On Saturday, December 4, representatives for the Sacramento County Office of Education (SCOE) accepted the highly respected Golden Bell Award at a special ceremony in San Francisco. The event was held in conjunction with the California School Boards Association's (CSBA) Annual Education Conference.
The SCOE LINKS program, which motivates high-risk youth to succeed in school and reach their educational and life goals, received the honor. The program is a SCOE career technical education program that helps students find a new direction, build a better future and take control of their lives. The program, for youth ages 14 to 18, is a bridge between academics and real job readiness with service learning in the community and opportunities to earn money.
LINKS stands for:
- Leadership in everyday life
- Ingenuity in thought and practice
- Navigating choices
- Keeping the promise
- Sufficiency in preparation
Admission to LINKS is not automatic. Students must earn a spot on the team. The program is part of the curriculum at every SCOE campus.
The CSBA Golden Bell Awards program promotes excellence in education by recognizing outstanding programs in school districts and county offices of education throughout California. The goal of this awards program is to contribute to the development and evaluation of curriculum, instruction, and support services.
This is the third Golden Bell Award for the Sacramento County Office of Education. In 2008, SCOE's ROP Manufacturing Technology-Welding program, at the now-closed Carson Creek Jr./Sr. High School within the Sacramento County Boys Ranch, received the prestigious honor. In 1999, the Outreach Construction Technology Program was also recognized by the California School Boards Association with a Golden Bell.