Tag: San Diego Unified

  • New School Discipline Program Has Fans and Results, But Few Participating Schools

    A few years ago, San Diego Unified launched pilot program aimed at incorporating a new approach to school discipline, called restorative justice, to the district. Restorative justice brings someone who has done something wrong together with their victims — to listen, understand, empathize and heal. When student offenders participate in restorative justice exercises, they may…

  • Diversity Still Lags Among SDSU Graduates Planning to Be Teachers

    By Megan Burks Some 200 soon-to-be teachers will graduate from San Diego State University Sunday. While they’re prepared to tackle problems in the classroom, they won’t make the pool of teachers more diverse for local school districts. In 2014, San Diego Unified School District convened a task force to recruit more teachers — in particular,…

  • The District’s Ambitious New Plan to Serve English-Learners

    I opened a story last year by zooming in on Ángel Solorzano, a student at Kearny High. Solorzano arrived at Kearny speaking very little English. When he met his new principal, Ana Diaz-Booz, the two communicated in sign language. He was one of 32,000 English-learners in San Diego Unified schools who aren’t proficient in English.…

  • San Diego Unified Expands Halal School Lunch Program

    A Crawford High School student orders a halal chili-lime chicken bowl on campus May 20, 2015. | Photo Credit: Megan Burks By Megan Burks A San Diego Unified School District program thatbrought halal school lunches to Crawford High School has expanded. The meals meet Muslim religious guidelines and are now being served in five elementary…

  • Hoover Builds On School Discipline Reform With Wellness Center

    By Megan Burks Last year Hoover High School teachers cut suspensions by 80 percent after being trained to recognize and address trauma in their students. Hoover is building on that success by establishing a wellness center. It will offer traditional counseling, substance abuse counseling, legal help and referrals to other services for the students and…