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Thursday, April 15, 2010

Santa Ana schools will undergo drastic reform for federal funds | California Watch

Santa Ana schools will undergo drastic reform for federal funds | California Watch

Santa Ana schools will undergo drastic reform for federal funds

Photo by Tiffany Szerpicki
Since March, Santa Ana Unified School District, the third largest district in California, has been faced with this dilemma: Do we apply for the federal School Improvement Grants and undergo drastic reform, or do we forgo the program and pass up much-needed federal dollars?
Last week, based upon the fine reporting by the Contra Costa Times, we wrote about a loophole that would allow districts like Santa Ana Unified to further avoid the reform measures, if they so desired.
Wednesday, Santa Ana announced they would take the money and the reform.
According to the Orange County Register, six schools – Century High, Santa Ana High, Saddleback High, Valley High, Willard Intermediate and Sierra Intermediate – will apply for SIG money and begin restructuring

University of California admits more nonresident students

Photo by Patrickniel
Preliminary admissions data from the University of California shows some campuses in the state's premier public university system are admitting more nonresident students – a move that will bring more money to the campuses while also shifting the composition of the student body.
Overall, nonresidents account for 14 percent of admitted students this year, compared to 12 percent last year.
Nowhere is the increase sharper than at UC Berkeley, where nonresidents make up 27 percent of admitted students this year, up from 14 percent in 2009.
Susan Wilbur, director of undergraduate admissions for the UC system, said that even though the proportion and number of international and out-of-state students are increasing, these nonresident students are not taking up spaces that could otherwise go to California residents.
She said that the university currently enrolls 15,000 more California resident students than are funded by the