Community Corner

🌱 Patch AM: How can Berkeley parents unlock special education support this year?

Spotted on the Berkeley calendar: A Midsummer Night's Dream - Free Shakespeare in the Park

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Hey there, Berkeley! Let's get started with what's happening in and around town. Read on and stay in the loop. ☀️

In today's newsletter:

  • How can Berkeley parents unlock special education support this year?
  • Will a new lawsuit derail Hopkins Street's protected bike lanes?
  • Considering a Berkeley PhD? See how six years of funding works.

Also on today's calendar: A Midsummer Night's Dream - Free Shakespeare in the Park and 10 more events.

Today's riddle: Where do math teachers go on vacation? 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

  • Saturday: Areas of low clouds, then sun, with a high of 71 and low of 56 degrees.
  • Sunday: Breezy in the afternoon, temps: high: 70, low: 56.
  • Monday: Warmer, with a high of 80 and low of 58 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

1. Does your Berkeley student have a disability? Here's what to know about BUSD's special education services. (berkeleyside.org) — If you have a child with disabilities in Berkeley schools, this detailed guide walks you through how BUSD's special education system works, from requesting an evaluation to understanding IEPs and 504 plans. It explains local services, budget pressures, and rising needs, and highlights concrete contacts, parent groups, and legal protections so Berkeley families can better advocate for their students.
   

2. Hopkins bike lane opponents sue to block project (berkeleyside.org) — A neighborhood group and several Hopkins Street business owners are suing Berkeley to stop the planned protected bike lanes that would remove about 145 parking spaces along the North Berkeley corridor. They argue the City Council's July approval violated environmental and disability laws and local plans, while supporters say the $20 million redesign is vital for safety, with construction targeted for 2028.
   

3. Funding and Financial Aid (berkeley.edu) — Graduate students in Spanish and Portuguese at UC Berkeley can count on six years of fellowship support covering tuition, fees, and a stipend, with extra grants available for research and travel. Domestic students from outside California must gain residency after year one to avoid non-resident tuition, and prospective students are invited to reach out directly with funding questions.
   

4. UC Berkeley ranked first by Pitchbook for undergraduate alumni entrepreneurship and female founders (dailycal.org) — UC Berkeley has again been named the top university worldwide for venture-backed startups founded by undergraduate and female undergraduate alumni, underscoring the campus's strong entrepreneurial culture. Local students and residents benefit from a growing ecosystem of investors, innovation programs, and successful alumni companies that keep Berkeley closely tied to the global startup scene.
   

5. UC Berkeley Edley Center's symposium explores how states can counter authoritarianism (dailycal.org) — UC Berkeley's Edley Center recently hosted a symposium where legal scholars and Washington State's attorney general discussed how state governments can push back against what they see as authoritarian federal actions. Speakers, including Berkeley Law Dean Erwin Chemerinsky, emphasized lawsuits and state-level policymaking as key tools, while attendees voiced personal concerns about the long-term impact of recent presidential administrations.
   

📸 Around Berkeley

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🗓 Upcoming Events in Berkeley

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📣 Berkeley Shout Outs!

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💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

  • A busy homegrown Berkeley business storefront.
    Hundreds of rolls of fabric delivered on a pallet in front of Stone Mountain & Daughter this morning, and the staff hurried out, worked hard and… (Nextdoor Ashby BART)
  • A lost goat that has been roaming Berkeley streets for at least a week is now safe at the municipal animal shelter.
    But authorities are still working to reunite her with her owner. MORE: https://www.berkeleyscanner.com/2026/09/04/community/berkeley-goat-found-but… (Nextdoor Downtown Berkeley)
  • HEI Hotels and Resorts posted a job opening for Banquet Supervisor in Berkeley. Apply here.
  • Hillel International posted a job opening for Kitchen Manager & Educator at Berkeley Hillel in Berkeley. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Berkeley here.

Ok Berkeley! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!

-- The Patch AM Team

P.S. The answer to today's riddle: Times Square (Thank you Jean K. for sending it in!)
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Submit it here!

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