A Note from the Superintendent

The year’s end invites us to take a step back and reflect on our work - what went well, what needs adjusting, and where are the greatest needs. The close of 2019 also marks the end of my first calendar year as Superintendent, so it is particularly rewarding to reflect on all our San Mateo County Office of Education team and County Board of Education have invested this year in support of students and families, schools and districts, and the myriad of organizations supporting youth.

Internally, we have been reorganizing and retooling ourselves to ensure we are delivering optimal services and resources to help meet the needs of San Mateo County students from birth to age 22. We will start the new year with an updated strategic plan, greater alignment and collaboration across divisions, and a palpable OneSMCOE spirit committed to supporting student success - not just for some, but for all students. 

This edition of Spotlight highlights some of the important education topics in San Mateo County during 2019, many of which will continue in 2020. Many of the issues are complex - be they attracting and retaining school teachers and preschool staff, creating safe schools and student safety nets, or addressing societal concerns that impact schools like climate change and vaping. Addressing these challenges takes a great deal of collaboration; we know we cannot do this work alone. Helping raise awareness of critical issues and assembling the partners to address them is an important role for the County Office of Education, and one we will continue to grow in the new year. 

We look forward to working together with our partners in 2020 to create a year full of success, well-being, and joy for the youth of San Mateo County. We welcome all of you to join us.

Nancy Magee, San Mateo County Superintendent of Schools

Spotlight on Education:
Key Topics of 2019

Early Learning

In 2019, early learning moved to the forefront of conversations about education and addressing opportunity gaps for students. Bolstered by the research of Stanford University’s Sean Reardon and others showing that disparities in student achievement are present before a child even walks into a kindergarten classroom, state and county leaders, K-12 school districts, and their many partners have been working together to level the playing field and give all children what they need to be successful. 

Among the State initiatives, there is the Governor’s newly minted Early Childhood Policy Council and the California Assembly Blue Ribbon Commission on Early Childhood Education’s report released earlier this year, which calls for significant investments to improve California’s Early Learning system. San Mateo County has been at the forefront of this movement in the State of California with its collaborative work on efforts such as The Big Lift, P-3 alignment, Quality Counts, inclusion, Build Up SMC, Dual Language Learners, and funding.

Expect to see even more action in early learning over the coming year. “Early learning is where everything begins; it is the foundation of our entire education system,” explains San Mateo County Superintendent of Schools Nancy Magee. “Ensuring equitable access to high quality early learning is a top education priority for San Mateo County.”

Sustainability and Climate-Readiness

The planned power outages in October that led to closed schools, missed learning opportunities for students, and considerable stress for school leaders and students may unfortunately be a new reality for San Mateo County schools. Add in fire danger, poor air quality, and San Mateo County’s vulnerability to sea level rise and you have, as the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors declared in September, a climate emergency.

The County Office of Education has been working with its partners in the Coalition for Safe and Schools and Communities to assist schools in addressing this growing list of emergencies. These efforts, shared on the County Office of Education’s website, include a school closure decision checklist; protocols for addressing fire danger, poor air quality, and power outages; guidance on trauma-informed practices; and communication templates and resources. 

With a recent move of its Environmental Literacy and Sustainability Initiative to the Superintendent’s Office, the County Office of Education plans to elevate and expand its work to help schools not only reduce their own carbon footprint but to plan for the growing impacts of climate change on schools and students.

School Dashboard

The California Department of Education released the third annual California School Dashboard earlier this month, providing schools, families, and community members a rich, data-informed view of every public school in the county. With its collection of both unique and inter-related measures, the Dashboard is becoming an invaluable tool in school improvement efforts. Gone are the days when a number summed up a school’s performance, often masking grave inequities within a school or district. 

The still-new Dashboard provides information on academic achievement, suspensions, chronic absenteeism, and other measures not just for every school but for several student groups as well. Schools can now drill down and explore whether there may be a connection, for example, between high rates of chronic absenteeism and low performance on math tests for students with disabilities and/or from households with limited resources. School districts can then adjust their systems and practices to target specific student needs.

While the old system may have seemed easier to understand at a glance, the rich data provided by the Dashboard makes it a far superior tool for improving student outcomes. So, grab a cup of coffee, take a little time, and get familiar with the Dashboard. You’ll be amazed by what you learn.

Student Mental Health

2019 saw increased attention to meeting students’ mental health needs, the linchpin of student success and well-being. This work is varied and includes mental health collaboratives, student threat assessment teams, tobacco use prevention and education, suicide prevention training, and human trafficking awareness and collaboration, to name just a few areas of focus. A greater effort has also been made to integrate trauma-informed approaches and practices into all facets of school life. 

The County Office of Education held several convenings and training programs addressing student mental health over the year, including the Trauma Sensitive Learning Series, the Healing Trauma Related to Current Immigration Issues Conference, the RESPECT! 24/7 Conference: School Climate Conference, Vulnerable Student Protocols training, and the Connections between Achievement, Neuroscience, and Stress.

In November, the County Office of Education collaborated with Congresswoman Jackie Speier on a town hall meeting addressing youth perspectives on mental health. In December, Superintendent Magee and Sequoia Union High School District Board Member Carrie Du Bois participated with local partner Acknowledge Alliance on a panel at the California School Boards Association annual conference and were featured on an EdSource podcast addressing San Mateo County’s efforts to support student mental health.

