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Albert Einstein Charter Academy booming in San Diego, reflecting growth outside of traditional public schools

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Albert Einstein Charter Academy booming in San Diego, reflecting growth outside of traditional public schools


SAN DIEGO (KGTV) — In South Park, a charter school named after a famous scientist just keeps growing.

Albert Einstein Academies even has a long waiting list to enroll — at a time when many traditional public schools are losing kids.

So, what’s the secret?

“I enrolled my kids at Einstein because the community aspect was so attractive,” said Amanda Rowe, who has two young kids at Einstein. “The students. The parents. The teachers. I feel like it’s a really safe, nurturing environment”

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Rowe said Einstein offered her children an opportunity to learn German as well as the basics.

“The language provides them a chance to get to know other parts of the world and also expand their minds while their minds are so elastic,” she said.

Albert Einstein Academies, 3035 Ash St., opened in 2002, and it’s under the San Diego Unified School District.

In 1992, California became the second state in the nation to pass a charter school law. As of May, there were 1,283 charter schools and seven all-charter districts in California, according to the state Department of Education.

In 2022–23, nearly 12 percent of all public school kids were n charter schools.

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Charter schools in California typically are under the supervision of a local school district.

What makes charters unique is they can offer parents a different type of education such as an emphasis on a foreign language to performing arts.

At Einstein, students can enroll in German or Spanish immersion programs, and there’s an international baccalaureate curriculum.

There also were new classrooms when school began Aug. 12.

“Our students, after a long time of being in in temporary housing, so to speak, now get to have modern, clean, up-to-date classroom,” said Superintendent David Sciarretta.

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Enrollment has boomed so much at Einstein that the elementary campus has been under construction the past two years.

Einstein has been able to tap into school bond funds approved by San Diego voters to expand its campus.

Next comes a new high school that will be located about a mile away next to Einstein’s middle school, 458 26th St.

“Our high school will be opening in fall 2027,” Sciarretta said. “At full capacity, we will be just over 2,300 students.”

The enrollment growth at Einstein is similar to what has been seen at other charter schools in San Diego County.

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There were 62,672 kids enrolled in charter schools about a decade ago. Last year, there were 84,431, according to school enrollment records.

That’s a roughly 35% increase.

Sciarretta said charter schools first became popular more than 30 years ago by giving parents an educational choice for their kids.

“Charters were billed as the kind of hothouse for innovation, for practicing, kind of new approaches, a new vision to education,” he said “We currently have just under 500 students on our waiting list.”

Sciarretta credits his teachers for the high demand at Einstein.

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“Just a relentless focus on connecting with our families,” he said. “That’s really what makes people keep coming back. When parents walk on our campus, it’s inviting. It’s beautiful.”

However, the overall growth of charter schools in greater San Diego could be slowing down.

More families are home schooling their kids since the pandemic and that means fewer kids in public schools.

Richard Barrera has been on the San Diego Unified School District Board since 2008.

He said many charters are now facing the same enrollment challenges as traditional public schools, and the district has not seen “many new charter petitions” the past seven or eight years.

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“The other thing that’s happening with both charters and district run schools is the housing affordability crisis is pushing families out of San Diego,” Barrera said.

However, Sciarretta said Einstein will continue to be an attractive option for parents.

In fact, he says the school has a bit of a secret weapon.

“We’ve been fortunate to have a pretty amazing namesake,” he said. “Who doesn’t want to send their kids to a school named after Albert Einstein?”





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San Diego, CA

San Diego Unified leaders propose policy to limit technology in classrooms

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San Diego Unified leaders propose policy to limit technology in classrooms


SAN DIEGO (CNS) – San Diego Unified School District leaders Tuesday announced an effort to better integrate technology in classrooms and reduce excessive media consumption, to be voted upon by the school board Tuesday evening.

If the Board of Education approves the proposed resolution at Tuesday evening’s meeting, the first changes would go into effect on Aug. 10, the first day of the 2026-27 school year.

The proposed changes include:

— Prohibiting video-streaming platform use such as YouTube on individual devices;

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— Prohibiting non-instructional gaming platform use on individual devices; and

— Removing computer carts from Transitional Kindergarten classrooms, while still allowing for access to devices for students with needed accommodations.

“Technology has expanded educational opportunities for students in ways we could not have imagined a generation ago,” Board President Richard Barrera said. “But our responsibility is to ensure technology serves students – – not the other way around. This resolution takes thoughtful, research-based steps to reduce passive screen time and create more opportunities for students to engage with their teachers, collaborate with their peers, and develop the communication, problem-solving, and critical-thinking skills that will serve them throughout their lives.”

Other facets of the proposal, which would be phased in over the course of the next year, include:

— Developing age-appropriate device usage guidance;

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— Limiting screen time outside established time frames;

— Expanding family resources and parent controls;

— Strengthening digital citizenship instruction;

— Reviewing instructional software annually; and

— Continuing evaluations of emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence.

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District leaders said that while technology remains an important learning tool, excessive screen time and passive digital media consumption can “negatively impact attention, academic performance, sleep, social-emotional development, and overall student well-being.”

The impetus of the resolution is not to remove technology from classrooms, its proponents say, but to instead support diverse learning needs while “creating more opportunities for meaningful human interaction, student engagement, creativity, collaboration, and critical thinking.”

