Accomplishments and Recognitions

• Remained a leader in Sacramento County for the percent of graduates meeting requirements to enroll in the University of California (UC) or California State University (CSU) systems and recognized in July 2023  in a PACE report, an independent non-partisan research center, for being a model district in providing students access to A-G courses
• Expanded our International Baccalaureate (IB) programs to include 3 additional schools with the Primary Years Programme and 1 additional school with the Middle Years Programme with 1 in 3 students enrolled in an IB School
• Continue to expand access to Advancement Placement (AP) courses including addition of Pre-AP courses and maintenance of AP Capstone Diploma program at Natomas High School
• Partnered with American River College to expand Dual Enrollment opportunities for high school students
• Maintained expanded access to Gifted and Talented Education (GATE)
• Continue to provide access to take free PSAT test during the school day on campuses
• Updated District Vision and Core Values to be aligned to district growth, successes, and goals
• For the 2022-23 school year, NUSD paid the first application fee for seniors eligible to apply to UC/CSU campuses
• Created a team of Co-teaching Teachers on Special Assignment (TOSAs) to address learning recovery needs
• Creation of Learning Recovery and Intervention Guide to engage families in intervention supports available for their student in the district and on each campus as well as continuance with On Track to College letters for high school students
• Expansion of Universal Preschool and Transitional Kindergarten beginning fall of 2023
• Expanded to 10 Career Technical Education Pathways for students, including four new pathways since 2019, with state-of-the-art facilities to include: Building and Construction Trades, Cosmetology, Music Production, and Public Safety
• Received California School Board Association (CSBA) Golden Bell Awards for best practices in Career Technical Education Pathways and K-12 Continuum of Social-Emotional Support for students’ behavioral and mental health needs, adding to our previous Golden Bell Awards in Constituent and Customer Services and Nutrition Services
• Discovery High School awarded Model Continuation High School 
• Became our own Special Education Local Plan Area (SELPA), to enhance our support to students receiving Special Education services
• Opening first Dual Immersion program, Heredia-Arriaga School, in fall of 2023
• Multi-year DEI plan with Ethnic Studies year long pilot course, continuance of Race and Social Justice course for high school students, anti-racist/anti-bias training for all staff, and increased materials and resources that represent our diverse student population 
• Developed a Diverse Teacher Recruitment Program and Aspiring Leaders Program that identifies a pipeline of new teachers and administrators who reflect Natomas’ diverse student population and who have life experiences that will benefit all student groups
• English Language Development (ELD) Apprentice program to develop Quality Teaching for English Learners (Certified QTEL Teachers)
• Opened the new campus of Paso Verde K-8 School in the winter of 2021 
• Opened Larry G. Meeks Academy, NUSD’s first virtual school, in fall of 2020
• Transitioned three K-5 schools to full K-8 campuses to include new classrooms, gymnasiums, playgrounds, and athletic fields
• Created an Alternative Learning Program (ALP) for high school students to attend courses virtually while still being able to participate in school activities at their home campuses
• Expanded our elementary and middle school athletics programs 
• Expanded AVID to 3 elementary schools with 6 NUSD schools receiving state recognition in 2019 for their successful efforts in providing a positive school culture for students. These schools are among the top schools in the state being honored for implementing the core features of Positive Behavior Intervention and Support (PBIS) 
• Added 14 full-time social workers at each NUSD school to support an array of services and resources for students and families and 1 full-time social worker liaison to support foster/homeless youth
• Increased to 17 full-time psychologists to serve all students at 15 campuses
• Increased to 15 full-time counselors to serve students in grades 6-12
• Launched NUSD Connect, Wi-Fi towers at each school, to provide internet access at home to families who need it at no cost
• 1:1 access for Chromebooks, allowing all students to take technology home each day with access to academic and social-emotional supports such as virtual tutoring and social skills groups 
• Created a Communications and Family Engagement (CAFE) Department to better engage our families as partners and include student voice
• Partnered with Parent Institute for Quality Education (PIQE) to provide parent training programs specifically for immigrant families  
• Created and expanded dedicated, stand alone Safety and Safe Schools Department with a full-time safety dispatcher, innovative consultant and safety and climate liaisons
• Opened the Urgent Care Now Clinic in October 2021, to provide healthcare access to students, staff, and uninsured and underinsured families
• Launched the Natomas Mobile Health Clinic which travels to provide basic health care such as immunizations, physicals, and vaccinations
• During the COVID pandemic from June 2020 – June 2022, NUSD provided 75,514 tests and administered nearly 50,000 COVID vaccines to help keep our students healthy and safe
• Construction is underway for a permanent facility for the B. Teri Burns Health Clinic and HALO across the street from Natomas High School
• Continue community-supported Measure J and Measure L school bond projects to fund construction, renovation, security, and other projects
• Modernized athletic facilities, fields, and scoreboards for our student-athletes to support student well-being and connectedness 
• In partnership with the City of Sacramento, opened a state-of-the-art Aquatic Center that’s utilized by NUSD students and the community
• Expansion of transportation and service fleet to include hybrid and electric vehicles
• Made investments in athletics and arts, and music programs
• Nutrition Services nationally and locally recognized and being awarded multiple grants 
• Expanded support to provide free food to needy families each week through Joey’s Food Locker
• Opening of the Larry G. Meeks Academy, NUSD’s Virtual School
• In 2021, NUSD opened Urgent Care Now Natomas Clinic to serve our families and community for a healthy Natomas
• In 2022, NUSD received approval of Sale Agreement for Arena Parcel to build a new school
• New cohort of Diverse Future Teachers launches with 14 teachers, total of gaining their teaching credential with district support
• In March 2022, the Board approved a new Ethnic Studies Pilot Course
• In April 2022, the Board approved the adoption of Science Instructional Materials for Grades K-12
• Grand Opening of the North Aquatic Center, a partnership between NUSD and the City of Sacramento which will provide opportunities for our students while the entire community enjoys and benefits from it
• Broke ground on the Heredia-Arriaga School, NUSD’s Dual Immersion School
• There were 163 State Seals of Biliteracy earned in the Class of 2022