A bill signed into law last week by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger
will provide money, resources and improved intervention services to
struggling schools throughout the state, including San Benito
County.
Hollister – A bill signed into law last week by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger will provide money, resources and improved intervention services to struggling schools throughout the state, including San Benito County.
Assembly Bill 953, authored by Assemblyman Joe Coto, D-San Jose, provides up to $400 per student for schools that fail to meet standards of the federal No Child Left Behind Act.
Such schools are labeled “Program Improvement” schools and face federal sanctions, such as personnel restructuring and even closure, if they fail to improve.
The law also establishes a “Statewide System of School Support” to make sure struggling districts get the help they need.
When seven San Benito County schools were identified for program improvement, some officials had complained that although the federal designation came with harsh consequences, it didn’t offer additional funding to help fix the problems.
“They point out that we’re not doing well, but they don’t do anything to help us out,” said Spring Grove Principal Howard Chase. “The money (from AB 953) will allow us to provide direct tutoring to our students after school. This will allow us to focus on students not performing up to grade-level standards.”
Chase was unsure how much money Spring Grove school would be eligible to receive under the new law. But even before the school was identified for program improvement, Chase began implementing a new program designed specifically to help struggling students.
In the new program, students spend all of their classroom time on reading and math and get additional help from teachers and aides throughout the day.
Foley contended the bill does not provide any incentive to fail, but rather helps struggling schools get the money they need sooner. “It seems that this bill is going to get money to us expeditiously,” he said.
Foley said any bill that streamlines the funding process would be beneficial. State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O’Connell agreed.
“It is critically important that we target intervention funds to help students that most need assistance to reach their full potential,” he said in a press release last week. “This measure will allow us to strategically use these funds to help make changes at our most challenging schools.”
