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All donations to Citizens for Kids are gratefully accepted. None are too small, and of course, none could ever be too great, given the enormity of the challenge to consistently offer the best education to the greatest number of students. The Board of Directors believes in supporting the whole child, as the following list of funding priorities illustrates. Any costs associated with these items are estimates only and can fluctuate. In some cases, the expenses would be ongoing, subject to and requiring an annual commitment. The order of the items on this list has no significance.
1. Before and after school intervention and enrichment programs including supplemental materials and staff. There are not enough of these to assist the struggling student or broaden the horizons of the overachiever. The well-rounded child seems perennially in jeopardy and Citizens for Kids hopes to have a significant impact on helping round out children’s education through support of music, drama, and arts programs at the K-8 levels, where children first develop and foster enthusiasm and talent. The cost of such programs varies.
2. Support for the International Baccalaureate Program, K-12 Citizens for Kids has already provided start-up funding to two schools for the IB Program. The International Baccalaureate Organization aims to develop inquiring, knowledgeable and caring young people worldwide through intercultural understanding and respect. The IBO works with schools to develop challenging programs of international education and rigorous assessment, which encourage students to become active, compassionate and lifelong learners. The costs for start-up, maintenance and materials vary.
3. Homeless Children require special attention and more funding than current sources provide. Citizens for Kids assists in providing shelter, food, clothing, backpacks, toiletries, and the like in order to ensure that these kids remain healthy and are able to get to school.
4. Mentor programs for reading and math are intended to provide assistance to those in need of additional instruction. Mentor programs in the District, such as HOSTS, have proven highly successful in positively impacting students and improving academic performance.
5. Reading and library support materials Reading teachers have been reduced as a result of recent budget deficiencies. Here, funding goes directly to salaries and must be sustained each year. School library funding remains dismal. Funds are needed for books, technology, furniture, and staffing.
6. Technology Ensuring that hardware and software is up to date and adequate is a major challenge in a district this size. There is a specific need for K-8 keyboarding classes, as well as electronic math and reference materials. Music Plus Math and the MIND Institute programs also rely heavily on technology and software.
7. Basic level counseling and intervention services are needed at every school, at a cost of a minimum of $3000 per site.
8. Nutrition and physical fitness activities are also needed at every site. Investing in these areas promotes healthy kids, who learn and develop better. These are not the only needs of the District. Given California’s low comparative per-student spending and the ever-changing requirements imposed by the state and federal government, the district budget is challenged by frequent funding gaps and shortfalls, some ongoing and predictable, others unexpected. Moreover, as research uncovers new, more effective practices and additional training and materials become available, it is frequently necessary to invest in enrichment or supplemental items. In addition, there are programs, such as music, that are not adequately or consistently supported and there is a scarcity of funds for high ticket items such as uniforms and musical instruments.
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