{"id":9605,"date":"2023-04-26T15:20:12","date_gmt":"2023-04-26T22:20:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sandiegonewsdesk.com\/?p=9605"},"modified":"2023-04-26T15:20:12","modified_gmt":"2023-04-26T22:20:12","slug":"impoverished-schools-in-san-diego-forced-to-stretch-federal-money-to-help-students","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sandiegonewsdesk.com\/?p=9605","title":{"rendered":"Impoverished schools in San Diego forced to stretch federal money to help students"},"content":{"rendered":"

The original article can be read here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

by\u00a0Andrea Figueroa Brise\u00f1o<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

Next school year, San Diego Unified schools with large populations of low-income students will receive a boost in federal money aimed at improving academic achievement.<\/p>\n

But one district leader says the additional influx of what\u2019s known as Title I funding still isn\u2019t enough.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe amount of money overall that\u2019s allocated from Title I will not even come close to meeting the needs that the (schools) will identify,\u201d said Richard Barrera, a longtime San Diego Unified board member.<\/p>\n

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Why this matters<\/h3>\n

Federal Title I funds are meant to help struggling students at low-income schools meet state standards, but leaders say the money is falling short of children\u2019s needs.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

More than 130 of the district\u2019s roughly 180 schools will receive some of the $8 million, added on to San Diego Unified\u2019s $19.5 million\u00a0Title I<\/a>\u00a0base allocation. Most campuses receiving the money are south of Interstate 8, where some of the district\u2019s highest-poverty schools are located.<\/p>\n

Hoover, San Diego and Lincoln high schools will receive the most supplemental funding \u2014 $303,000, $240,000, and $230,000, respectively. At the lowest end, Alba Community Day School \u2014 which serves 20 students who came from elsewhere in the district after facing disciplinary issues \u2014 will receive about $5,000.<\/p>\n

The amount schools receive is based on various factors, including the number of students who qualify for free or reduced-price meals, a poverty indicator; the academic performance of African American students; students\u2019 housing security; and whether they are English learners.<\/p>\n

The boost in funding is just a fraction of the district\u2019s $1.8 billion annual budget, but critically important to efforts to help struggling students, some San Diego educators say. The money can be used to pay for instructional staff, supplemental curriculum, behavior supports such as counselors, attendance programs and community engagement if it has been proven to help with student achievement.<\/p>\n

San Diego Unified will also receive $400,000 in federal money for programs encouraging parent involvement.<\/p>\n