Ensuring that our students are safe and our schools secure is fundamental to the job of educators. It’s as a job that’s become more challenging in recent years for a variety of reasons. School shootings have become a horrifying reality of American life. The growing popularity of vaping among teens carries serous heath risks. And student mental health issues are on the rise as young people and their families struggle to adapt to a rapidly changing world. In this edition of Focus on Education, w...

Thousands of middle and high school students from schools throughout Ventura County will face off in three popular academic competitions in February and March. The games begin with the Academic Decathlon, followed by Mock Trial and concluding with the Ventura County Science Fair. These events, presented by the Ventura County Office of Education, combine creativity and competition to truly engage students in the learning process. Each local event brings an opportunity for Ventura County students ...

Get perspectives on how the new state budget will impact public education at a free workshop at the Ventura County Office of Education. The workshop is presented by Capitol Advisors and takes place Monday, January 27, 2020 from 9:00 am to 11:30 am at 5100 Adolfo Rd., Camarillo, CA 93012. Click here for free registration.More from Capitol Advisors:Governor Newsom approached his first budget with the possibility of an economic downturn clearly on his mind.  A large portion of n...

Nine Ventura County elementary schools are being honored as 2020 California Distinguished Schools by the California Department of Education. Schools are awarded for their work toward closing the achievement gap and for achieving exceptional student performance. Schools that applied were eligible based on their performance and progress on the state indicators as described on the California School Dashboard. Indicators include test scores, suspension rates and English learner progress. The Ve...

Watching a toy come to life when it’s turned on is a delight for any child. But for kids with developmental disabilities, something as simple as pressing a button to activate a toy can be an impossible challenge. Toys designed for children with disabilities are available, but can be prohibitively expensive. That’s why Dwire School in Oxnard and a group of Navy engineers joined forces to come up with a better solution. Dwire School is operated by the Ventura County Office of Education...

A wealth of data about the performance of Ventura County schools and districts is now available in the 2019 California School Dashboard, which was released today by the California Department of Education (CDE). In addition to reporting on test scores in math and English language arts, the Dashboard provides a more complete picture of school performance by looking at five other areas that impact student success:   Chronic Absenteeism College/Career Readiness English Learner Progress High S...

Helping immigrants assimilate, combatting heart disease and saving marine life are some of the issues addressed through new technology created by Ventura County high school students at the third annual Hackathon by the Sea. Last weekend in Camarillo, 157 students spent an entire night creating and coding apps and games with the assistance of more than 50 volunteer mentors. Presented by the Ventura County Office of Education, the Hackathon encourages students to use technology in creative ways to...

In the wake of today's shooting at Saugus High School, our thoughts are with the friends and loved ones of the victims and the entire Saugus High School community. As many students may have questions and fears about this tragic incident, we are offering the following resources to help parents and educators respond in the most appropriate way.American Psychological Association• Helping your children manage distress in the aftermath of a shooting• Managing your distress in ...

The Ventura County Office of Education is pleased to announce the winners of logo design contests for the 2020 Academic Decathlon, Mock Trial and Science Fair. Nearly 150 middle and high school students from throughout Ventura County submitted entries for the contests.  The winning design for the Academic Decathlon logo came from Morgan Conway, a student at La Reina High School in Thousand Oaks. The design selected for the Mock Trial logo was created by June Liu, another La Reina High Schoo...

High school students in Ventura County will have the opportunity to learn computer coding and put their creativity to work at a unique overnight event on December 6 and 7 in Camarillo. At the third annual Hackathon by the Sea, students will team up to code projects such as games, apps and websites. No prior coding experience is necessary and the students will be guided by professional mentors. The event is free and includes meals, snacks and prizes. The Hackathon is a fun and engaging way to exp...