FUSD to hold community meeting Feb. 16 on middle school planned for Southwest Fresno |
 The Fresno Unified School District will hold a community meeting at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, February 16 at Edison High School. Information will be
shared regarding site selection for the school, as well as the educational program. There is not a neighborhood middle school to serve the students in Southwest Fresno, and most middle school students in the area attend schools in other parts of Fresno Unified School District. FUSD has been taking significant action over the past year to plan and prepare for the building of the middle school and will provide information to the community at the meeting about the anticipated timeline moving forward.
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Students admitted to CSUF are able to take English and math placement exams at Fresno High School on February 27 |
 Through a unique partnership between FUSD and CSUF, students admitted to CSUF are being offered the opportunity to take the EPT (English Placement Test), or the ELM (Entry Level Math) test, or both at Fresno High School. The ELM and EPT are one-time exams that determines what mathematics or English courses students should take upon enrollment. The exam is typically given at California State University, Fresno, but will be offered to Fresno Unified students on Saturday, February 27 at Fresno High School, located at 1839 North Echo Avenue in Fresno, CA. Students must register for the exams prior to February 19, 2010. FUSD counselors will be meeting with all students taking the ELM/EPT offering preparation information and assistance with registration.
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Wawona Middle School Students' Flag Flies Among the Penguins |
 Wawona Middle School students have been following FUSD teacher, Jean Pennycook, and the research work being done in Antarctica. The Plant and Animal Club designed and sent a flag to be flown at the penguin colonies at Cape Royds. |
Financial aid workshops planned to help students, families pay for college - deadline for FAFSA March 2 |
 In an effort to help students and families access financial aid to pay for college, the Fresno Unified School District is launching the "34 days of FAFSA" campaign that features free workshops. Students and families are encouraged to attend one of the workshops to learn how to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). This will ensure consideration for Cal Grants and other programs administered by the California Student Aid Commission. The deadline to submit the FAFSA application is March 2, 2010, and it is available at
www.fafsa.gov. The free workshops
are being held at every FUSD high school.
 View the list of free workshops
Check out
the Scholarship Search and Planner
View Additional FAFSA Workshops Flyer |
Historic football season for FUSD – Bullard grabs Division I championship, Edison wins Division II section title |
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H1N1 Flu Update |
H1N1 Vaccine Now Available to All FUSD Students and Staff
This week the Fresno County Health Department announced that the H1N1 vaccine can now be made available to all groups. This means the vaccine is no longer limited only to priority groups at the highest risk. Fresno Unified will now offer vaccines to all students and employees in our district. Clinics will be held at our district Health Center, by appointment, during the winter break on the following dates: December 21, 22, 28, and 29 and January 4 and 5. They will be open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and are located at 3058 N. Millbrook just south of Shields.
To make an appointment for the H1N1 vaccine, call 248-7387.
Hotlines: English - 457-6100 Spanish - 457-6101 Hmong - 457-6102
Fresno Unified's H1N1 Pandemic Management Team continues to meet on a regular basis in preparation for an anticipated increase in H1N1 flu infections. The team is collaborating with the Fresno County Health Department's as well as the Fresno County Office of Education, and continues to monitor information provided by the Center for Disease Control and the World Health Organization.
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Draft Environmental Impact Report (DEIR) for Bullard High School Athletic Facilities and Master Plan Improvements Available for Public Review and Comment |
 The Draft Environmental Impact Report (DEIR) for the construction of the pool, track, lights, and master plan improvements at Bullard High School is now available for review. The Notice of Availability with Extension identifies where the public can view the document, including the Bullard High School library. Comments should be directed to the Facilities Management & Planning Department as indicated on the Notice. After the public comment period ends, a Final Environmental Impact Report (FEIR) will be prepared and considered by the Board of Education. The specific date for Board of Education consideration of the FEIR will be provided at a later time.
View the Bullard High School Draft Environmental Impact Report and related documents
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2010 Census |
 The U.S. Census counts every resident in the United States, and is required by the Constitution to take place every 10 years. The 2010 Census will help communities receive more than $400 billion in federal funds each year for things like:
- Hospitals
- Job training centers
- Schools
- Senior centers
- Bridges, tunnels and other-public works projects
- Emergency services
In March of 2010, census forms will be delivered to every residence in the United States. For more information, go to http://2010.census.gov
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Community Advisory Committee for Special Education |
 The Community Advisory Committee for Special Education (CAC), is a volunteer group composed predominately of parents of children with special needs who attend school within the Fresno Unified School District. CAC is comprised of parents, district personnel, and other community members, who work together to ensure that children with special needs are receiving the best education available. The next meeting of the Community Advisory Committee for Special Education will be on
Feb 16, 2010, 6:00 pm
at the
Fresno High School Library -
1839 Echo Avenue. This is an opportunity for parents to hear about programs for students with special needs, talk with District personnel, and network with other parents. If you need translation services or have questions, please call the Special Education Office at 457-3226.
