GIA Education Report: 9/11/24

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

As federal COVID-19 relief funds near expiration, school districts across the U.S. face the challenge of balancing budgets and retaining staff hired during the pandemic. The Biden administration provided $189.5 billion in relief through the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund (ESSER), which expires on September 30. Schools used much of this funding for teachers and support staff, and now districts are scrambling to either retain staff or make cuts as the funding deadline approaches. 

The Boys & Girls Club, in partnership with Redlands Unified School District (RUSD), now offers the Expanded Learning Opportunity Program (ELOP) at the Redlands Hansberger Clubhouse. The program, part of California’s Assembly Bill 130, provides before and after-school services for transitional kindergarten and kindergarten students, focusing on academic, social, emotional, and physical development. Under state guidelines, ELOP ensures that students, particularly foster youth, those receiving free or reduced-price meals, and English learners, have access to extended learning opportunities. 

San Bernardino Community College District (SBCCD) has secured a $3 million grant from the U.S. Economic Development Administration to build a job training center at the former Norton Air Force Base. The 17,620 sq. ft. facility will offer hands-on training in fields like advanced manufacturing, construction, and HVAC systems. The center aims to create 500 new jobs, retain over 800 current positions, and provide essential skills to unemployed adults, at-risk youth, and formerly incarcerated individuals.  

The College of the Desert’s nursing program will expand following a $2.9 million donation from OneFuture Coachella Valley. This funding will enable 70 additional students to enroll in the 2024-25 nursing class and will cover program costs, scholarships, and support services. Local healthcare employers, including Desert Care Network and Eisenhower Health, are collaborating to help address the regional nursing shortage by investing in local talent.  

California lawmakers passed Assembly Bill 3216, the Phone-Free School Act, which requires school districts to limit student smartphone use during school hours by July 1, 2026. The bill aims to reduce classroom distractions, cyberbullying, and concerns about student mental health and smartphone addiction. Governor Gavin Newsom is expected to sign the legislation, following his recent call for schools to restrict cellphone use due to its impact on children’s well-being. 

Copper Mountain College’s Community Education program is set to begin its Fall Semester in mid-September, offering a diverse selection of courses ranging from yoga and dance to AI and film production. This semester marks the most varied course offering since before the pandemic, with contributions from local instructors sharing their expertise. Course details, including costs and schedules, can be found online at www.cmccd.edu/fall-2024, with registration opening on September 3, 2024. 

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