Annual Report celebrates program milestones

During the 2024-25 school year, a number of TCOE programs celebrated milestone anniversaries – 25, 40, 60, and even 65 years.  These milestones and the impact the programs have had are the focus of the 2024-25 Tulare County Office of Education Annual Report. The programs featured in the report include Young People’s Concerts, Early Childhood Education Program, Services for Education and Employment, the California Friday Night Live Partnership, the Tulare & Kings Counties Teacher Recruitment Fair, La Sierra Charter Schools, the Stars in the Hills Prom, and the Migrant Education Region VIII Journalism Project. Along with the celebrations, many of the stories feature profiles of individuals whose lives were changed by the programs.

“This year, we stand in awe of the many years these programs and activities have served the students, parents, and communities of Tulare County,” said Tim Hire, Tulare County Superintendent of Schools. “The vision, passion, and commitment of both past and present staff have created opportunities and conditions for success for the students and organizations we serve.”

Representatives from 75 universities and colleges will be on hand at the annual Tulare County College Night to answer questions about entrance requirements, available degrees, and tuition expenses at their institutions.

College Night will be held Tuesday, September 9, at the Visalia Convention Center. The event, which will open to high school students and their families at 5:30 p.m., is designed to provide information on preparing for and applying to colleges. Several breakout sessions will also be offered on topics that include financial aid, the college application process, the college admission process, and NCAA eligibility.

On Monday prior to the event, students can download a flyer of helpful hints to use when talking with college representatives about their institutions. The College Planning Guide for Parents & Students will also be available to download. For resources, please visit tcoe.org/CollegeNight. 

Through a partnership with Carnegie Hall Weill Music Institute, TCOE is bringing a free K-2 music curriculum to Tulare County educators.

Musical Explorers is a free all-digital curriculum designed and distributed by Carnegie Hall to connect students in grades K-2 to musical experiences as they build fundamental music skills through listening, singing, and moving. A range of resources are available to school districts, including digital curriculum materials, lessons and interactive classroom activities, professional learning, webinars, and more

Designed to be flexible, the program aligns with existing curricula and can be taught by music teachers, general educators, or through a collaborative, cross-disciplinary approach. No prior music training is required.

To participate in Musical Explorers, educators can register through TCOE at bit.ly/MusicalExplorers2025 by October 1. Participating classrooms’ responsibilities include joining the Tulare County Musical Explorers cohort, teaching a minimum of one tradition from the curriculum a month, connecting with TCOE in regards to the program, and sharing data with TCOE and Carnegie Hall.

For more information, contact Kate Stover at kate.stover@tcoe.org.

Editor: Robert Herman, Communications Director
Contributors: Nayirah Dosu, Jennifer Fisher, Jaime Burnitzki, Paula Terrill, Kate Stover

To receive the News Gallery Week, sign up here, or contact Jennifer Fisher at jenniferf@tcoe.org or (559) 733-6172.