Latest news with #MissionHighSchool
San Francisco Chronicle
12-06-2025
- Politics
- San Francisco Chronicle
Low-income, first-generation students could lose vital college resource under Trump's budget cuts
Mission High School graduating senior Mariana Aguilar, the daughter of working-class Colombian immigrants, had always wanted to make her parents proud by becoming one of the first in their family to go to college. But she doesn't know whether she'd have been able to earn a spot at San Jose State University — where she'll enroll with a full scholarship this fall –—without the help of her college access counselor, Alexis Lopez. 'Alexis just changed my life,' Aguilar said last week after she celebrated alongside 44 other high school seniors from low-income families who participated in a program that provides intensive coaching for disadvantaged teens to become first-generation college students. But hers might be the last class to benefit from Upward Bound. The Trump administration's proposed 2026 budget slashes all $1.2 billion for a suite of college access programs for low-income, first-generation college students called TRIO, which includes Upward Bound. Congress is still negotiating the budget, which the Senate has not yet passed. The budget would also cut from social safety nets like Medicaid and the federal food stamps program while spending on border security, deportations and tax cuts. The Trump administration's budget document, submitted May 2 by White House budget director, Russell Vought, states college access programs are 'a relic of the past' and that it's 'engaging in woke ideology with federal taxpayer subsidies.' 'Today, the pendulum has swung and access to college is not the obstacle it was for students of limited means,' stated Vought's budget document. It added that colleges and universities 'should be using their own resources' to recruit students. The TRIO programs were created in the 1960s as part of a federal 'war on poverty.' While inequality in college attainment has slightly decreased since 1970, it persists, according to an analysis of U.S. Census Bureau data by Pell Institute researchers. In 2022, students from families in the lowest-earning quarter were almost four times less likely to earn a bachelor's degree by age 24 than those from the highest-earning quarter, according to the analysis. A Pew Research Center report on 2019 data also found that children of college-educated parents are far more likely to graduate from college. About 70% of adults aged 22 to 59 with at least one parent who has a bachelor's degree or more have obtained a bachelor's degree as well, compared to only 26% of their peers who do not have a college-educated parent. In San Francisco, the nonprofit Japanese Community Youth Council receives $2.6 million annually to pay for about 25 staff who help 3,000-odd students at 13 SFUSD schools a year through Upward Bound and another TRIO program, Talent Search, that casts a wider net. Federal rules stipulate that two-thirds of those students must come from families that make less than 150% of the federal poverty level, about $48,000 for a family of four. 'The outcome of the elimination of these programs is the already staggering racial wealth gap in this country is going to continue to widen,' said the nonprofit's executive director, Jon Osaki. 'Those who have less access, less means, to pursue higher education, are going to fall further behind in this country.' The programs have historically had bipartisan support. Both Republicans and Democrats voiced support at recent congressional hearings, including Sen. Susan Collins, a Maine Republican who chairs the Senate appropriations committee. 'I have seen the lives of countless first-generation and low income students … who often face barriers to accessing a college education changed by the TRIO program,' Collins said, questioning why Trump's budget eliminated it. Education secretary Linda McMahon said in response that the department had no way to hold the program administrators accountable based on whether they were effective or not. Collins said the government could reform the programs, not abolish them. Kimberly Jones, president of the Washington-based nonprofit Council for Opportunity in Education that has been active in lobbying Congress to keep funding TRIO, said that the programs are effective. Upward Bound students are more than twice as likely to earn a bachelor's degree by age 24 than students from the lowest earning quarter of families, according to the council. 'These tools are invaluable as many first-generation college students go on to become the first homeowners in their families, the first to work in 'white-collar' industries, and many other firsts throughout their lifetimes,' Jones said. Aguilar, the Mission High School graduating senior, said that her family was forced to move to the East Bay in her junior year when her mom, who works as a nanny, could no longer afford to live in San Francisco. Thrust into a new school in a new city where she knew no one, she fell into a severe depression, she said. Her mom transferred her back to Mission High midway through junior year, where Lopez, the adviser, quickly connected with her. Lopez arranged for Aguilar to go on a field trip to San Jose State University. They decided that the school and its big business program would be perfect for her. Lopez helped her apply for scholarships that would give her a full ride. 'Without her, I don't know what I'd be doing now,' she said. Balboa High School graduating senior Caryn Dea, the child of blue-collar Chinese immigrants, said that she's always wanted to go to college but didn't know how. Her parents, who didn't attend college, worked long hours. 'Throughout applying for college, I was scared,' Dea said. Her dream school, which she visited through an Upward Bound trip to Southern California colleges, was UCLA. 'But I found myself thinking I wouldn't get in anywhere.' Her Upward Bound adviser, Karen Coreas Diaz, frequently reassured her, saying, 'You got this,' Dea remembered, and helped her with her essays. 'She's been the best support system I've had,' Dea said. She will be attending UCLA, where she hopes to study human biology or a healthcare field. Coreas Diaz said that mentoring the Upward Bound students felt like healing her own 'inner child.' The child of Salvadoran immigrants who didn't go to college, Coreas Diaz said she struggled in high school as well, eventually enrolling in community college because her grades weren't good enough before ultimately transferring to UC Berkeley. But unlike her students, she didn't have a mentor. 'Supporting you felt like taking care of a younger version of myself,' Coreas Diaz said to her students during a tearful speech at the graduation ceremony. Unlike students with wealthy parents, her students cannot afford pricey private college counseling. Her work, she said, gives them the same advantages: help with essays, deadlines and college application. Jackie Lam, associate director of JCYC's Upward Bound program, said students with low-income parents who didn't attend college often lack access to crucial information. They may not be aware, for example, that they can apply to Stanford University and possibly get a full ride if their parents make less than six figures, he said. More than 80% of the high schoolers in JCYC's program who graduate high school enrolled in college every year, Lam said, with the exception of 2020, when they came close. 'Being a teenager is hard because you feel lost,' said Halima Cherif, a graduating senior from San Francisco International High School who participated in Upward Bound. She credited her adviser, Atokena Abe, with helping her get into her dream college, UC Berkeley, where she hopes to study biology or psychology. 'When students aren't guided, most won't have the ability or courage to go to college, work hard and have their dreams and goals,' she said. 'And more importantly, to get a job to help themselves and contribute to the people of this country.'
