Focus on Education provides news about K-12 public schools for families and educators in Ventura County. It is published by the Ventura County Office of Education (VCOE).

Attend the VCOE Equity Conference

Tuesday, March 7, 2023, In Person in Camarillo

Vital issues surrounding diversity, equity, and inclusion in Ventura County public schools are the focus of the third annual Ventura County Office of Education Equity Conference, which will be held in person on Tuesday, March 7, 2023, in Camarillo.

The conference will feature a wide variety of workshops on increasing opportunities and removing obstacles for students from marginalized communities. 

The conference is open to parents and guardians, students, educators, support personnel, and community members. Language interpretation will be provided. There's no charge to attend, but you'll need to register at www.vcoe.org/equity23.

2023 Academic Decathlon Winners

Westlake, Thousand Oaks, and Channel Islands High Schools took the top spots in the 2023 Ventura County Academic Decathlon. This is the third consecutive year that Westlake has placed first overall.

The Academic Decathlon is an opportunity for high school students to compete against each other in academic events that cover subjects ranging from art to economics. Complete individual and team results for all participating schools are available here. 

Transitional Kindergarten Enrollment

Transitional Kindergarten or TK is a new, optional grade level for four-year-olds that is being rolled out statewide in stages over the next few years. For the coming 2023-2024 school year, children are eligible for TK if they turn five between Sep. 2, 2023, and Apr. 2, 2024.

Some local school districts have already opened TK enrollment for next year, and the rest will be doing so soon. For information on enrolling your child, check with your local school district. And for general information about TK, visit www.vcoe.org/tk.

February is Black History Month

February is Black History Month, an opportunity to honor the achievements and recognize the struggles of the African American community. 

You can find a variety of wonderful Black History Month resources for educators and families compiled by Ashlee Nishiya, VCOE Coordinator of Library, Media, Reading, and Literacy, at this link. 

Teacher of the Year Attends State of the Union Address

Ventura County Teacher of the Year Shannon Klemann from Adolfo Camarillo High School got a very special honor this week. She was Congresswoman Julia Brownley's guest at President Biden's State of the Union address in Washington, DC. Learn more about this amazing educator here.

Students Design Winning Logos

Every year VCOE conducts a countywide contest for students to create logos for our academic competitions. Congratulations to this year’s winners!

• Academic Decathlon – Lyra Cabanban, Channel Islands High School
• Mock Trial – Javi Tontoco, Newbury Park High School
• Science Fair – Sam Moreno, Santa Paula High School

Upcoming Events and Workshops

The Ventura County Office of Education and its partners present a wide variety of workshops and events for educators, students, and community members. Some of our upcoming offerings are below, and you can browse the full calendar of events at vcoe.k12oms.org.

Autism Conference

February 9, 2023 • Virtual

Migrant Family Conference

February 11, 2023 • In Person

Digital Equity Conference

February 23, 2023 • In Person

Transition Fair - help for young adults with disabilities

February 25, 2023 • In Person

VCOE Equity Conference

March 7, 2023 • In Person

Carpe Diem - for those who care for children with emotional challenges

March 9, 2023 • In Person

Migrant Student Speech & Debate Tournament

March 25, 2023 • In Person

Battle of the Books - for students in grades 3 to 5

April 28, 2023 • In Person