· Upcoming Meetings: February 16, March 15, April 19, May 17, and June 21
- Fresno High School (Library) at 1839 Echo Avenue. Phone: 457-2780
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FUSD schools earn 3 prestigious National Blue Ribbon School awards |
 U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan today announced that three Fresno Unified School District schools – Bullard TALENT, Manchester GATE, and Edison Computech Middle School – earned the prestigious national Blue Ribbon School award for 2009.
"This national recognition is a testament to the outstanding work and commitment of these schools to accelerate the academic achievement of our students," said FUSD Superintendent Michael Hanson. "I commend the staff, students, and parents for their continued focused and hard work – these schools are a beacon for our community and send a strong message that high academic achievement is within the reach of all our students."
Bullard TALENT, Manchester GATE, and Edison Computech Middle School are three of 314 schools in the nation to receive the 2009 National Blue Ribbon School award. This is the first year in which Fresno Unified has received three in one year. With this year’s awards, Fresno Unified School District has received nine National Blue Ribbon School awards:
- Bullard TALENT (1998-99 and 2009)
- Edison Computech Middle School (1990-91, 1995-96, 2001-02 and 2009)
- Manchester GATE (2000-01 and 2009)
- McCardle Elementary School (2005)
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FUSD posts significant gains in mathematics and English Language Arts - student tests scores improve for fourth straight year |
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Fresno Unified School District posted significant district-wide growth in both English Language Arts (ELA) and mathematics on the California Standards Tests (CSTs).
"These results send the message that we have the systems, school leadership and classroom instruction in place to maximize student learning," said FUSD Superintendent Michael Hanson. "The lesson here is that what we are doing is working and we will look for ways to continue to accelerate student achievement."
FUSD has posted steady gains the past four years, but this is the first year where the district is seeing some acceleration in the rate of improved student achievement. After achieving historic gains in mathematics last year, this year's mathematics gains are even bigger than last year and more consistent across grade level.
"We have much work ahead and we will not pull back on the lever, but I'm happy to report that the district-wide initiatives focused on classroom learning are working," Hanson said. "We will not let up in our work to prepare career ready graduates and provide our students and this community the kind of education they deserve and need."
Summary of CST results:
- 38.5 percent of FUSD students have scored proficient or
advanced in mathematics, compared to 28.5 percent just four
years ago - this represents nearly 4 out of every 10 students
are proficient or advanced.
- 37.2 percent of FUSD students have scored proficient or
advanced in English Language Arts, compared to 29.4 percent just
four years ago.
- 25.9 percent of FUSD students have scored proficient or
advanced in both English Language Arts and mathematics, compared
to just 19 percent four years ago.
- FUSD is showing improvement in both English Language Arts and mathematics at every grade level, with grades 2 and 4 posting a 7.3 percent jump each – a significant gain in one year
- While the achievement gap still persists, this is the fourth year of
district-wide growth for all subgroups in both ELA and math with the exception
of a one year dip in 2007 for African American students (in math).
- 24.1 percent of English Learners (EL) are scoring proficient or advanced in
English Language Arts – a significant boost from the dismal 15.9 percent
proficient or advanced just four years ago.
- 48 elementary schools posted a 5 percent or more gain in mathematics over
last year and 36 elementary schools posted a 7 percent or more gain in
mathematics over last year
- 31 elementary schools posted a 5 percent or more gain in English Language
Arts over last year and 21 elementary schools posted a 7 percent or more gain in
mathematics
- 8 out of 15 middle schools posted gains in both ELA and math
- 5 out of 8 high schools posted gains in both ELA and math
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Fresno High School breaks ground on new pool |
 WATCH: Press Conference Video at Fresno High
 Fresno High School broke ground on their new 35-meter competition swimming pool this month as part of the nearly $14 million approved by the Board of Education to upgrade high school athletic facilities district-wide. In addition, the City of Fresno contributed $2 million for the athletic facility upgrades. The new pool replaces the more than 40-year-old pool and will feature three diving boards, and a concrete tiered seating area. The pool is expected to be completed in early 2010. In addition to the pool, Fresno High School is getting a new all-weather track. It is part of many projects under way at all FUSD high schools to upgrade athletic facilities. FUSD Board Trustees, Fresno City Councilman Blong Xiong, and Fresno High students and parents joined Superintendent Michael Hanson for a press conference on July 23 to celebrate the groundbreaking of the new pool.
