La Prensa San Diego

By Gaby Pacheco LatinaLista Next month, the country’s educational community celebrates the 30th anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court’s landmark decision in Plyler vs. Doe. In Plyer vs. Doe, the high court ruled in June 1982 that it was against the law to prohibit primary and secondary education to an undocumented student. Although the decision [...]

“A gem of an app.” “Clean UI [user interface], very easy to use.” “Eliminates the guess work!” Those are just a few of the early online reviews from users of a new Android mobile app that helps motorists figure out the best time to enter the United States at crossings from Mexico and Canada. “Best [...]

By Pablo Jaime Sáinz There was one person in Phyllis Muñoz’s life who always encouraged her to become a teacher: Her father, La Prensa San Diego founder, Mr. Daniel Muñoz Sr. But it wasn’t until she became a student aid, that she realized that education was her calling. “My dad had always said I should [...]

By Teresa Wiltz America’s Wire  WASHINGTON— While achievement levels have improved considerably for minority elementary and middle school students, studies show academic performance among high school age African Americans and Hispanics has fallen to levels not seen in thirty years. How prevalent is the achievement gap at the high school level? On average, math and [...]

Arizona’s apartheid war against Mexican American Studies Commentary: By Roberto Dr. Cintli Rodriguez Early on the morning of the 7th day, God wrote HB 2281; then he rested. That’s the way conservative Arizonans view this clearly unconstitutional and immoral anti-Ethnic Studies measure. The opponents of Tucson’s Mexican American Studies (MAS) department – who act as [...]

By Leslie Layton chicoSol Editor’s Note: Victor Escobar said today he has received notification from ICE that his case will be reviewed at some apparently undetermined point; the Dec. 7 deadline for leaving the country has been lifted. Escobar said he can remain in the country until the review is completed. The best possible outcome, [...]

    Sweetwater High will get new science equipment to begin an AP Biology class, thanks to the generous donation of the SUHI Foundation.     Foundation members presented a check for $10,314 to Sweetwater High Principal Dr. Roman Del Rosario on Thursday. Also in attendance at the ceremony were Sweetwater District Board Vice President Pearl Quiñones [...]

WASHINGTON — Rosibel “Rosy” Mancillas Lopez, a law student and advocate for immigration reform from San Diego, is the recipient of the 2011 Cardinal Bernardin New Leadership Award. The award is sponsored by the Catholic Campaign for Human Development (CCHD), the anti-poverty program of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB).     Mancillas Lopez, 24, [...]

By Jacob Simas and Vivian Po New America Media     Maricruz Cabrera, a 17-year-old high school senior from Thermal, Calif., a rural community in the east Coachella valley that stretches from Indio to the Salton Sea on the southern edge of Riverside County, knows what it’s like to pick grapes under a hot desert sun. [...]

SACRAMENTO – Governor Jerry Brown signed Senate Bill 753 into law Saturday.  The new law, authored by Senator Alex Padilla (D-Pacoima), removes barriers California’s English Learners face when working to achieve English proficiency. The law goes into effect on January 1, 2012.     An English Learner is a K-12 student who is deemed not proficient [...]

By Rev. Dr. Brian T. Parcel     A Christian Church (overtly religious) and a public school (governed by laws that specifically separate church and state) are working together – partners in an endeavor to strengthen children and families. This is a strange partnership in today’s world, but for leadership of two local organizations it seems [...]

New National Report on School Discipline Shows that Harsh Discipline Policies are being Applied Unfairly to Minority Students, Dragging Down Academic Achievement  WASHINGTON — Does a policy of kicking “bad kids” out of school so “good kids” can learn really work? Discipline Policies, Successful Schools, and Racial Justice, a new report authored by Dan Losen [...]

Grades 6 -12 compete for more than $50,000 in prizes     With families struggling to afford college tuition, Time Warner Cable and C-SPAN are teaming up together to provide a contest that helps pave the way. Middle and high school students are challenged to bring the U.S. Constitution to life in a video documental competition, [...]

Commentary: By David Cho    For three years as a UCLA undergraduate student, I was the drum major conducting the 250-member UCLA marching band with great fanfare in front of 75,000 people at the Rose Bowl. I became the first Korean American drum major in UCLA history. Majoring in international economics and Korean, I maintained [...]

Montgomery Middle students work with nonprofit group to study sea turtles     To learn about the nesting habits of sea turtles, scientists often travel thousands of miles to remote, tropical beaches where they spend countless hours observing the turtles and learning about their habitats. At Montgomery Middle School, 7th grade science students got a firsthand insight [...]

12th grade student wows judges with business proposal     Luis Venegas, 17, vividly remembers spending 4 and 5 hours riding public buses between National City and East County to get to and from middle school.     The bus commute seemed endless for Luis and his two older sisters. For the girls, it became too much and [...]

     If every great business started from a seed of inspiration, then three Sweetwater High students may have dreamed up a new Apple orchard.     Jesus Montijo, Gio Sahagun and Luis Venegas, all 17 and in their senior year of high school, are on their way to the national BizFest competition in Miami after [...]