SAN JOSE, CA – On Wednesday, January 13, 2021, the Santa Clara County Board of Education unanimously passed four resolutions honoring: National Black History Month, National Career and Technical Education (CTE) Month, Lunar New Year and the Parent Teacher Association (PTA) Founder’s Day.
The National Black History Month resolution acknowledges the 2021 theme of The Black Family: Representation, Identity, and Diversity as well as the history behind the designated month that pays homage to the achievements of African Americans who have shaped American history - a celebration that dates back to 1926.
The National Career and Technical Education (CTE) Month resolution highlights the importance of creating public awareness around the value of CTE classes and to recognize the accomplishments and achievements of said classes. CTE classes prepare students for high-wage, high-demand careers covering many different fields, including health care, information technology, advanced manufacturing, hospitality and management, etc. CTE encompasses a variety of educational settings, from classroom learning to certification programs to work-based learning opportunities outside the classroom. Per the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Handbook, many of the fastest-growing jobs through 2024 will be in CTE fields.
Lunar New Year begins February 12, 2021 with celebrations continuing through February 26, 2021. Lunar New Year is defined as the first day of the first month in the traditional Chinese calendar and has been celebrated in California since 1858. Lunar New Year is the most important and festive holiday of the year, celebrated in many Asian and Southeast Asian cultures, including Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese, and Mongolian. It is a time to reunite with family, recognize traditions, honor ancestors, celebrate the past year, and invite good luck and prosperity for the coming year. 2021 is Year of the Ox, a valued animal because of its role in agriculture - the Ox is seen as hardworking, positive and honest, with strong ties to family and traditional values.
February 17, 2021 marks the National Parent Teacher Association (PTA) Founder’s Day. The first chartered association was established in 1897 in the state of New York by Alice McLellan Birney, Phoebe Apperson Hearst and Selena Sloan Butler. PTA is chartered in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Europe, the Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico. The county of Santa Clara is represented by the California Sixth District PTA.
The Santa Clara County Board of Education recognizes the commitment of the SCCOE to promote, celebrate, and provide high-quality services to advance and improve student equity, inclusion, access to high-quality education, and establish and maintain essential community partnerships.
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About the Santa Clara County Office of Education
Working collaboratively with school and community partners, the Santa Clara County Office of Education (SCCOE) is a regional service agency that provides instructional, business, and technology services to the 31 school districts of Santa Clara County. The County Office of Education directly serves students through special education programs, alternative schools, Head Start and State Preschool programs, migrant education, and Opportunity Youth Academy. The SCCOE also provides academic and fiscal oversight and monitoring to districts in addition to the 22 Santa Clara County Board of Education authorized charter schools.