Pivoting Amid COVID-19
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This brief outlines Ayer Elementary's journey of continuous improvement since 2016 and how their organizational conditions were tested during the COVID-19 crisis. Despite the challenges, the school invested in improvement practices to strengthen student engagement in distance learning and build staff capacity for when students return to school.
A Rural District’s Response to COVID-19
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Summary

COVID-19 has disrupted California’s education system in fundamental ways. Districts across the state are quickly creating strategies to serve all students, and many are designing their response around the needs of their most vulnerable students. This brief highlights the response of Mother Lode Union School District (MLUSD) to the COVID-19 pandemic, in which district staff and teachers were able to collaborate—despite the unprecedented crisis—to meet student needs.
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Summary

This brief discusses how the Pajaro Valley Unified School District (PVUSD) in California is addressing the challenges of COVID-19 through family engagement and instructional access for English learners. The district has a history of serving all students through bilingual programming and a whole-child approach, and over 40% of its population are classified as English learners. PVUSD is a member of the national League of Innovative Schools and is known for its inclusive, data-driven decision-making.

Promising Practices
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Summary

The Local Control Funding Formula (LCFF) changed California's education policy in 2013 by transferring control of most education dollars to local school districts. It aims to address educational inequities and empower districts to allocate resources to meet students' needs. This brief examines promising practices of three school districts implementing LCFF's equity mission and highlights the new role of county offices of education.