A Time to Revisit Summer School Programs.
A recent article appeared in the Naples (Florida) Daily News about a pilot summer program that extends the school year. The school, Parkside Elementary, had received a grade of “D” partly as a result of low student performance on the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test. A look at the school’s demographics tells a more sobering story. According to the report, 97% of the students at Parkside receive free or reduce lunch. Additionally, of the approximately 830 plus students, two out of three are eligible for the school’s English Language Learners Program. This means that for about two thirds of the students, English is not their primary language. Disadvantaged children need the extra help. If we are ever going to help them break the cycle of poverty, if we are ever going to enable them to “catch up” to their peers, then we need to investigate new and alternative methods for teaching them.
To view a classic example of successful student achievement that was led in part with innovative summer programs, take a look at the KIPP (Knowledge is Power Program) academies. KIPP, a public charter school program was founded by two alums of the Teach for America Program, Mike Feinberg and Dave Levin. Their program initially targeted low income, at-risk students in Houston and included extended school days, Saturday classes and summer programs. For more information about the KIPP Academy, take a look at their web site, http://www.kipp.org/
When summer programs are discussed, two issues usually come to the forefront. The first is the cost. In the case of Parkside, the additional costs for this summer amounted to $500,000. Sometimes grant funding is available. There is no wiggle room on this issue. If we want an educated population, we have to pay for it. Politicians can’t say they are for public education and then proceed to cut program funding.
The other issue is parents and summer vacations. Many families have planned for summer trips and getaways. Many believe that their children need a “rest” from school. But without belaboring he point, the issue is choices and priorities. You may know that I mentioned this before, but Dr. Benjamin Rush, a physician in colonial Philadelphia and a signer of the Declaration of Independence, believed that in order for democracy to survive we had to have an educated population.
For additional reading please view that article that appeared in Education Week last year.
The National Summer Learning Association has a valuable web site with information and suggestions for viable summer school programs. You can locate that at http://www.summerlearning.org/
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