GIA Education Report: 7/24/24

Welcome to the GIA Education Report. With the latest in Southern California education news, I’m Alyssa Silva. 

The Biden-Harris Administration has approved $1.2 billion in student loan relief for 35,000 public service workers, part of improvements to the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Program. This brings total loan forgiveness to $168.5 billion for 4.76 million Americans. However, a federal appeals court has blocked parts of the administration’s debt relief plan, halting efforts to lower monthly payments for millions. The ruling comes amid ongoing legal challenges, as Republican-led states seek to invalidate the broader loan forgiveness program.

In other news, Crafton Hills College has received a $15,000 grant from Bank of America to support students in its Training First Responders project and public safety programs. Crafton Hills College President Kevin Horan emphasized that the funding will ease financial burdens, allowing students to focus on their studies. The grant aids those training to become paramedics, EMTs, and firefighters by covering costs for materials, state testing, and certifications. 

California has become the first state to ban school districts from enforcing parental notification policies that could disclose a student’s gender identity without their consent. Governor Gavin Newsom signed the “Support Academic Futures and Educators for Today’s Youth Act” (SAFETY Act) into law, ensuring students’ privacy and creating a supportive learning environment. This legislation, effective January 1, 2025, represents a significant step in protecting students’ rights, according to Assemblymember Chris Ward.  

The CIELO Fund is set to award $107,000 in scholarships to 64 students in the Inland Empire through the 2024 CIELO Fund Scholars Program. This brings the total investment in Latino scholarships to $230,000, benefiting 148 students since 2023. Founder Jesse Melgar emphasizes the fund’s role in helping students break cycles of poverty and achieve their educational goals. 

Enrollment in California’s transitional kindergarten classes has doubled over the past two years, rising from 75,465 in 2021-22 to 152,491 in 2023-24. This increase follows legislation from 2021 that expanded the program to include all 4-year-olds. Known as Universal Pre-Kindergarten, the initiative aims for full implementation by 2025.  

Lupita Perez, a graduate student in California Baptist University’s speech-language pathology program, has secured a coveted internship at the Children’s Hospital of Orange County. This summer, Perez, will complete her clinical fellowship after graduating in August. She’s excited about her future in hospital or private practice settings, aiming to make a meaningful impact. 

And that’s this week’s GIA Education Report, I’m Alyssa Silva.