News Release

November 21, 2000

Two local programs receive statewide recognition

Two programs operated by the Santa Barbara County Education Office received 2000 Partnership Awards at the annual state meeting of Partners in Education California.

The Beyond Tolerance Education Center, directed by Adele Rosen and Carol Spears, won the Outstanding Partnership award for projects involving students in grades 6-12. The Computers For Families program, a program of Santa Barbara Partners in Education and run by the SBCEO, won the Outstanding Partnership award for projects involving students in K-5.

The Beyond Tolerance Education Center is a self-sustaining, nonprofit organization that works in conjunction with the SBCEO to prevent and combat intolerance and hate through education. The goal is to teach school children about the causes, instruments, and dangers of discrimination and violence, and help them learn tolerance, understanding and respect. Partners for three years, the SBCEO supports the center by providing fiscal management and facilitating entry of the centerÕs programs into classrooms. The center develops all programming, works directly with individual schools to schedule presentations and conducts assessments of the programs and their effectiveness.

The Computers for Families project was formerly directed by Matt Zuchowicz and is currently directed by John Padfield. Based on findings that students without home computers are at a disadvantage in accessing information and developing important technological skills, the primary goal of Computers for Families is to provide home computers for students in economically disadvantaged families. Now in its third year, this innovative program has placed more than 800 computersÑall donated, refurbished, and supplied with Internet accessÑinto qualifying homes. Related program goals include improving the computer literacy of students and families; helping teachers develop computer and Internet-based programs; and helping juvenile offenders obtain computer repair skills and ultimately good jobs.

Further information about the programs is available by contacting Lawrence A. Fisher at the County Education Office, 964-4711.