Turlock Unified School District received $3,403,734 thanks to a state program called Educator Effectiveness and eCademy Charter at Crane received $24,689 in separate funds. The grant was developed to support professional development of educators and staff who interact with students. Some of the goals of the program will be to reengage students after distance learning, support social and emotional learning and the development of an ethic studies curriculum.

“This is a really great opportunity for the district for professional development, it’s a great deal of money, and we believe the input we’ve received from staff will let us make decisions and provide training that will serve students very effectively,” said Assistant Superintendent of Educational Services Heidi Lawler.

A staff survey was sent out to determine the greatest areas of need for professional development. Nearly half of the respondents said social and emotional is where the funds should be used most at 49 percent. Other top results were student engagement (39%), supporting students with disabilities (35%) and Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports (33%).

The district is planning on using the funds on coaching and mentoring staff ($100,000), programs that lead to effective, standard-aligned instruction ($964,634), new professional learning networks for educators ($480,000) and more areas of professional development.

eCademy is going to be using the funds along the same lines with the most going towards strategies to implement social-emotional learning, trauma-informed practices, suicide

prevention and other approaches that improve pupil well-being ($13,720).