An East San Jose charter school slated for closure has been temporarily saved by a court’s ruling. Santa Clara County Superior Court Judge Elizabeth Peterson issued a tentative decision directing the East Side Union High School District to keep the schools of Escuela Popular open, after the board of trustees on April 2 revoked its...
San Jose nonprofit gives school supplies to 3,500 students
Inequity remains a growing issue in Santa Clara County, but one nonprofit is trying to help. For families struggling to make ends meet, backpacks and school supplies can be out of reach. Sacred Heart Community Service — which tackles the systemic roots of poverty by offering essential service safety net services such as food aid,...
Silicon Valley lawmakers want to prepare students for AI workforce
Two Silicon Valley lawmakers want to reshape the AI narrative by connecting students with cutting-edge careers. Congressmembers Sam Liccardo and Jimmy Panetta have co-authored a bill that would award tax credits to companies partnering with colleges to train students in technologies such as artificial intelligence. Liccardo unveiled the Supporting Knowledge through Industry-Led Learning (SKILL) Act...
South County families create their own livestock fair
Santa Clara County fairgrounds leaders caused an uproar this year for pushing the annual fair date to keep vendors happy and – as a consequence – some youth farmers out of contention for junior livestock shows. The parents’ response: Fine, we’ll organize our own. Preparations for an alternative fair are now underway among farmers in...
East San Jose school district redraws its boundaries
An East San Jose school district’s redistricting plans have left some community members frustrated. The Alum Rock Union School District board of trustees has redrawn its boundaries, shifting from at-large trustees to trustees representing specific areas of the district. The board on May 20 voted 3-2 — with Trustees Corina Herrera-Loera and Minh Nguyen voting...
San Jose State at top of class when it comes to AI
San Jose State University has smoked the competition in a national computer science and technical skills assessment, beating out Stanford, CalTech and UC Berkeley. Since 2021, SJSU has jumped 47 spots to become No. 2 in the nation for data-driven programming and software engineering skills, just behind the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. The university offers...
Burned East San Jose youth center could be rebuilt
An East San Jose youth center that burned to the ground last year has only made the community more determined to raise it from the ashes. The Alum Rock Union School District board of trustees on Thursday voted 4-1 to enter an exclusive negotiating agreement with SOMOS Mayfair and the School of Arts and Culture,...
Santa Clara University to open region’s first medical school in 100 years
Santa Clara University is entering the medical field through a major partnership with Sutter Health aimed at training future physicians in the South Bay. University and healthcare leaders announced the launch of the Mark & Mary Stevens School of Medicine during a Friday event outside the future campus site at 2431 Mission College Blvd. in...
Knight Foundation funds first South Bay journalism fellowship
A new journalism fellowship aimed at strengthening local news coverage and training the next generation of reporters is coming to the South Bay — supported by a $155,000 grant from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation. The initiative brings together San José Spotlight, The Mercury News and San Jose State University in a...
San Jose State deaths raise mental health concerns
Editor’s note: The following story contains references to self harm and suicide. San Jose State University has seen two deaths by suicide within a month this year. The tragedies have opened a window into a paradox facing Silicon Valley cities and institutions: addressing public locations that result in self-harm without sparking a “contagion.” The university...