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Health & Fitness

School Is Really Out For Summer

Limiting summer school offerings threatens to reduce the graduation rate, increases future costs and poses a threat to the community. For all of these reasons the LAUSD needs to find a way to restore funding.

For a child on the cusp of failing a class, summer school can be a powerful motivator. The thought of being locked in a classroom during the heat of the summer while your friends are enjoying freedom from academics is sometimes enough to get a student to put in a little extra study time. Unfortunately, like too many other programs within the LAUSD, this tool is becoming increasingly endangered.


When my son was struggling with a middle school English class, I hoped that an appointment with the Guidance Counselor would help us give him the push he needed. When my wife brought up the fact that he was headed towards summer school, we were surprised to learn that the district no longer provided this for general education students in middle school. There would be no way for him to make up the missed credit.


To compound the problem, the district simply promotes failing students to the next grade level. Not only does this remove any consequence for the student’s failure, it puts them at an educational disadvantage. Classes tend to build on the prior year’s knowledge and these students have not mastered the necessary skills. Their struggle from the previous year is simply carried over to the next.

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The situation is not much better in the high schools. According to a recent Daily News article, the budget for the summer school program has been reduced from $42 million before the recession to $1 million this year.  As a result, classes are only offered in 16 schools and are limited to core subjects. There are not enough spaces for all the students who need them.


Students who are failing classes and falling behind are at significant risk of not finishing their education. If they are motivated enough to show up for summer school, then they need to be accommodated. The LAUSD needs to find a way to restore funding to these programs or graduation rates are going to be negatively affected.

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Advanced students have been totally shut out of the current system since no spots are available for children who want to get ahead in their studies. The summer classes are more condensed, which works well for those who can grasp the subject matter quickly and also saves district money. Many of these students could have also used these classes to graduate earlier. Blocking them from the program may save money in the short run but will eliminate the possibility of greater savings in the future.


Elective classes have also been eliminated in the summer session. These classes used to provide students with a way to explore new subjects and provided families who could not afford camp with something to do during the months without school. Since trouble is more likely to find Idle children, eliminating these educational opportunities has a negative effect on the community. Therefore, sources beyond the district must look at how they can get involved in restoring this funding before next summer arrives.


I realize that money does not grow on trees and, in these tough economic times, tough decisions must be made by governments. However, our children are our future. Shortchanging educational programs, including summer school, has negative repercussions that will echo into the future.
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