involve development of the VST land just south of the UC Merced campus.

The Virginia Smith Trust was established in 1975 in accordance with the will of Virginia U. Smith, who was a Merced resident that spent her life in service to others. In her will, Smith specifically noted “worthy, deserving and needy” high school students in Merced were eligible for the scholarship. In 2016, UC Merced and the VST split the 1,256-acre tract of land just south of the campus, known as University Community North. Some of the land the UC acquired in the split will be used for the university’s 2020 campus expansion.

Since the VST started distributing scholarships, more than 3,500 students have benefited, totaling about $4.5 million.

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MCOE DEPARTMENTS Business Services The Business Services department provides accounting, budgeting, information technology, a fullservice printshop, purchasing facility development, which includes construction services, to various MCOE programs. Business Services also oversees maintenance and operation support for many county sites, including maintenance of a large vehicle fleet. Additionally, business advisory, financial services, technology services and payroll processing services are provided to the 20 school districts in Merced County, as well as the responsibilities of fiscal oversight through the AB1200 process. With the advent of LCFF, the Business Department, in conjunction with the Educational Services department, has been directed by the state to review and approve the LCAP of school districts within the county.

Early Education The Early Education department provides leadership and professional development opportunities and operates programs that ensure quality early education services to our community. Programs include Early Head Start, Head Start and the Early Head Start-Child Care Partnership grant, where more than 1,100 children and their families receive early care and learning services. The Child Care Resource and Referral services assists families in locating licensed care and early learning services. Other programs include: the California Preschool Instructional Network (CPIN), the Family Resource Council and Parenting Center, Caring Kids, Early Connections, IMPACT, the Local Child Care and Development Planning Council, workforce development services for early education professionals and the Quality Rating and Improvement System (QRIS) grant called Quality Counts!

BUILDING A BRIGHTER FUTURE MERCED COUNTY OFFICE OF EDUCATION

Educational Services Educational Services is composed of four programs: District Support Services, Student Programs, Migrant Education Program and College & Career. The department delivers support services based on researched-based practices and data-informed decision making to meet the challenges of the adopted California State Standards and the aligned assessment system which includes providing individualized support to districts for their Local Control Accountability Plans. Educational Services offers professional development and technical assistance to all 20 school districts, bringing experts and best practices to the field to support Merced County educators. The following are some of the services delivered to districts and schools in our county: ASSETS-After School Program, Camp Green Meadows Outdoor School, METV, Media & Technology services, Teacher and Administrative Credentialing Programs, the North Valley Leadership Institute, NGSS, STEAM and Special Events, which operates the Academic Decathlon, among many other countywide student events. The department also leads the Merced County's Seal of Multilingual Proficiency and the following programs directly support students and adults to improve educational and career outcomes which include: Project Phoenix, CAL-SOAP, Career and Technical Education, Foster Youth Services Coordinating Program, and EMPOWER.

Human Resources

Human Resources staff administers personnel and payroll functions for more than 1,200 MCOE employees. The functions include employee recruitment and selection, employment-related counseling, leadership development, workers compensation, health benefits, maintenance of employment records as well as negotiating, implementing and administering collective bargaining agreements for represented staff. Human Resources staff also coordinates compensation and benefits for internal staff. The Human Resources department provides fingerprinting services, credentialing advice and credential monitoring for all school districts in Merced County. In addition, the department maintains the countywide substitute teacher list.

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Special Education Special Education provides a wide range of services for children and young adults with special needs. Ranging in age from newborn to 22 years, these young people need special education for disabilities. They are served in a variety of places; homes, local schools and schools with specialized classes. Services are available for students that reside in Merced County and include special classes for students with significant disabilities, the deaf and hard of hearing program, the emotional disturbance program, adaptive physical education services, occupational and physical therapy, the visually impaired program, the orthopedically impaired program, early start infant care, the early intervention autism program, speech and language development, nursing and health assistance, school psychologist and staff development. The Merced County Special Education Local Plan Area (SELPA) ensures that quality special education programs and services are available throughout the region. The SELPA provides staff development, information systems technology and technical assistance, transition planning support and education-related mental health services, among other services.

LITERACY AND SCHOOL ATTENDANCE Literacy Matters A child’s capability to read and write is paramount to their success in school and life. One of the most significant factors influencing a child’s early education success is an introduction to books and the ability to read at home prior to a formal education in a school setting. The ability to read and follow complex directions in the workplace is key. As a community, we must do more to give young children access to books and other reading materials if they are going to be successful students that grow into successful adults.

Attendance is Crucial

In another partnership with the Merced County DA's Office, MCOE now has a truancy officer who works with school districts to ensure students' attendance. Nearly 20 parents were cited last year in the county for their student's chronic absenteeism, with some students missing more than 100 days in the previous school year. Also in 2017, MCSD launched the Attend Today ... Lead Tomorrow campaign to inform the community about the importance of school attendance.

Battle of the Books The Merced Union High School District's Battle of the Books is a reading program sponsored by the schools' teacher librarians. Students and staff from high schools in the district and nearby counties read award-winning literature and compete in teams at an annual competition. This year, the contest had approximately 150 participants from nine schools.

Lending Libraries The Little Lending Library program aims to provide students localized access to reading materials in regions where children aren’t able to easily access books. MCOE installed the first of many libraries at the Felix Torres Farm Worker Housing Center in Planada in October, 2017. These little libraries will give students and adults the opportunity to check out a book from one of three ageappropriate library “houses” with reading levels ranging from preschool to adult. When they are finished with one book, they can exchange it for another book. These houses are constructed and installed by Merced and Los Banos Valley Community School students as a part of their construction trades class. While helping literacy efforts in Merced County, these students are also learning realworld skills.

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We welcome your questions, comments and feedback. Please email us at info@mcoe.org.

Content organization and photography by Nathan Quevedo Design by Sou Saetern Additional photography by Nathan Gomes and Dylan McMullen Printed at MCOE's full-service Printshop