180 Days of Learning : ANAHEIM UNION

The district this fall will begin celebrating 100 years of providing education to the community. Festivities will continue through the school year, and an addition to the curriculum will acquaint students with local history.

In 1898, the district opened its first campus: Anaheim High School, which still serves students. Since then, the district has grown to eight high schools, eight junior highs, a school for students with special needs and four alternative education sites.

Supt. Jan Billings said 30,000 students are expected to enroll this year in district schools and adult education programs. In the past two years, 250 teachers have been hired to keep up with a boom in student enrollment and to replace longtime staff members who have retired. Of those new hires, about 125 will begin this fall.

Besides staffing, Billings said, one of the district’s top priorities this year will be on reading programs.

“The biggest thing we’re emphasizing is higher expectations in reading,” Billings said. “It’s a major issue with us because if kids are not achieving in social studies or science, it’s not because they don’t know social studies or science: It’s because of their reading ability.”

Also, a new policy requires eighth-grade students to earn at least a 2.0 grade point average to advance to ninth grade. Under the policy, high school students must have a “C” average or better to get their diploma.

“We’re raising the expectations for kids,” Billings said. Summer school, tutoring and after-school programs will be offered to students who need extra help.

This year the district also will put more emphasis on a program that teaches seventh-graders lessons on manners and etiquette.

“Many times our kids don’t know the value of saying ‘please,’ ‘Excuse me,’ or opening the door for someone,” Billings said. “We want students to act in a respectful manner.”