a teacher wrote on Jul 13, 2008 10:34 PM:It is about time school's do a little extra for the upper end of the spectrum. Well done Vista.

Bravo Vista Schools wrote on Jul 14, 2008 12:07 AM:Bright and gifted youngsters yearn for challenge outside the 'regular textbook rhetoric' and Vista came through. Upper crust Carlsbad could well afford this too, but nothing offered. Savannah, why do you watch TV in your room all day, much less have a TV in your room? Go tot he library, keep a diary, paint, help a neighbor, try a new sport, start a hobby, collection, invent something - don't let your mind enter the wasteland of TV (unless the ed channels of course). Vista we salute you for not only offering a 'world class' opportunity that will reap rewards when these youngsters impact society through major contributions later on. Technical and engineering opportunities should be introduced early and comprehensively through these hands-on labs!

About Time wrote on Jul 14, 2008 6:36 AM:It is about time that this district did something for the students who pay attention. This district has spent millions on kids and families who do not care about education. VUSD should be comming up with general funds to support this during the school year. When are these rocket scientist administrators going to see that they need to build more quality into this district???????

Just the facts please wrote on Jul 14, 2008 1:07 PM:Examples of Funded Projects that were given to approve the JAVITS GATE Program funds [84,206]. The criteria for the approval of proposals under this program are contained in 34 CFR 700.
Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, as amended, Title V, Part D, Subpart 61, 108 Stat. 3820; 20 U.S.C. 8031.
One project involved a statewide effort among universities, school districts, the State Department of Education, and the business community to UPGRADE MIDDLE SCHOOL PROGRAMS. Another was a collaboration between a university and a school system to IDENTIFY ECONMICALLY DISADVANTAGE MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS for SPECIAL HELP IN MATH and SCIENCE. A third project developed a protocol for identifying gifted and talented students, which resulted in 482 more students identified as gifted, and MORE than DOUBLED the PERCENTAGE of ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED STUDENTS IDENTIFIED.
Unfortunately, the majority of these students are not ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED and racially diverse per criteria of the regs. This is not only the case in VUSD but other school districts in California. The purpose and the intent of the Javits act was to presumably give opportunities for the ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED STUDENTS. Rather this program is used for the white affluent politically connected students, which use this grant as a country club to identify and compare their white elite children with the students who are ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED!

How gifted is this?

esteban wrote on Jul 14, 2008 2:59 PM:Finally someone gets it. Ive been saying all along that kids need something constructive for summer. There will be less future gangbangers because of this. Less work for our boys in blue.

Confused wrote on Jul 14, 2008 5:17 PM:I am confused with these extra opportunities. My daughter was tested and identified GATE this past year and I did not get any information regarding this summer program. When she was identified it was stated that she would have opportunities for extra challenges to push her further. Is this not considered extra? It is a shame that a parent has to find out from the paper what the local district is offering. What poor communication from the district. Maybe they just communicate with who they choose to. I did not need the district to tell me my daughter was GATE. I just need them to provide my daughter along with all the other students a fair opporunity to education. Why not enrich them all! What a concept.

no kidding wrote on Jul 14, 2008 9:28 PM:confused- you are correct a good education system would:

"provide your daughter along with all the other students a fair opportunity to education. Why not enrich them all!"

Maybe this is why the united States in on the bottom in education when compared with any other civilized country in the world.

California is number 49 on the bottom from the other states in U.S.A.

So how many states are bellow California?

To confused and Just the Facts wrote on Jul 14, 2008 9:40 PM:Maybe "Confused" did not get notified about this program because as stated by "Just the Facts" it was for the Economically Disadvantaged and you did not meet the requriement. In which case, "Just the Facts" is blowing smoke up the wrong tree in claiming the funds have been mismanaged and used for the elites.

If you actually have FACTS, then deliver them to the SDCOE or the Grand Jury and have them investigated. Otherwise, NCT be careful what you print concerining false alligations.

