Welcome Back

Hello families of a Black/African American student. Welcome to the 2021-22 school year and back to in person learning. My name is William McGee, the director of the Office of African American Student Achievement (OAASA).

This school year marks the third year that OAASA has been in operation in the WCCUSD. Guided by the WCCUSD’s Board of Education’s resolution in support of the achievement of African American/Black students in the WCCUSD, my office is committed to support the school district with improving educational outcomes for our Black students, strengthening family engagement, and providing professional development opportunities for our faculty and staff.

An important part to increasing student achievement is parent/guardian involvement. My office supports the Family And Community Engagement (FACE) department with outreach efforts to our Black families, and supporting our school sites with outreach. The district’s sponsored parent leadership committee (PLC) for Black/African American families is the African American Site Advisory Team (AASAT). The African American Parent Advisory Council (AAPAC) is our district’s site level African American parent/guardian meeting space. Each of our school sites are required to establish an AAPAC. Please contact your school site’s principal about information on joining the AAPAC.

For the 2021-22 school year, the OAASA will host monthly parent/guardian workshops based on feedback from our AASAT executive committee and our site level AAPACs. We will produce a calendar for the meetings. In conjunction with the special education department, we are also hosting workshops on the overidentification of Black students in the special education program qualifying as emotionally disturbed. We hope that you will join us for all of the workshops geared at supporting you and your child(ren).

You can find out information about the OAASA at www.wccusd.net/oaasa. On our website, we have newsletters from the 2020-21 school year, as well additional resources.

Parent Workshop

Parent/guardian engagement is a cornerstone of student success and achievement. This school year, our goal is to offer workshops to support growth for our families and our students. Our first parent/guardian workshop will be held on Tuesday, September 21, 2021, beginning at 6:00 pm in person and via zoom.  This workshop is being presented in conjunction with our Special Education department.

Other workshops, based on feedback from our district’s AASAT executive committee and our site level AAPACs, for this school year are:

• Early childhood development

• Roles and responsibility of a parent advisory committee (PAC)

• Monitoring the school plan for student achievement (SPSA)

• How to become an educator

• Special education/requesting IEPs and reviewing files

• Understanding school choice for parents.

• Supporting your student with school (academic, attendance)

• Creating relationships with your school

We will provide a calendar with topics and dates for the workshops as well as the AASAT meetings. For more information about these workshops, please contact Mr. John Cable

Zoom Link for workshop: https://wccusd.zoom.us/j/95545866608?pwd=ajlDSkUzUmhUQ0E1TStHdnNaRW01dz09

African American Parent Committee's

STAR Assessments 2nd Grade - 11th Grade

   We are excited to have students return for in-person learning! For a year and a half, staff, students, and parents have put forth their best efforts to continue learning away from schools. As we return for in-person learning, now more than ever, assessments are needed. From August 30th to October 1st, schools will be administering the STAR Math and English assessment. The STAR assessments are short computer adaptive tests that adjust to each answer your child provides. These assessments will provide staff, students, and parents with data that informs where your child stands in his or her learning. Teachers and administrators will use this data to design learning plans that help your child achieve learning results.

To support your child with their STAR assessments:

• Encourage your child to do their best and help them to understand the importance of the testing!

• Before the day of testing, make sure they get plenty of rest!

• On the day of testing, have them eat a healthy breakfast!

Find out when your child's school is scheduled for STAR assessments!

Zion Learning

OAASA is proud to announce our continued partnership with Zion Learning!   Zion Learning is an online tutoring service that specializes in supporting Black/African American students. This tutoring service is owned and operated by a Black woman.

Zion Learning worked with students during the 2020-21 school year and supported them with study skills, organizational skills, homework help and more. The tutoring is flexible and works around your schedule.

If you would like to have Zion offered at your school site, please contact your child’s principal and/or speak with the AAPAC at your school site. Most school sites may offering tutoring on site after school as well.   

Thank you and much success this school year!