“One of the strengths of this resolution is that it recognizes these decisions should not be made in isolation,” Board Trustee Shana Hazan said. “Families, educators and community partners have helped elevate this conversation, and their voices will continue to guide this work. Technology remains an important educational tool, but it should never replace the relationships, creativity, collaboration, and human connection that are at the heart of a great education.

“This resolution creates a framework for bringing diverse perspectives together to determine what is best for students at every stage of their development,” Hazan added.

District leaders say if the resolution passes, staff will work with advisory groups such as the Community Advisory Committee, District Advisory Council and District English Learner Advisory Committee to further refine ideas.

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Who’s playing in the World Cup today? TV schedule for June 23

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Who’s playing in the World Cup today? TV schedule for June 23


Here’s who is playing in the 2026 men’s World Cup on Tuesday, June 23.

MORE: 2026 men’s World Cup standings, scores, brackets

World Cup TV Schedule June 23

Group Stage

Group K: Portugal vs. Uzbekistan, 1 p.m. ET, 10 a.m. PT, Houston Stadium (FOX, Telemundo, Peacock)

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Group L: England vs. Ghana, 4 p.m. ET, 1 p.m. PT, Boston Stadium (FOX, Telemundo, Peacock)

Group L: Panama vs. Croatia, 7 p.m. ET, 4 p.m. PT, Toronto Stadium (FOX, Telemundo, Peacock)

Group K: Colombia vs. Congo DR, 10 p.m. ET, 7 p.m. PT, Estadio Guadalajara (FS1, Telemundo, Peacock)

Note: Matches on Telemundo and Peacock are in Spanish. 



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Los Angeles schools superintendent resigns after FBI search and months on paid leave

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Los Angeles schools superintendent resigns after FBI search and months on paid leave


By CHRISTOPHER WEBER and BIANCA VÁZQUEZ TONESS

LOS ANGELES (AP) — The superintendent of Los Angeles public schools has resigned four months after he was put on paid leave during a federal investigation, saying he wants students to learn “without distraction.”

Alberto Carvalho ‘s resignation letter dated Sunday made no direct mention of the FBI’s Feb. 25 search of his home and the LA Unified School District’s headquarters. Two days after the FBI served the search warrants, the district’s Board of Education voted unanimously to place Carvalho on leave pending the outcome of the investigation.

Authorities have not provided details of the nature of the investigation involving the district, which serves more than 500,000 students. The investigation appears to relate to a contract the school district had with an education technology company whose leader was later indicted for fraud. The company, AllHere, had a contract with the district to create an AI chatbot.

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Before becoming the Los Angeles superintendent in 2022, Carvalho had spent his entire education career in Miami-Dade County Public Schools, where he drew national praise for improving graduation rates and academic achievement among Black and Hispanic students. While advocating for Miami’s immigrant students, he spoke openly about his own struggles as a young recent arrival from Portugal working in restaurants and construction while homeless at times.

Under Carvalho, the Los Angeles district had been making strides. Students’ academic growth has outpaced the state average in recent years and students have bounced back from pandemic learning loss. Voters overwhelmingly passed a $9 billion construction and modernization bond, the school system’s largest ever.

Carvalho has denied wrongdoing

Authorities have not accused Carvalho of any crimes. He denied any wrongdoing earlier this year and had asked to be reinstated as head of the nation’s second-largest district. On Sunday he resigned via a letter addressed to “students, families, teachers, staff, and community.”

“Placing students first has always guided my work,” Carvalho wrote. “Because I believe our schools must remain focused on students and learning without distraction, I am resigning as Superintendent of LAUSD effective today, June 21, 2026.”

In its statement released early Monday, the Board acknowledged it received the letter of resignation.

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“The Board remains steadfast in its commitment to ensuring stability, continuity, and continued progress through strong leadership. Our focus remains unchanged: providing every student with a high-quality education, supporting our dedicated workforce, and maintaining the trust of the communities we serve,” it said. in the statement.

It said that Andrés Chait, who has been acting superintendent, will remain in that position until a permanent decision is made.

The FBI investigation has been linked to the maker of a school chatbot

In February, the FBI also searched a third location near Miami. The Miami Herald reported the Florida property belonged to Debra Kerr, who previously worked with AllHere.

In 2024, Carvalho heavily touted a deal with AllHere for an AI chatbot named “Ed” designed to help students. But about three months after unveiling the technology and paying the company $3 million, the district dropped its dealings with AllHere, which collapsed into bankruptcy. Months later, founder Joanna Smith-Griffin was charged with securities and wire fraud, along with identity theft.

At the time, Carvalho denied personal involvement in the selection of AllHere, according to the Los Angeles Times.

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“Mr. Carvalho respects the rule of law and the investigative process and has always acted in the best interests of students and within the bounds of the law,” Holland & Knight, the law firm representing him, previously said in a statement. “While the government’s investigation remains ongoing, no evidence has been presented by prosecutors supporting any allegation that Mr. Carvalho violated federal law.”

Following the search of school headquarters, LA Unified said it was cooperating with investigators and had no further information.

Carvalho became superintendent of LA schools in 2022 on a four-year contract with an annual salary of $440,000. He began a new four-year contract in February, just weeks before the raid, for the same salary, according to school board meeting documents.



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