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U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION SAYS BLUEPRINT FOR STUDENT SUCCESS IS TYPE OF SCHOOL REFORM NEEDED IN URBAN SCHOOL DISTRICTS The United States Department of Education has approved the use of federal education funds by San Diego City Schools for the Blueprint for Student Success and praised the district for its comprehensive reform strategy. San Diego City Schools plans to use almost $19 million in federal money known as Title I to pay for many strategies in the Blueprint. The Blueprint is a comprehensive plan to improve all student reading and math achievement in city schools. Its major elements will get under way on Monday with expanded summer school for more than 20,000 students at 86 campuses. Ina letter to Superintendent of Public Education Alan Bersin, the assistant secretary of education at DOE said that San Diego's plan for Title I funding "is consistent with program requirements." Assistant Secretary Michael Cohen said that the Blueprint reform strategy "shows much promise and is in keeping with the kind of school reform that we wish to see school systems across the country put into place." The district asked the DOE to review the plan to make sure that the Blueprint strategy provides students in Title I schools sufficient support as required under the law. Title I money is intended to raise achievement of low-income students. Title I regulations call for providing socio-economically disadvantaged children "an enriched and accelerated educational program" and for "upgrading the quality of instruction by providing staff in participating schools with substantial opportunities for professional development." The Blueprint plan is estimated to cost about $50 million to implement in its first year. The funding would come from $19 million in Title I money, $16.6 million in state integration money, and some $15 million in other state of California categorical programs. (The district expects to receive $3 3.9 million in Title I funds for 2000-200 1. About 5 6% of the funds will be used for the Blueprint.) The Blueprint calls for more classroom time for students, more books in classrooms, and more useful training for teachers as part of first-year prevention and intervention strategies to boost reading and math achievement. Already, professional development has begun for principals and peer coaches on improving the teaching of literacy. The district has ordered extra books and related materials for all first-grade classrooms, at a cost of $5,000 per class. Paid teacher training in reading and math strategies will take place throughout the summer. Summer school begins on Monday, June 19. The expanded program under the Blueprint plan includes instruction at 86 schools, allowing the majority of students to attend summer school at their regular schools and in many cases to have their regular teacher. The district will be offering a junior-first academy at Chollas and Encanto elementary schools this summer for kindergarten students needed extra reading and mathematics before they enter the first grade in September. Teachers of summer literacy courses will receive professional development two afternoons per week during the summer session. |