Newsweek
28-05-2025
- Politics
- Newsweek
San Francisco Public Schools Convert F's to C's, B's to A's in Equity Push
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. San Francisco's public high schools will implement a sweeping change to their grading system this fall, replacing traditional methods with a policy that allows students to pass with scores as low as 41 percent. The initiative, part of a broader "Grading for Equity" push, is stirring concern among educators, students and parents over academic standards and college readiness. The Context Similar policies across other Bay Area districts—such as Dublin, Oakland and Pleasanton—have seen mixed results and strong community reactions. Dublin Unified attempted a pilot of equity grading in 2023, which included removing zeros for missed assignments and awarding a minimum of 50 percent for any "reasonably attempted" work. That pilot, however, was met with outrage and resistance. Parents created petitions, formed WhatsApp groups and filled school board meetings to protest what they saw as a lowering of standards for their children. The Dublin school board eventually suspended the initiative, though individual teachers were still allowed to use the methods at their discretion. The experiment in San Francisco comes amid — or despite — a broader rethinking of DEI initiatives after the election of Donald Trump, who ran on a platform of excising what he and many others said were "unfair" equity practices in the government and private sectors. What To Know Superintendent Maria Su's plan in San Francisco was not subject to a public vote by the Board of Education, drawing criticism for lack of transparency. The new policy, set to affect more than 10,000 students across 14 high schools, significantly changes how academic performance is measured. Homework and classroom participation will no longer influence a student's final grade. Students will be assessed primarily on a final exam, which they can retake multiple times. Attendance and punctuality will not affect academic standing. The Mission High School and its distinctive tower in the Mission District. The Mission High School and its distinctive tower in the Mission District. Getty Images The plan was first revealed in the fine print of a 25-page agenda and reported by The Voice of San Francisco, a local nonprofit. The outlet reported that the district is hiring Joe Feldman, an educational consultant known for his book Grading for Equity, to train teachers this summer. "If our grading practices don't change, the achievement and opportunity gaps will remain for our most vulnerable students. If we are truly dedicated to equity, we have to stop avoiding the sensitive issue of grading and embrace it," Feldman said in a 2019 blog post for the School Superintendents Association (AASA). Feldman's book outlines how traditional grading can reinforce socioeconomic disparities and proposes alternative strategies for more equitable assessment. According to The Voice of San Francisco, the new system will be modeled in part on the San Leandro Unified School District, where students can earn an A with a score as low as 80 percent and pass with a D at just 21 percent. Under the forthcoming San Francisco policy, a score of 41 percent will qualify as a C. Reactions Split Supporters of the policy say it better reflects real student learning by de-emphasizing behavior-based penalties like late work or missed assignments. However, critics warn the policy could harm students who are already on track for college placement. "Nowhere in college do you get 50 percent for doing nothing," said Laurie Sargent, an eighth-grade English teacher in the Dublin Unified School District, in a 2024 Mercury News report. "Nowhere in the working world do you get 50 percent for doing nothing. If I don't show up to work, they don't pay me 50 percent of my salary—even if I made a reasonable attempt to get there." The change comes amid ongoing financial strain and declining enrollment across the district. While intended to address achievement gaps, critics argue the policy may only obscure the underlying academic challenges rather than solve them. Such a drastic and dramatic change in the high school grading system merits greater attention and scrutiny than the school district has given it so far," wrote John Trasviña, former dean of the University of San Francisco School of Law, in an op-ed for The Voice of San Francisco. Parents in San Francisco also have expressed frustration over being left out of the decision-making process. The school district's Office of Equity has not updated its public materials in nearly three years, and no broad outreach appears to have been conducted ahead of the rollout. What People Are Saying Katherine Hermens, a biology teacher at Dublin High School, told EdSurge in 2023: "It is time to emphasize learning over effort. Prioritizing learning is exactly what equitable grading does. It recognizes the individual journey of every student and acknowledges that we all learn differently—at our own pace and in various ways." John Trasviña, former dean of the University of San Francisco School of Law, wrote in an op-ed: "Grading for Equity de-emphasizes the importance of timely performance, assignment completion, and consistent attendance." What Happens Next School board members in San Francisco were reportedly not given a formal vote on this policy, triggering internal governance disputes. If there is enough public pressure, the Board of Education may seek to review or override the superintendent's decision, though there is no suggestion as of yet that such a move is imminent.
