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Schools

K-8 Students Will Learn from New English Textbooks When School Starts

The books are designed for various learning levels and include extra support for English learners.

The Lemon Grove School District’s 3,700 students will begin classes Sept. 6 with new English language arts textbooks.

The books were long overdue.

“We put it off for three years because we couldn’t afford it,” said Gina Potter, the
district’s assistant superintendent for business services.

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Potter said public school districts are normally required to replace textbooks of core subjects every seven years but the state has allowed them to delay purchases to save money in recent years.

The Lemon Grove School District has seen its funding cut by more than $10 million during the past four years as a result of state funding reductions and declining enrollment. The K-8 district recently adopted a $28 million budget.

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The district did receive limited funding for textbooks but saved the money until it was ready to make the purchase, she said. But the district did not want to wait any
longer.

“Our kids need textbooks in order to learn,” Potter said. “Kids can’t learn off 10 year old books that don’t have proper English language development.”

Superintendent Ernie Anastos said the district also delayed purchasing math books until it had enough money two years ago.

The district spent about $600,000 on the new English language arts textbooks, which arrived recently.

Anastos said teachers will receive training using the new textbooks in late August. The books are designed for students of various learning levels and include extra
support for English learners and struggling readers.

Two committees were involved in the selection of the textbooks, one made up of
preschool to fifth grade teachers, the other made up of sixth through eighth
grade teachers.

The textbooks were presented to the Governing Board at the May 10 meeting before trustees voted to approve their adoption. The books are:

  • “Little Treasures,” for prekindergarten students and considered teacher-friendly. There are three-week themes with a built-in fourth week for extension or re-teaching.
  • “California Treasurers,” for kindergarten through 5th grade. It has lessons that address all levels of English language proficiency and provides additional time devoted to English learners.
  •  “Literature California Treasurers,” for grades 6-8.
  • “Tesoros de lectura,” for kindergarten through 5th grade. It is a supplemental support for the district’s dual language immersion program.
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