GIA Education Report: 7/31/24

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

Congress is intensifying its investigation into the college financial aid crisis. The House Education Committee issued a subpoena demanding the Biden administration hand over documents by August 8. Committee leader Virginia Foxx criticized the Department of Education for not cooperating with probes into the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) changes. Glitches with the FAFSA this spring delayed many students from estimating college costs, impacting their decisions on tight deadlines. 

In other news, The San Bernardino Community College District has welcomed Dr. Cherina Betters to its Board of Trustees. Dr. Betters, appointed on June 13 and sworn in on July 11, succeeds Dr. Anne Viricel for Area 7, covering Highland, Lake Arrowhead, and surrounding areas. The SBCCD Board oversees the district’s educational mission, serving nearly 20,000 students across multiple institutions. 

School attendance rates, which hit historical lows during the pandemic, are on the rise. According to School Services of California, overall attendance increased by 1.18 percentage points last year, although still down by 2.17 points from 2019-20 levels. Elementary schools saw attendance rise to 93.76%, high schools to 91.77%, and unified districts to 92.46%. This marks a positive trend in post-pandemic recovery. 

San Bernardino students prepared for the upcoming school year at a Back-to-School Extravaganza on July 24th. Held at San Bernardino Valley College, the event offered free school supplies, immunizations, sports physicals, and family resources. The San Bernardino City Unified School District’s first day of school is August 5th. 

A new executive order by the Biden administration offers a pathway to citizenship for undocumented immigrant spouses of U.S. citizens, benefiting tens of thousands of children in California. Advocates say this program will enhance children’s financial security, health, and focus in school. Undocumented spouses with over 10 years of residency and no criminal record can apply for permanent residency, starting in August, without returning to their home countries. This move aims to stabilize families, improving students’ well-being and educational outcomes. 

Cal State San Bernardino professor Barbara Sirotnik has been honored with the Inland Empire ASPA 2024 Outstanding Educator Award. The American Society for Public Administration’s Inland Empire chapter gave the award at their annual luncheon on June 27. Barbara expressed gratitude for the recognition of her contributions to education in the region, stating it means a lot at this point in her career.  

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