Time of India
25-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Love in lacquer: Puppets tie the knot in Balasore temple
1 2 3 4 5 6 Balasore: With religious chants echoing through temple walls and the air thick with the scent of incense and tradition, a pair of lacquer-crafted puppets were wed in a ceremonial spectacle that blended folklore, literature and rituals. 'Jau Kandhei Bahaghara', a unique lacquer puppet wedding, unfolded in all its vibrant glory at Lokanath Temple in Balasore's Sahadevkhunta on Friday night. This time, the puppets called Aparthi and Gurei were inspired by the protagonists of the Odia short story 'Sua Muhara Patara' by Pranabandhu Kar. From the Mission High School ground, more than a 100 participants danced and drummed their way to the temple, transforming the town into a living stage of music, colour and heritage. Onlookers were treated to a rare medley of traditional art forms — Sahijatra from Puri, Ranga Dhol from Balasore, Pitula Nacha of Dubalagad, Paika Akhada from Manikhamba, Loudi from Bhadrak and tribal dances of Nilagiri. Inside the temple, the mood shifted to sacred solemnity. As the smell of incense curled into the night air, the marriage rites were conducted with reverence. Symbolic parents and priests played their roles — Bimal Panda for the groom, Pandit Bishwambhar Mishra for the bride. Neelamani Mandal and Umamani Mohanty performed the 'kanyadaan', representing Gurei's symbolic family. Aparthi's parents were portrayed by Pitambar Das and Mukantilata Das. Following the wedding, the puppet couple was taken back in a ceremonial procession to the school ground. Anju Saraogi, a senior member of the organising committee, said, "Construction of the puppets begins every year on Ram Navami, and the wedding date is chosen based on temple rituals. Each year, the puppet couple is named after mythological or literary characters to convey a cultural message." The festival will continue until Monday, featuring exhibitions, folk performances and traditional Odia cuisine, offering visitors an immersive experience of Balasore's cultural richness.
Express Tribune
25-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Express Tribune
Urdu fantasy novel takes on magical realism
Renowned Urdu story writer Mazharul Islam's latest work of fiction is a fantasy novel titled "Zindagi Nay Mur Kar Shaitan Ke Qatil Ko Dekha Aur Muskurai". It has been described as a combination of unique, abstract, surreal and allegorical themes, that has recently emerged on the literary horizon and is selling like hot cakes whilst becoming a subject of literary discussions. Much like his previous novel, 'Sarus Cranes Apnay Khawbon Mai Say Urr Kar Ja Chukay Hain' which was a story about time travelling, in his newer work, Mazhar experiments and breaks the conventional shackles of time and space, and theme and diction that we usually find in a novel. Clearly, the author in question is not a 'typical' novelist, since he loves to go against the grain, and this is something that singles him out among his contemporaries. Although 'Zindagi Nay Mur Kar ' has been published after two years since the author's last publication (Sarus Crane was published in 2023), yet according to the writer, it took him 15 years to complete it. "Even prior to that, I had a vague idea of this novel when I was 8 years old, a student of Grade-4 at Mission High School," the writer tells his interviewer. The story is a complete work of fantasy but at the same time it has shades of magical realism and surrealism in it. The element of fantasy in the novel is so strong that it takes the shape of a story worth telling. Even the characters appear magical with the main cast centring on ordinary people such as a postman, librarian, florist, watchmaker, schoolteacher and mystics that each possess a compelling energy. In the story, the writer takes the reader along the account of the protagonist Abdullah's childhood days to adulthood, throughout which he holds fast to his one fixation in life: to kill the Devil and restore forgotten values. He believes that only after annihilating the Devil will society be rescued as love, forgiveness, friendship and generosity will then come back to the world. Abdullah happens to be the last romantic man alive in the novel's world. The story's main theme is art and romanticism versus corruption of the soul and it is the author's fresh take on the subject which makes it stand out. With more than ten books of fiction, novel and short stories (one on folklore) to his name Mazharul Islam's works have been translated into English, German, Chinese, Japanese, Italian, Turkish, Persian, Punjabi and Sindhi languages.
