State ruling ends summer school in Calif. district that could lose millions over short days
By APFriday, July 10, 2009
Ruling ends classes in district facing penalties
CHINO HILLS, Calif. — Summer break will finally start at two Southern California schools after the state rejected a district’s plan to use summer sessions to make up for a potentially costly administrative error.
Officials at Chino Valley Unified School District said Friday they have ended the sparsely attended classes and are now depending on a state bill that could waive a $5 million penalty for not meeting the state requirement for school day hours.
Students had been attending extra classes since June 15 at Dickson Elementary in Chino and Rolling Ridge Elementary in Chino Hills. With grades already final, attendance dipped as low as 8 percent at Rolling Ridge.
The error occurred when administrators shortened bell schedules on 34 Fridays below the requirement of 180 minutes a day.
