According to the San Diego Council on Literacy, 46% of students in San Diego Unified School District are not currently meeting the third-grade reading benchmark. Studies have also shown that this important benchmark is heavily correlated with high school graduation rates, with students not reading at grade level being four times as likely to leave high school before completion.

Thank you to everyone who helped us place books in the hands of these students! We're looking forward to continuing this event next year.

The week was led by staff members on the BLCI Continuous Improvement Committee. This group is dedicated to helping BLCI meet our strategic goals for bettering our organization.

The team covered important topics such as reviewing and updating policies and procedures, learning more about all of the BLCI sites, avoiding burnout in the nonprofit sector and much more while having the opportunity to bond and participate in team-building activities. Many laughs were had by all while discussing how every member of the team plays an important role in meeting the mission of our organization.

The BLCI team is feeling refreshed and excited to welcome back all of our students and new third graders in just a few short weeks!

SDG&E recognizes that this can be a challenging time for many customers and may be able to help if you are having trouble paying your bill. You may be eligible for programs and services that can provide immediate financial assistance and help you avoid interruptions in your service. Flexible payment arrangements are available to help you pay down past due balances. Learn more at sdge.com/Payment-Arrangements.

1.    California Alternate Rates for Energy (CARE) Program: Save 30% or more every month on your bill. Find out if you qualify at sdge.com/CARE.  

2.    Family Electric Rate Assistance (FERA) Program: If you don’t qualify for CARE and your household has 3 or more people, you may qualify for FERA. You could receive an 18% discount on your electric bill. Visit sdge.com/FERA to learn more.

3.    Energy Savings Assistance (ESA) Program: You may qualify to receive free energy-saving improvements for your home, such as new appliances, lighting, insulation and more. Find details at sdge.com/ESA.  

4.    Arrearage Management Plan (AMP): If you have outstanding bills and you are a CARE or FERA customer, you may be eligible for debt forgiveness. See if you qualify at sdge.com/AMP. 

5.    Low-income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP): This program offers up to $1,000 towards your energy bill. This Federal assistance program also provides support for energy-related home improvements. Learn more at sdge.com/LIHEAP.

Even if you made a recent payment or set up a flexible payment plan with SDG&E, there may still be assistance programs available to help you. For a complete list of available offerings, visit sdge.com/assistance.