October 4, 2001

A $9 million federal grant has been awarded to San Diego City Schools for an innovative program to work with students and their families at schools with the highest number of students recommended for expulsion.

The three-year award will allow city schools to collaborate with numerous community law-enforcement, health and social service agencies to provide a variety of counseling and related services.

The goal is to reduce the number of expulsions at target schools through these services and prepare students for more successful academic achievement by reducing high-risk behavior.

City Schools applied for the grant to the U.S. Department of Justice, the U.S. Department of Education and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, under the federal government’s Safe Schools/Healthy Students Initiative. The district was one of 20 selected nationally out of 200 applications, and it received the maximum amount of funding allowed.

Under the approved plan, the school district will focus on students at three middle schools/junior highs and the elementary schools that provide students to them. At the elementary schools, interventions could include mental health and related outreach services involving the student and the family. For older students, school and community counselors would work with them. The program would also include ALBA, an alternative learning school where the district often places students who have their expulsions suspended by the Board of Education.

Partners with City Schools in this three-year effort include: Children’s Hospital, San Diego county Department of Mental Health, the City of San Diego Police Department, the San Diego county Probation Department, and faith-based community groups.

Jack Campana, Director of Student Support Services for San Diego City Schools, is coordinating the effort.