A screenshot of the VSA video

‘Getting to Know You’ at the 39th Annual VSA Festival (video)

Staff reports
Celebrating creativity and inclusivity, OCDE and the statewide arts organization known as VSA California are once again partnering to deliver arts education and appreciation to people of all abilities at the 39th Annual VSA Festival. Thousands of children, parents, teachers and professional artists are expected to participate in the event from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, April 18 at the Westfield MainPlace shopping center in Santa Ana. [...]
California Department of Education Logo

State Board of Education suspends California Academic Performance Index

Staff reports
The California Board of Education has voted unanimously to suspend the Academic Performance Index for the 2014-15 school year as the state works to develop a more comprehensive accountability system based on multiple measures. State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson announced the move on Wednesday. [...]
An image of McPherson Magnet students displaying a technology project

Five O.C. teams selected to showcase technology projects at the CUE 2015 Annual Conference

Staff reports
Congratulations are in order for the talented young scientists, inventors and engineers selected to participate in the Student Technology Showcase at the CUE 2015 Annual Conference, which is the largest and oldest education technology conference in the state. This year’s showcase will again feature the best curriculum-aligned student technology projects from across California. Here are the representative Orange County teams [...]
An image of the 2015 Orange County Spelling Bee winners

OC’s champion speller headed to Washington D.C. to compete in the Scripps National Spelling Bee

Staff reports
“Foreordained” – meaning to dispose or appoint in advance – was the final word that officially clinched the title of Orange County Spelling Bee champion for 12-year-old Sarika Rau, a seventh-grade student from Sierra Vista Middle School in the Irvine Unified School District. After four hours and 18 rounds of intense competition on Saturday, Rau walked away with a large trophy and a copy of Webster’s Third New International Dictionary. She also earned a bid to compete in the 88th annual Scripps National Spelling Bee, which will take place in Washington, D.C. in May. [...]
Orange County Classified Employee of the Year logo

Outstanding OC school workers honored as 2015 Classified Employees of the Year

Staff reports
The Orange County Department of Education has announced the top classified school employees for 2015. Established in 2008 by the California Department of Education, the Classified School Employees of the Year program annually highlights the contributions of employees who have performed exceptionally in support of public school students, from preschool through grade 12. Classified workers with a minimum of five years of service are eligible for the recognition, whether they serve at traditional schools, charter schools, district offices or county offices of education. […]