MUSD recognized with Distinguished California Education Honor for early literacy program

MUSD’s Love4Literacy Program was honored with a Golden Bell Award from California School Boards Association celebrating outstanding education programs and governance practices. Pictured from left: Greg Barnes, MUSD’s Director of Learning & Development, and Gerry Lopez, MUSD’s Coordinator for Child Development Centers, hold the Golden Bell Award at the 2019 CSBA Education Conference in San Diego, Calif.

The Milpitas Unified School District (MUSD) was selected as one of 57 recipients of California’s leading educational honor, the Golden Bell Award. The Golden Bell Awards, celebrating their 40th year, are presented by the California School Boards Association to promote excellence in public education and school board governance by recognizing outstanding programs and governance practices. The awards reflect the depth and breadth of education programs and governance decisions supporting these programs that are necessary to address students’ changing needs.

Milpitas Unified School District received its award at a well-attended reception and ceremony on Dec. 5, 2019, at the CSBA Annual Education Conference. The conference is the premier continuing education event for California school boards and the largest education leadership conference in the state.

With a goal of creating academically equitable communities by reducing educational and opportunity gaps, the Love4Literacy program’s objective is to increase reading exposure for non-school aged children while fostering early vocabulary and literacy skills through the use of oral, traditional and digital literacy materials. Milpitas Unified School District partnered with Milpitas Library, YMCA, and Health Trust to sponsor a variety of educational events for young readers and family members, including pancake breakfast reading and resource fairs, free educational field trips, summer camps, and a 17-week Kindergarten experience. Each event was designed to develop educational concepts and a love for literacy among the youngest readers, as well as to offer parents resources designed to foster their growing educational relationship with their children.

“Love4LIteracy has grown tremendously over the last three years,” Superintendent Cheryl Jordan said. “It has provided our families with opportunities to experience learning alongside their children as they explore historical parks, museums, working farms and more. The action based learning together approach gives our students a jumpstart on an educational path of success.”

A judging panel composed of experts from school districts and county offices of education across the state reviewed written entries and made initial recommendations. On-site validators then reviewed the recommendations and assessed the programs in action. This year’s Golden Bell winners demonstrated that they are addressing student needs through areas such as equity and access, school climate and safety, technology and wellness.

“Now more than ever is a time to acknowledge and celebrate innovative and impactful programs that make a difference in the lives of our young people,” said CSBA CEO & Executive Director Vernon M. Billy. “This year’s Golden Bell winners truly serve as beacons of success as we work to more fully and equitably serve all of California’s public school students.”
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To learn more about the Golden Bell awards and all the winners, visit the program’s website at https://gb.csba.org/.