Ed Lab: Will Fresno-area college kids save bus pass program if elected officials don’t?
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Hello, Ed Lab readers,
For many Fresno-area college students, the bus is their only way to get to school.
Thousands of low-income students have relied on the free bus program provided by the State Center Community College District since 2017. But district administrators decided to cut the program and use the money to pave campus parking lots.
Ed Lab reporter Monica Velez learned the cut surprised trustees elected to serve the district. Board President John Leal said trustees only learned of the move after a student spoke up at a recent meeting.
Trustee Richard Caglia on Tuesday assured students he and the district were working to save the program.
But students are also taking matters into their own hands. Fresno City College’s Associated Student Government on Tuesday voted to ask students to consider paying a fee to support the busing program.
The student body could vote on the issue as early as next month.
What do you think? Is it fair to cut this program without having a democratic vote? To learn more about how this will affect students and what grassroots organizations on campus are doing to meet these challenges, check out Velez’s reporting.
The Bee’s Editorial Board also weighed in on the issue.
In other news
Prioritizing dual-language learners?
Did you know 60% of California children ages 5 and younger, come from homes where their families speak one or more languages other than English? Anya Hurwitz from Ed Source makes the case why programs for English/dual-language learners should be a priority for Gov. Gavin Newsom’s proposed California Department of Early Childhood Development. EdSource.
Lottery mismanagement
An audit of the California Lottery found the program mismanaged funds and owes California schools millions of dollars. An investigation was launched after a whistleblower filed a complaint—which the L.A. Times first reported— when the lottery donated bundles of $500 Scratcher tickets to the Ellen DeGeneres show and said it should be investigated as a “misuse of funds.” The Los Angeles Times
Avoiding vaccines
Some state-funded charter schools are avoiding vaccine requirements. In 2014 California tightened law requiring nearly all students educated in the state to receive vaccines, but they’re currently loop-hole state-funded charter home schools. Some parents are speaking out against this loop-hole. Politico
Listening sessions and Coffee hours
The Ed Lab has been conducting open coffee hours over the last two weeks at the Fresno State Library. And we’ll be back there this Friday, March 6 and again March 13. We’ve already had some great conversations with community members.
We’d love to hear more about the issues your community faces and the potential solutions people are working on. Come on down and talk to us.
We will also be hosting our first community listening session at the Betty Rodriguez Library, 3040 N. Cedar Ave., this Thursday, March 5.
More sessions at the library are set for March 12, 26, and April 2.
These sessions are open to the public. Two will be held in English on March 5 and April 2 from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m., and two will be held in Spanish on March 12 and 26 from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
If you live near the Betty Rodriguez library, please come out to one of our listening sessions. We would love to hear from you. If you would like us to set up listening sessions in your community, please let us know at edlab@fresnobee.com.
The Education Lab is a local journalism initiative that highlights education issues critical to the advancement of the San Joaquin Valley. It is funded by donors. Learn about The Bee’s Education Lab here.