SBCUSD dispatch on magnet schools

A press release from San Bernardino City Unified School District:

SAN BERNARDINO SCHOOLS OFFER PARENTS AND STUDENTS EDUCATIONAL OPTIONS

Even before No Child Left Behind and charter schools made school choice fashionable, the San Bernardino City Unified School District was providing parents with options for their child's education.

The District's Magnet Programs, also known as Options, provide unique educational opportunities at select District elementary and middle schools. Students, whose parents choose to enroll them in one of these programs, may attend the school even if they do not live within the school's attendance boundaries.

Magnet Programs cover a broad spectrum of interests from the arts to science while providing all students with academic instruction in core subjects.

For parents who want to expose their children to the arts, Palm Avenue and Anton Elementary Schools offer a program in conjunction with the Orange County Center for the Performing Arts. The artist-in-residence program brings professional artists to each school to work directly with students. Lessons in the arts connect with academic instruction to provide students with a well-rounded education. For example, students may create their own puppets and perform a show based on a story in their reading textbook or study the history and culture of different countries as part of learning ethnic dances.

Students interested in science and the natural world might want to enroll in the Environmental Science Education programs offered at Kimbark and North Verdemont Elementary Schools. Kimbark and North Verdemont have on-site gardens, giving students the opportunity to learn about nature and science. Students also go on grade-level appropriate field trips, such as North Verdemont's kindergarteners visiting Riley's Apple Farm and fifth graders visiting the zoo.

Students interested in becoming fluent in English and Spanish may enroll in the Dual Language Immersion programs offered at Bonnie Oehl, Belvedere, and Hillside Elementary Schools. Participating students must be either native English or native Spanish speakers and are taught in English for part of the day and in Spanish for the other part. The goal is for students to master the state standards while becoming fluent and literate in their native language and a second language.

Since the mid-1970s, District students have been able to enroll in Magnet Programs, initially called CHOICE. Magnet programs are open to all students as long as space is available and the move does not negatively affect the racial balance of the schools.

"Magnet programs are one way we can provide our students and parents with educational options that fit their needs and interests," Enrollment and Placement Services Director Gloria Reed said. "It isn't feasible to provide every program at every school, but by allowing students to apply for the school and program of their choice, regardless of school boundaries, we hope to help them expand their educational horizons and become well-rounded individuals."

A full list of magnet programs, including programs for English learners and advanced students, is available by requesting the Options brochure in English or Spanish from Enrollment and Placement Services at (909) 891-1000. The brochure for the 2009-2010 school year will be available in late December 2008.