TheBakersfieldCalifornian.com

More than 40 Kern County public schools have been deemed so bad that parents can transfer their children to a better one in their district, or another, if they so choose, the California Board of Education decided Friday.

The list is preliminary, and is subject to change. It will be made final later this summer, and districts will have to inform families of their rights by Sept. 15.

The board compiled a list of 1,000 schools statewide to comply with a new state law that gives parents an easier way out of bad schools.

But just hours after the list passed, schools across the state started causing a stir, including many locally, who don't agree with it. Some schools don't seem that bad on paper.

Of those in Bakersfield with test scores nearly meeting state standards include Tehachapi Unified's Golden Hills Elementary (academic performance index of 795), Rosedale Union's Del Rio Elementary (793) and Panama-Buena Vista Union's Loudon Elementary (754).

For the coming school year, the new law allows students in schools on the list to apply to a school with better test scores. This year, however, districts won't be required to accept incoming transfer students because participation is voluntary.

For a full list of Kern schools, or to see if your school made the list, go to The Californian's education blog, The Grade, at www.bakersfield.com/blogs.

Kern County school districts will receive more than $1 million to improve student achievement through instructional technology, the California Department of Education announced Friday.

In all, 1,062 public school districts in California will get $34 million in federal Enhancing Education Through Technology funding.

"In this high-tech age, teachers need the right tools to help prepare students for success in our competitive, global economy," said Jack O'Connell, state superintendent, in a statement. "These funds will help schools integrate technology into their classrooms and train teachers to use these tools more effectively to enhance their students' learning experience."

The funds are part of the federal stimulus funding provided by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

School districts receiving money must have a technology plan, and receive certain Title I funds. The goal of the program is to help all students become technologically literate by the end of the eighth grade, and also is designed to integrate technology with teacher training and curriculum development. Ultimately, this will help establish research-based instructional methods that can be widely implemented, the state department said.

Of more than 40 local school districts getting money, the 10 that will be getting the most include:

Bakersfield City: $340,623

Kern High: $211,978

Delano Union Elementary: $62,505

Panama-Buena Vista Union: $39,726

Greenfield Union: $36,592

Delano Joint Union High: $35,153

McFarland Unified: $26,297

Wasco Union Elementary: $23,088

Arvin Union Elementary: $22,974

Sierra Sands Unified: $21,758

-- Jorge Barrientos, Californian staff writer

For more education news, go to The Californian's education blog, The Grade, at www.bakersfield.com/blogs, or follow The Grade's Twitter at twitter.com/TBCTheGrade.