SBCSS News and Press Releases

County Superintendent Holds Annual Schools Briefing With Media

2010-09-21

SAN BERNARDINO - For the third time in the past four years, enrollment in San Bernardino County public schools is falling, according to preliminary data released by County Superintendent Gary Thomas at his annual media briefing this morning.

Although official data numbers for the 2009-10 academic year have not been released by the California Department of Education, preliminary enrollment compiled by County Schools shows that student enrollment dropped 1.1 percent to 415,549. That follows drops of .1 percent in 2006-07 and 1.8 percent in 2008-09.

"These are unprecedented declines, and combined with the tough economic climate, it is creating exceptionally challenging times for our county schools in meeting their fiscal responsibilities," Thomas said.

Enrollment was one of the key indicators Thomas discussed during his annual media briefing. Joining Thomas at the event were educators from the Chaffey Joint Union High and Fontana Unified school districts to discuss academic progress at the secondary level.

In addition, Ted Alejandre, assistant superintendent of Business Services for County Schools, gave an update on the state budget impasse and its effect on county public schools.

Among the highlights Thomas discussed during his presentation were:

A record number of county schools are above the statewide performance target of 800 for the Academic Performance Index (API). This year, an additional 22 schools achieved the standard.

With a gain of 14 points from last year, the county's API improved to 746. In 11 years of statewide testing the county's average has not decreased in any year. This was the third consecutive year of double-digit growth.

For the first time, seven schools that had made their statewide accountability standard of 800 fell into Program Improvement (PI), the federal intervention program for schools that do not make their Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) targets for two consecutive years.

This year, 47 county public schools dropped into Year I of PI. Overall, 54 percent of county schools (192 of 354) that receive Title I funds are now in PI.
Eight schools exited PI this year, including four schools that were in Year 5. The schools from Year 5 of PI that exited this year were: Mission Elementary of the Ontario-Montclair School District and Kimbark, Lytle Creek and Muscoy elementary schools in San Bernardino City Unified.