Two Ventura County Schools have been named National Blue Ribbon Schools for 2020 by the U.S. Department of Education. The schools were selected based on or their progress in closing achievement gaps among student subgroups. The Ventura County winners are among 367 public and private schools to be selected nationwide. The local honorees are: Meadows Arts and Technology Elementary School in Thousand OaksCharter school authorized by the Ventura County Office of EducationWeathersfield Elementar...

The Ventura County Office of Education today marked the completion of the new Mary E. Samples Education Services Center building in Camarillo. The 29,944-square-foot, two-story building at 5250 Adolfo Rd. was finished just over two years after construction began. The building is the new, permanent home of VCOE’s Triton Academy, which serves students with autism in 3rd through 12th grades. It also houses the administrative offices of VCOE’s Special Education Department and has space r...

Parents who suspect their child has a disability are advised to contact their local school district or the Ventura County Special Education Local Plan Area (SELPA). Federal and state laws require public schools to provide free and appropriate education for children with special needs. Children and youth from birth through 21 years of age may qualify for special education programs in public schools. Special education staff will help parents identify appropriate programs based upon ...

The Ventura County Office of Education is sharing this important update from Ventura County Public Health.Ventura County continues to see an increase in COVID-19 cases, and we want to ensure that all residents have the information they need to prevent COVID-19 infection.It’s important to remember that gatherings with anyone other than members of your household are prohibited. Here are some basic things that you can do to reduce your risk and the risk for others of infection.1) &n...

A record number of migrant students have enrolled in a program that will provide important educational opportunities this summer in Ventura County. A total of 850 students have signed up for at-home summer instruction offered by the Migrant Education Program at the Ventura County Office of Education (VCOE). The program provides services to students who frequently change schools as their families move throughout the state to follow work opportunities in the agriculture industry.  &ldquo...

The Ventura County Office of Education (VCOE) is pleased to announce that Eva Cherrie from Elmhurst Elementary School in the Ventura Unified School District (VUSD) is the 2020 Ventura County Teacher of the Year. Cherrie found out about the honor today when she joined her colleagues at the school for a year-end drive-through celebration for staff. She had no idea she was there to be named Teacher of the Year until her principal surprised the crowd – which included her parents, husband and k...

The California Department of Education (CDE) today released new guidelines for the safe reopening of the state’s public school campuses. The guidelines contain recommendations regarding a variety of measures to protect the safety of students and school employees. This includes advice on social distancing, temperature checks, contact tracing, hand washing, the use of face coverings and more. The CDE guidance, titled “Stronger Together: A Guidebook for the Safer Opening of California&r...

In recent days, we have watched peaceful protests call for justice and equality after the killing of George Floyd. We have seen thousands of people engage in nonviolent peaceful protests. We have also witnessed media images of violence in our communities and across America.Our children will seek to understand these events. As adults and educators, we must listen and respond with honesty and empathy. We also must teach them to stand up against racism, injustice, and inequity through non-violent m...

As the nation responds to the death of George Floyd, important and difficult conversations about racism and social inequities are taking place across the county. We are providing the following resources for parents and educators to help guide these discussions.