What's New

clinton proposes tripling funds for after-school programs Washington - President Clinton last week proposed tripling federal funding for after-school and summer-school programs. The proposal, to be contained in Mr. Clinton's budget request for fiscal year 2000 due next month, would increase annual funding for the program from $200 million to $600 million. The number of children in federally assisted after-school and summer-school programs would jump from 190,000 to 1.1 million, according to the White House. School districts that have adopted another of Clinton's education goals - ending promotions to the next grade for students who fail to meet academic requirements - would be first in line for the funding. Clinton has championed the programs as a way to keep unsupervised children off the streets and out of trouble, and to provide extra academic help to students who need it. Handbook for cell phones and beepers Hartford, Conn. - When Connecticut's last public-school handbook was issued in 1985, few students had their own telephones and few schools were equipped with computers. Times have changed. The new version of the handbook deals with issues including the use of beepers and cell phones at school, and the use of school computers to download pornography from the Internet. Students are advised that school officials have the right to search their personal lockers if they suspect they contain contraband. They also are informed that, "Computer use is designated for educational purposes only." New Jersey colleges may all hook up Trenton, N.J. - Imagine getting an education from a New Jersey college without ever stepping into a classroom -or into New Jersey. Gov. Christine Todd Whitman (R) wants to make that a reality by creating an Internet-based network linking all the state's 50 colleges and universities. The Internet University would compile all existing online educational offerings from the state's schools into one network that could be accessed around the globe. Students involved would participate in classroom discussions online and get lesson plans and course materials downloaded or mailed on videocassette. - Compiled from wires by Carleton Cole and John Christian Hoyle College Students: Interested in writing for us? We are always looking for college students to write for our "On Campus" column. To contribute a column, e-mail Kim Campbell at: campbellk@csps.com Or, write to The Christian Science Monitor, One Norway Street, Boston, MA, 02115.