To Confused wrote on Jul 14, 2008 10:33 PM:The Summer School Program was offered only to students who were GATE and Proficient (or Advanced) in Math on the CST in 2007. It was also offered to students who were not GATE, but who scored Advanced on last year's CST. If your daughter was tested this past year, she is probably entering 3rd grade. This opportunity was available to 4th grade and above. The extra challenges you mentioned are part of being GATE, and that is up to your child's teacher to provide those challenges. There are a few GATE academies offered after-school at all school sites, but the primary responsibility of meeting your child's needs is up to the clasroom teacher. Don't just wait for information to come home, ask your child's school and be an advocate for your child.

response to confused wrote on Jul 14, 2008 11:19 PM:Your child needed to score advanced or at least proficient on the math section of the CST exam from last year in order to be invited to this special program. Many VUSD GATE students are qualified as "high achievers" based on teacher recommendations and the child's verbal scores, when their CST scores are not in the advanced range.
One of the benefits of this summer program was the synergy that occured when very talented students worked together and quickly caught on to and shared new ideas. Unfortunately, these advanced students generally don't have the opportunity for this level of quality interaction in the regular classroom because other students often don't contribute to the experience.

Confused wrote on Jul 16, 2008 3:16 PM:Thank you all for your responses and information. This is more than I got from the district. In response to your comments - my daughter is entering the 5th grade and she did score proficient in Math ( Not Advanced but proficient.)As for being economically disadvantaged,last time I checked I considered myself economically disavantaged having to apply for unemployment last year because of lack of work in my field. I guess I am not considered economically disadvantaged by the district since most of this type of information is gathered from students on the free and reduced lunch program. My daughter is not on the program not because she does not qualify but because of the type of food that is being served! Have you seen it? That is another subject for this district. You are right I must seek out information and not wait for it to come to me. I must be an advocate for my daughter. I want the best for her and other students. I thought that was the whole idea in this Education arena.

To Cofused wrote on Jul 16, 2008 5:12 PM:You are right, it is the whole idea of education to meet all children's needs. But, I have learned as a parent, and as a teacher, that this isn't always the case. Unfortunately not all kids have a parent who is asking questions. Good for you!

Just the Facts wrote on Jul 17, 2008 2:25 PM:I have forwarded the Audits and reports by CDE to the North County Times.

So before you accuse do some real research
oh, you have to learn to read.

To Just the Facts wrote on Jul 20, 2008 7:06 PM:Last time I checked the NCT was not a prosecutorial arm of the Government! Sending your reports and audits to them is no different than telling them about the illegal activity going on in the house next door. If it makes a good story they might print it. But, it is rather doubtful that the activity will stop. If you have proof of illeagal activity you need to contact the authorities. Besides, if you provide the vidence to the newpaper, you might actually be causing the evidence to be inadmissable in court! So, before you waste all your time doing research you might want to learn a little about the law and just how our legal systems works. That too is something they no longer teach in our schools.

SD does not have a prosecutorial arm of the Government wrote on Jul 21, 2008 7:39 PM:Oh, by the way all the reports were sent to the San Diego DA by many citizens of North County. Looong before I sent them to the NCT. The SA DA is just a puppet of the right wing.

Right wing puppet wrote on Jul 21, 2008 8:28 PM:Got to call you on that comment! You see, the Right Wing HATES the Public School System (Just ask the Unions and nearly any teacher or school employee). So, they would absolutely LOVE to see a Public School take a fall due to abuse of public trust, waste fraud, and abuse, etc. Therefore, either you and others did NOT send the information you claim to have found, or those you sent them to are actually Left Wing radicals owned by the Teacher's Union! Nice try.
However, this program spoken of in this article does at least appear to be providing some real education for once, regardless of who is getting in, or who even knows about the program. It is educating, and that is something many Public Schools continue to fail to provide!

TIT for TAT wrote on Jul 22, 2008 11:44 AM:Well, once again the North County Times hand pick blogs to post so that they can make their right wing agenda look good.

What is the matter North County Times are you afraid that the names of the puppets on your paper may be named and connected to a conspiracy?

Why else would you blocked enlightening blogs?