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Board Meetings |
The Board of Education holds regular meetings every second and fourth Wednesday of the month. Click here for details. As supporting material for board agenda items are made available, they may be accessed through using this link. |
Fresno Unified schools improving in State API rankings |
 The California Department of Education released the 2008 Academic Performance Index Base Report, showing Fresno Unified schools are improving in the Statewide and Similar Schools rankings. The report allows the district to compare gains made during the last school year (2007-08) with other schools in the state. Fresno Unified schools are seeing increases in the rankings with 20 schools increasing in the State-wide ranking and 40 schools increasing their Similar Schools ranking. The biggest Similar School ranking gains were for Lincoln Elementary (from a 1 to a 7), Vinland Elementary (from a 1 to a 7), and Greenberg Elementary (from a 2 to a 7). Fresno Unified has also reduced its number of "1-1" schools, which represents schools at the lowest State-wide and at the lowest Similar Schools ranking. Fresno Unified has only 12 schools with a "1-1" ranking as compared to 23 schools just 3 years ago. |
FUSD Board of Education adopts balanced 2009-10 budget |
 The Fresno Unified School District Board of Education adopted a balanced $990 million budget for the 2009-10 school year while ensuring that permanent employees with the district will remain employed with FUSD next year. Unlike many other school districts in California that were faced with significant teacher layoffs, FUSD was able to present and adopt a budget that protects teacher jobs and avoids significant impact to classrooms. FUSD is able to endure the dismal state budget crisis because of prudent budget reductions taken early and by implementing a system-wide hiring and purchasing freeze last January. In addition, the district's healthy budget reserve and one-time federal stimulus dollars are buffering the sharp impact.
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Workforce readiness and CTE report presented to the Board |
 To assist the district's mission of preparing career ready graduates, the Superintendent commissioned the Workforce Readiness and Career Technical Education (CTE) Commission to develop recommendations that will ensure all students graduate with the character and competencies for workplace success. Comprised of business and community leaders, the Commission presented its recommendations to the Board of Education at its regularly scheduled meeting on May 27, 2009. View the CTE Report |
EL Task Force makes recommendations to improve academic achievement of English Learners |
 The Superintendent's English Learners Task Force was commissioned to more clearly define and articulate instructional programs for Fresno Unified School District's more than 20,000 English Learners. The EL Task Force presented its recommendations in a report to the FUSD Board of Education at its regularly scheduled meeting on May 27, 2009.
 View the EL Task Force report |
FUSD Board of Education approves Facilities Master Plan |
 The Fresno Unified School District Board of Education approved the Facilities Master Plan at its regularly scheduled board meeting April 29. The Facilities Master Plan will chart the district's facilities efforts for the next 15 years to meet the needs of students throughout the district and is the result of a nearly two-year process by the Facilities Ad Hoc Advisory Committee (FAAC). Included in the document are plans for the construction of new schools, choice options in each high school attendance area, and creation of flexible facilities to support the district's work in preparing career ready graduates.
View the Facilities Master Plan
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3 FUSD schools receive prestigious "California Distinguished School" award |
 State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O'Connell announced that Fresno Unified School
District's Baird Middle School, Computech Middle School, and Design Science High School were selected as 2009 California Distinguished Schools, an annual award that recognizes some of the state's most exemplary public schools.
"This recognition is a testament to the outstanding work of the students, staff, and parents at Baird, Computech, and Design Science High School," said FUSD Superintendent Michael Hanson. "We commend the continued efforts of these schools to prepare career ready graduates."
Fresno Unified School District schools have received 40 California Distinguished School awards since the program began in 1986. The selected middle and high schools represent about 10.9 percent of California's nearly 2,400 middle and high schools. Of those, only 341 schools met the eligibility criteria based on their student achievement and were chosen from 170 school districts in 46 counties. An awards ceremony honoring the Distinguished Schools will be held Friday, May 29 at the Disneyland Hotel in Anaheim. The Disneyland Resort is a major corporate sponsor of the event. |
School Calendars for 2009/10 and 2010/11 School Years adopted |
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Constituent Services helps resolve issues and address concerns |
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Fresno Unified School District Board of Education established a Constituent Services Office to respond to the needs of parents and community members.
The Constituent Services administrator helps parents and community members to receive their requested information and guides them on the most effective route to address or resolve an issue. Fresno serves more than 73,000 students at 106 schools, and the Constituent Services Office helps to connect parents and community members with the information and resources to get the help they need swiftly. The Constituent Services Office can be reached at 457-3736. |
Bullard High School wins the Division I section championship for the first time in the school’s history, and Edison High School wins the Division II section championship for the first time since 2002 – making Fresno Unified history with two division section championships in football in the same year. The Bullard High School Knights defeated Centennial 42-31 at McLane Stadium and Edison High School Tigers traveled to Bakersfield to defeat Frontier 23-7.
The FUSD Board of Education adopted the school calendars for the 2009/10 and 2010/11 school years.