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Education

Stanislaus State University in Turlock Named No. 5 for “Best Bang for the Buck” in the West and No. 8 on the Master’s List in Washington Monthly’s 2022 Rankings

in Community/Education/Students

September 4, 2022 - Stanislaus State continues to provide students and families more “bang for their buck” when it comes to attaining a high-quality and affordable education. 

Washington Monthly released its annual College Guide and Rankings in which it rates schools on what they do for the country, and Stan State earned spots in the Top 10 on two lists.  

Continue reading on Sierra Sun Times

Students return to Modesto schools for new year. Here’s what awaits some of them

in Education/School/Students

How do you spell the first day of school? N-e-w.

Students get new teachers, some who are new to teaching or new to their schools. Teachers get new students. Schools get new staff members.

Across California, high school students have new start times for their school days.

And in Modesto City Schools — and no doubt many other districts — students are greeted by improvements that are ready for their use or soon will be.

Continue reading on Modesto Bee

California Schools Will Now Start Later In The Day Prioritize Children’s Health

in Around California/Education/School

If you listen closely in mid-August, when the 2022-2023 school year starts in California, you might just hear it: the sound of teenagers across the state hitting snooze in unison. That’s because on July 1, a new law went into effect that pushes middle and high school start times throughout the state. Legislators hope this change will improve academic and health outcomes for the state’s teens.

Senate Bill 328 passed handily in the California legislature in 2019 before being signed into law by Gov. Gavin Newsom. The new law states that “the schoolday for high schools, including high schools operated as charter schools, shall begin no earlier than 8:30 a.m. The schoolday for middle schools, including middle schools operated as charter schools, shall begin no earlier than 8:00 a.m.” Exceptions are made for “rural districts” in the state.

Continue Reading on Romper

Device uses eye movement to help non-verbal children communicate

in Education/School/Students/technology

LOS ANGELES — New technology is helping non-verbal students communicate.

San Bernadino County Schools in California recently received a grant to buy the Tobii Dynavox Eye Gaze Machine.

“This equipment just motivates everybody to keep working on individual students and how we can best connect with them so that we can support their goals,” said Superintendent Ted Alejandre.

Continue Reading on ABC23

Modesto Schools Get New Building, Tech, Programs for STEM

in Education/School

Little rolling robots dodged red, green and blue blocks as fifth-graders cheered loudly, at times rising to their feet with enthusiasm.

Tuolumne School students in south Modesto worked in teams to piece together 500 or so parts to create the devices, which they would soon learn to control through coding, teacher Hector Barraza said.

The robotics unit was part of a push at Tuolumne — and Modesto City Schools more broadly — to enhance K-6 learning opportunities in science, technology, engineering and math, or STEM. By exposing students to STEM at a young age, district officials hope more students will choose to take related courses in middle and high school, setting them up for in-demand careers if they choose.

Continue Reading on Government Technology

Amazon partners with Modesto JC, Stanislaus State to pay tuition for Valley employees

in Community/Education

Amazon is partnering with the largest higher education institutions in Stanislaus County to provide free tuition to the online retailer’s hourly employees in the region.

Turlock’s California State University, Stanislaus, and Modesto Junior College are part of the company’s Career Choice program, which will pay full tuition at associated institutions for hourly Amazon employees. Across the Central Valley, Amazon also is partnering with California State University, Fresno, Clovis Community College and Sacramento City College.

The program is open to full-time Amazon employees, as well as part-time employees (who receive half, but not full tuition). The e-commerce giant will pay tuition and fees for eligible employees, and partner institutions pay nothing to be part of the program.

Continue Reading on The Modesto Bee

Cal Poly Students Use Drones To Study Elephant Seals

in Animals/Education/Students

Cal Poly researchers have a new tool to keep track of the local elephant seal population. The team consisting of graduate students, undergraduate volunteers and professors use drones to conduct their research during the seals’ current mating season.

The project began in 2017 but this is the first year they were able to incorporate drone images. The research team will begin to analyze drone images in March, once the breeding season has ended.

Kate Riordan is a graduate student in the Biological Sciences department and is a part of this research team. Like the rest of the team, Riordan helps to fly the drones and makes sure they don’t crash. She also helps weigh the baby seals and tags them in order to track where the seals will end up.

Continue Reading on Mustang News

Stanislaus Office of Education issues layoffs to teachers, staff as enrollment declines

in Education
The Stanislaus Military Academy in Turlock is an alternative education program provided by the Stanislaus County Office of Education, which despite its challenging students ranked highest in a union survey of teacher satisfaction in schools across Stanislaus County. NAN AUSTIN MODESTO BEE FILE
The Stanislaus Military Academy in Turlock is an alternative education program provided by the Stanislaus County Office of Education, which despite its challenging students ranked highest in a union survey of teacher satisfaction in schools across Stanislaus County. NAN AUSTIN MODESTO BEE FILE

Local agencies are awash in COVID-19 relief funding. And local school districts struggle with a teacher shortage.

So why is the Stanislaus County Office of Education giving layoff notices to teachers and other employees?

An administrator confirmed SCOE is laying off employees this week, including 18 teachers, two managers and six classified employees.

Continue Reading on The Modesto Bee

Learning through music

in Education/Entertainment/News
Liz Hallack helps her daughter Elena as she tries to follow along with the lessons at the Little Tunes studio in downtown Turlock (PAWAN NAIDU/The Journal).
Liz Hallack helps her daughter Elena as she tries to follow along with the lessons at the Little Tunes studio in downtown Turlock (PAWAN NAIDU/The Journal).

Ashley Soto grew up loving to dance, but when she had to have knee surgery in 2019, her doctor told her it was time to find a new hobby. The trained singer and dancer thought about the fun she had taking her kids to baby music classes in the Bay Area, but when she moved to Turlock with her family, she realized there weren’t any here. That’s when she decided to open Little Tunes in October 2019.

“I was asking around, are there some in Modesto or Merced, but nobody was doing them,” said Soto. “I’m a classically trained singer and dancer, maybe I should start doing these classes.”

Soto operates Little Tunes in the Alegria Performing Arts Center at 320 E Main St. in downtown Turlock. There are a variety of lessons for students. The classes do songs in sign language and other languages. The students play in rhythm and learn about movement. They also learn about traditional music such as jazz and ballot.

Continue Reading on Turlock Journal

TUSD welcomes alumni to help further equity initiatives

in Education/School

In an effort to make sure that all students have equal access to resources and educational support, the Turlock Unified School District has hired a new equity coordinator.

The TUSD Board of Trustees approved Angélica Cárdenas Ayala for the position of Coordinator of Equity Initiatives, effective Wednesday.

Ayala’s background includes an MA in Education, Counseling and a BA in Politics and Spanish. She recently held the position of Lead Counselor at ACE Charter High School in San Jose and previously worked for Aspire Public Schools in her work to guide students to pursue higher education.

Continue Reading on Turlock Journal

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