Education

Local students learn to garden

Sacramento - Volunteers dug post holes and shoveled dirt to create a brand new garden at Bret Harte Elementary School this national event, Make a Difference Day.

Group says keep kids home on Harvey Milk Day

SACRAMENTO - May 22 is Harvey Milk Day in California, a day recognizing the state's first openly gay lawmaker.

Okla. schools hit by tornado had no safe rooms

MOORE, Okla. - An emergency official says Oklahoma has reinforced tornado shelters in hundreds of schools across the state, but the two that were hit by this week's storms in suburban Oklahoma City did not have them.

Student loan loads block home, car purchases

Should college students get a re-do on their student loan debt? Maybe be offered a way to refinance high-price private college debt to a lower rate? What about some options for cleaning up a credit history after running into trouble with college debt?

2 sought in con of disabled Sac State student

SACRAMENTO - A disabled Sacramento State University student was tricked out of a large amount of money by two men Thursday afternoon, say campus police.

Thieves hit Carmichael school again

CARMICHAEL - A Carmichael elementary school was targeted for the second time this week by burglars.

Bill would teach violence-awareness to Calif. students

SACRAMENTO - California lawmakers want schools to teach students about violence in American culture, in hopes it might help deter future mass shootings like those in Aurora, Colo., and at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Connecticut.

School employees facing embezzlement allegations

ANTELOPE - It's money raised by the blood, sweat and tears of high school students, but the adult supervision is under fire at a local high school.

Teacher of Month May 2013 - Cristy Pitts

SACRAMENTO - Inderkum High School Teacher Cristy Pitts is an 8-year English- Literature teacher who said she works to instill hard work and respect into her students.

San Juan School District superintendent placed on paid leave

CARMICHAEL - San Juan Unified Superintendent Glynn Thompson was placed on paid administrative leave pending the outcome of an investigation into a harassment complaint against him.

Parents: Student threatened to sacrifice classmates to devil

SACRAMENTO - An unusual outburst in a combined 5th and 6th grade classroom at John Sloat Elementary School has some parents concerned.

Parents want action on sexual harassment claims at school

LINDEN - For a second time, parents left their jobs early to protest the Linden School District and its school board, saying they are not listening and not providing answers on serious issues happening at Waverly Elementary School.

Valley High School baseball players save girl's life

SACRAMENTO - An amazing story of heroism, a Sacramento boys' high school baseball team jumped into action and helped save student's life.

Assembly OKs transgender student accommodations

SACRAMENTO - California schools would be required to let transgender students use the restrooms and participate in the sex-segregated programs of their choice under a bill passed by the state Assembly.

Student claims teacher harassed her for more than 3 years

ROSEVILLE - A senior at Oakmont High School claims that for three years, she was the victim of emotional harassment by a teacher at the school.

San Juan Unified employees file complaints with state

CARMICHAEL -The San Juan Unified School District confirmed it has received nine complaints from current and former employees alleging harassment to discrimination.

UC lifts caps on student health insurance

SAN FRANCISCO - University of California officials have agreed to lift a cap on health insurance coverage that threatened to leave students suffering from catastrophic illnesses such as cancer with big medical bills.

Parents frustrated with principal protest outside Sacramento school

SACRAMENTO - A small group of parents and students frustrated with the principal at Hazel Strauch Elementary School protested outside the campus Tuesday morning.

Gap year gains make college education worth the wait

Students who take a year off to travel overseas can be better students for the experience.

Democrats push back on governor's school funding plan

Democrats in the California's state Senate are pushing back, ever so politely, on the specifics in Gov. Brown's plan to redirect billions of dollars to school districts serving the poor and English learners.

Brown's education plan worries some in 'rich' districts

SACRAMENTO - Gov. Jerry Brown's Local Control Funding Formula for California's schools would benefit some school districts more than others.

Brown vows 'battle of their lives' for school funding critics

Gov. Brown laid down a large political marker Wednesday, vowing to do whatever it takes to get the Legislature to approve his plan for shifting more education dollars to school districts that serve low-income students and English learners.

Stockton Unified investigates student-teacher fistfight

STOCKTON - A classroom fistfight between a freshman student and her math teacher has the Stockton Unified School District not only investigating but examining its overall school security measures.

Newtown budget with extra school security rejected

NEWTOWN, CT - Newtown residents have rejected a budget that included money for extra school security in the wake of the December school shootings.

Survey: U.S. teens better in science than thought

WASHINGTON - American teenagers aren't doing as poorly on international science tests as adults think. Despite the misconceptions, the adults surveyed still don't think the subject should get greater emphasis in schools.

Stockton woman survives Boston explosions

STOCKTON - Janet Dial of Stockton had just finished running the Boston Marathon Monday when she heard the two explosions near the finish line. Her elderly parents were in a nearby building watching.

Calif. bill bans lenders from garnishing graduates' wages

SACRAMENTO - People who are having trouble repaying student loans from private lenders would get some relief under a bill that has passed the state Assembly.

Proposed compact offers online ed common market

Education organizations and state leaders are proposing an arrangement that would create a common market for online education and make it easier for institutions to enroll students anywhere in the country.

Teacher of the Month April 2013 - Tara Grudin

Bill would boost private-college Cal Grant awards

SACRAMENTO - Students at some private colleges and trade schools could receive more state grant money under a proposal that has passed a legislative committee.

Assembly OKs bill limiting high-cost school bonds

SACRAMENTO - California lawmakers have advanced a bill aimed at restricting the use of high-cost school bonds.  

What is a B.A. in English worth anymore?

Students and schools whose goals center on a broad-based, liberal arts education are increasing rarities these day. Some parents think a vocational school is the best path to a job.

Boy with autism dropped off at wrong elementary school

SACRAMENTO - The mother of a Natomas boy with autism is demanding increased safety procedures after a bus driver dropped her son off at the wrong school.

Schools hungry to improve taste, nutrition of lunches

Schools nationwide are working to revise menus to meet new federal nutrition requirements that mandate fewer calories, more whole grains, lower sodium levels, and more fruits and vegetables.

Catholic schools failing to keep up enrollment

The nation's Catholic schools, facing increasing competition, rising costs and a diminishing core of potential pupils, continue to struggle to keep students and find new ones. But there are some signs of growth in cities including Los Angeles and Indianapolis.

Bomb threat forces evacuation of Antelope's Center High School

ANTELOPE - Students and staff at Center High School were evacuated following a bomb threat Thursday morning.