2020 will see the expansion of this important work to support the mental health needs of San Mateo County students.

Arts in Schools

The County Office of Education conducted a soft-launch of its Visual, Performing, and Media Arts Strategic Plan in November. The result of a year-long collaborative process that engaged school teachers and administrators, as well as practicing artists and a variety of arts organizations, the arts plan strives for equity and access to arts education for all students.

Research shows that for students who have been historically underserved, access to a rich arts education program results in improved outcomes, including better grades and increased rates of college enrollment and overall achievement and success. The plan envisions a high-quality, standards-based arts education integrated across the curriculum in every content area, as well as delivered as its own standalone pathway.

According to Superintendent Magee, “The challenges our students will face as future leaders aren’t yet known, but it’s clear they will need a strong academic foundation that includes the ability to make connections across disciplines, identify and understand patterns, think outside the box, and ideate and innovate for solutions. Arts education for today’s students is essential for us all.”

The County Office of Education plans an official launch for the plan on January 15th. Look for more information to come on how everyone can support the arts in education.

Youth Vaping Epidemic

The use of e-cigarettes by young people has become, in the words of the U.S. Surgeon General, a “public health epidemic” that is impacting the health, including brain development, of high numbers of youth and potentially setting them up for a future of addiction to other drugs. 

While tobacco cigarette use has declined in recent years, data from the 2019 National Youth Tobacco Survey show that e-cigarette use among high school students more than doubled from 2017 to 2019 to 27.5 percent of students, or more than one in four high schoolers. More than ten percent of middle school students also reported using e-cigarettes. In all, five million middle and high school students used e-cigarettes in 2019 - an increase of nearly three million users in two years. Closer to home, the California Student Tobacco Survey found that 20.8 percent of teens in San Mateo County used e-cigarettes in 2018, up from 11.8 percent in 2017, and much higher than the state average of 10.9 percent. 

In November, the San Mateo County Board of Education and Superintendent of Schools adopted a joint resolution supporting efforts in the county to reduce the availability and use of e-cigarettes by San Mateo County youth. On December 17th, the County Board and Superintendent filed a lawsuit in San Francisco’s federal district court against Juul Labs, Inc., citing the firm’s concerted efforts to target minors. The governing boards of Cabrillo Unified School District, Jefferson Union High School District, and San Mateo-Foster City School District also filed complaints with the court. 

Given the urgent and serious impact of vaping on students and schools, the County Office of Education, along with its community partners, will continue to focus its efforts in 2020 to address the impact of e-cigarettes on youth.

Teacher and Administrator Development

The County Office of Education’s Teacher and Administrative Development Program (TAD) is wrapping up a successful year with more than 450 new teachers and administrators participating in TAD’s induction and credential programs. Due to their statewide reputation for being equity-centered and offering highly relevant and rigorous content, TAD’s programs are attracting attention and participants from across the region.

Several members of the TAD team were asked to present on their work creating equity-centered teacher and administrator induction programs at the California Induction Conference in December. The team has been recognized for its success in bridging divides between general and special education to create inclusive classrooms and schools. Staff also presented on how to infuse equity-centered leadership into the daily work of administration.

Additionally, in 2019, the County Office of Education launched a new online Career and Technical Education (CTE) Credential Program to help expand the pool of teachers qualified to teach CTE classes. CTE programs give students the opportunity to learn about and explore different careers, develop skills necessary for success in the workplace, and plan their post-secondary education with purpose. 

In 2020, the County Office of Education expects to begin a teacher residency program that will provide prospective teachers access to hands-on learning in a classroom with a highly skilled and experienced teacher. The residency program is just one more way the County Office of Education will continue its efforts to meet the critical need for a diverse workforce of well-prepared teachers.

Video Highlight

The 2019 School Dashboard Shows Local Improvement

Looking Ahead at SMCOE

Upcoming Events and Programs

Attend the Visual, Performing, and Media Arts Strategic Plan's Launch Party
Over the past year, the County Office of Education partnered with local arts education leaders to develop the county’s first Visual, Performing, and Media Arts Strategic Plan. District administrators, educators, and community members are invited to attend a launch party for the strategic plan on January 15, 2020.

Participate in the 2020 STEM Fair, Arts Expo, and Solutionary Expo
San Mateo County students are invited to showcase their learning and innovation through the 2020 STEM Fair, Arts Expo, and Solutionary Expo. All projects will be displayed at The Next Big Think March 14-15, 2020.

Learn How to Get a High School Internship
Encourage 10-12th graders to attend the County Office of Education's Getting You That Internship Workshop to learn successful strategies for applying and interviewing for an internship or job on Saturday, February 8, 2020.

Save the Date for the Educator Recruitment Fair
Join the County Office of Education at its annual Educator Recruitment Fair. More than 250 well-qualified educators will gather to network with representatives from school districts and charter schools and learn about teaching opportunities across the county. Save the date for Saturday, March 14, 2020.

Additional Events and Professional Development
Visit the County Office of Education's website for information on additional events and professional development opportunities.