C&I Initiatives Dashboard

On October 8, 2023, Governor Newsom signed into law Assembly Bill 285. This new law requires science instruction on climate change in grades 1-6 and 7-12. The law states that an emphasis on the causes and effects of climate change and ways to mitigate and adapt to its effects should be taught.

FUSD’s Curriculum and Instruction formed a Climate Literacy and Environmental Education Network in 2021 to identify and map where climate literacy and environmental education occur in the existing curriculum K-12. This network is currently working to create climate literacy resources for teachers in grades TK-12.

On September 30, 2023, Governor Newsom signed into law Assembly Bill 800. This new law requires public high schools to annually observe a Workplace Readiness Week including April 28th and to provide information to students on their rights as workers when applying for a work permit. The law also designates specific topics that should be covered in grades 11 and 12 that align with the history-social science framework.

FUSD's Curriculum & Instruction Department has reviewed the current adopted core curriculum and will be sharing with teachers where in the textbooks the topics are covered.

High School Living Earth Science: Textbook Adoption

A Living Earth Adoption Committee formed in May 2024 started to review Living Earth curricula aligned with NGSS and the California Framework.

The adoption committee is currently diving deep into two curricula:

• Savvas - Experience Biology
• Activate Learning - Open Sci Ed

Teachers will pilot the curricula from October 2024 - March 2025.

The community may review both curricula by making an appointment with the Curriculum and Instruction Department. Please email Jacqueline Cortez at jcortez@fusdk12.net or call to make an appointment at 510.659.2570 ext. 12716

Feedback may be shared using this form

A Physics in the Universe Adoption Committee formed in May 2024 started to review Physics in the Universe curricula aligned with NGSS and the California Framework.

The adoption committee is currently diving deep into two curricula:

• Kognity - Physics in the Universe
• Activate Learning - Open Sci Ed

Teachers began piloting the curricula in October 2024 and will continue through March 2025.

The community may review both curricula by making an appointment with the Curriculum and Instruction Department. Please email Jacqueline Cortez at jcortez@fusdk12.net or call to make an appointment at 510.659.2570 ext. 12716

Feedback may be shared using this form

The requirements outlined in Assembly Bill 101 which requires districts to offer this course starting with the 2025-26 school year and the completion of a one-semester Ethnic Studies course for all students graduating in the class of 2030 and beyond.

The FUSD Ethnic Studies workgroup reviewed the state's Ethnic Studies Model curriculum and developed the district's Introduction to Ethnic Studies course which aligns to the graduation requirements.  The community can click here to learn more about this new course.   Translations are available in Mandarin and Spanish.

This one-semester course will be paired with the one-semester Health graduation requirement.  Any questions can be submitted using this link.

Currently, FUSD is using Newsela as supplemental curriculum for Ethnic Studies. In the Fall of 2024, an adoption committee was formed to review instructional materials aligned to the model curriculum. This review process began in October 2024.  Currently, the adoption committee is piloting two curricula:

• Voices
• Newsela

Community comments can be shared using this form until February 28th, 2025.

The community may review both curricula by making an appointment with the Curriculum and Instruction Department. Please email Jacqueline Cortez at jcortez@fusdk12.net or call to make an appointment at 510.659.2570 ext. 12716

In response to FUSD Board Resolution 030-2021, C&I has formed a Climate Literacy and Environmental Action Network (CLEAN) that is comprised of teachers and students from across the district that continue to meet in the 2024-2025 school year. The group has identified and mapped where climate literacy and environmental education occur in the existing K-12 curriculum. The focus of the year’s CLEAN committee will be to share the resources throughout the district and gather feedback.

Click here to learn more about CLEAN.

The C&I Department continues to offer a Climate Literacy & Environmental Education professional development series and a Garden Network series that is open to any FUSD teacher.  The purpose for both series is to build awareness about climate and environmental literacy through engaging hands-on learning opportunities throughout the district and community.

Grade 6 Core Novels:

On November 20, 2024, the Board approved the recommendation of the following two novels for 6th grade core literature:

• The Great Wall of Lucy Wu by Wendy Wan-Long

• A Long Walk to Water by Linda Sue Park

A work group of teachers will meet in Spring 2025 to develop resources and lessons for teaching these novels. Professional Development for teachers will be offered in May 2025.

Living Earth Development of instructional resources aligned to the California K-12 Science Framework.

Cohort 1 Update:

The 44 teachers in Cohort 1 have successfully completed Year 1 of their professional learning around the science of reading and have been engaged and thoughtful in shifting instructional practices in their classrooms.

Year 2 has begun and teachers will have their first in-person session in October.

Cohort 2 Update:
Year 2 has begun and teachers have had two in-person sessions.

Principal Cohort Update:
A cohort of elementary principals has begun their LETRS Professional Learning and met for their first in-person session in January 2025.

Since August 2022, 28 middle and high school teachers are part of a community of practice focusing on math instructional strategies to better support English Learners and students struggling in mathematics. This joint partnership between Silicon Valley Math Initiative, Lawrence Hall of Science Center for Equity in Mathematics and Fremont Unified  involves a summer institute followed by collaborative lesson design, classroom observations, and coaching support from mathematics teaching experts.

Cohort 3 Update:
Cohort 3 teachers began with a 3 day professional learning series in August where they learned instructional strategies to better support multi language learners and students who struggle in mathematics.  They have also completed 3 days of lesson study.