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To Save Money, Officials Cut Summer School. Now What?

One year ago, Congress defunded public media. Now that we're 100% community funded, please become a sustaining member or increase your existing membership today.

In a pretty shocking move last month, the Los Angeles Unified School District cut summer school for elementary and middle students along with some high school level classes in a move to save $34 million from its dwindling budget. Overall, this affects 225,000 students. So what are the kids to do, asks the Daily News? Are they at risk? Will they run amok throughout the city? How about getting a job? The latter is particularly a problem in this economy because unemployed adults are accepting work usually held by teens.

"Unemployment in California for teens from 16 to 19 stands at 26.8 percent - a 2.5 percent rise from 2008, said Jack Kyser, chief economist for the Los Angeles County Economic Development Corp.," to the paper. "Competition remains high for work. In Los Angeles County, unemployment hovers at 11 percent, nearly double the 5.9 percent reported at this time last year."

Over in Chino, students will be forced into summer school after an admin error.

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