Everyone who ever considered a career in education knows that there are three good reasons to become a teacher: June, July and August. But every August has its September, and with September comes school.
Everyone who ever considered a career in education knows that there are three good reasons to become a teacher: June, July and August. But every August has its September, and with September comes school.
Actually, it came in August this year, a few days before Labor Day (the holiday parents of school age children often mistake for Independence Day). Some 6,000 students poured into schools on Wednesday throughout Santa Cruz County, marking what Superintendent Gary Bloom called a “turnaround” after several years of declining enrollment. Middle schools and high schools are growing, and even elementary schools are showing a slight increase in the number of students.
The increase in the number of students comes as California struggles with a budget crisis that resulted in some $3 billion in cuts from school programs serving high-need students and illiterate adults. For the most part, however, school districts benefited from the state budget passed in June, and were able to rehire staff and keep class sizes smaller. This could last until December, when the state will have to reassess its revenues, which are currently $500 million below expectations. If the trend keeps up and revenues fall more than $4 billion below projections, the state will be forced to cut $1.5 billion from its education budget.
As for yesterday, though, school got off to a good start, whether the students were first graders, just beginning a 12-year long adventure in learning or high school seniors nearing the end of that journey.
There are even some new programs in the county, including a Newcomers Class at Harbor High School, for students who have been in the country for less than 18 months, and the College Commitment program for fourth and ninth graders to show them that learning doesn’t have to end with a high school diploma. Read more at Santa Cruz Sentinel and the LA Times.
