By Emily Sinclair, Summer 2012 Intern
Summer school. If there are two words in the English language that can
instill dread in a young student, these are certainly strong contenders.
Historically, summer school consists of remedial classes for those
students who were not able to pass the first time they were enrolled in a
particular course or grade level. What kid in their right mind would
want to spend any of the warm, homework-free, fun-filled months of
summer back in school?
In
Minnesota, the Minneapolis School District is doing everything they can
to change the perception that summer school is a punishment. Instead,
they are changing the focus of their summer school program from one of
remediation to one of enrichment; courses are offered not only for
students who have failed classes and need to make them up, but also for
students who want to get a head start and would like to take accredited
elective courses.
The district’s Fast Track Scholars program
is offered to any middle-school student who will be entering high
school after the summer. Of the 11 classes offered, just three are
remedial—algebra, science, and reading and writing—while the remaining
eight courses are there for kids who want to earn high school credits in
advance. Students are able to earn up to four elective credits during
the six-week program. This year, 20% of the students who signed up are
taking elective classes alone, while the other 80% are in a remedial
course; in addition, most of that majority has chosen to take an
elective course as well.
At present, data from the Minneapolis School District shows that 20% of
its students fail to graduate from high school. Summer school program
coordinator Elizabeth Bortke is hoping that the new approach to summer
school will change that number; she believes that the extra credits
earned over the summer will put students on track to graduate and help
to eliminate feelings of slipping behind or becoming too overwhelmed
with their school work. The district has the same hopes as Ms. Bortke,
including plans to expand the program to include ninth and tenth grade
students if more funding becomes available.
The Fast Track Scholars program has been in place since 2010 and is
seeing growing success—its enrollment rates have tripled to 600
voluntary participants when compared to the old program two years ago.
Ideally, the school district hopes to see this number double once more
to accommodate all of its students who could gain from the program.
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