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WUSD replaces Summer School
Students offered evening classes to make up units to graduate
by Nathan Wright
Staff Writer
The Windsor Unified School District unveiled plans last week to replace summer school with an extended day program for high school students who need to make up units to graduate. At a meeting on Sept., 15 Windsor Oaks Academy Principal Patricia Law presented a plan she said would save the district money and offer students better classes.
The extended day program will offer students make-up classes in the late afternoon and is scheduled to begin on October 19. District officials said letters will be sent to parents on the change and that enrollment priority will be given to upperclassmen nearest to graduation.
“We’re offering more classes, at a better quality, for less money,” said Law. “In summer school we’re limited by the number of teachers and the hours. Students can only take two classes, max, during the summer. With this they could take three or four classes, depending on their needs.”
The district spent $140,000 on summer school in 2009 and hopes to spend only $100,000—a $40,000 savings—in the coming year.
Instead of summer school, students will be offered additional classes at Windsor High School and Windsor Oaks Academy from 4-7 p.m., Monday-Thursday. The district plans to offer classes in English and Math (including prep for the high school exit exam), social studies, science, health, P.E. and art. These classes will typically be two days a week and will be offered to students who need to make up credits due to non-attendance or failing grades.
The size of the district’s summer school program has declined in the past decade as the state has decreased funding. Districts throughout the state once offered enrichment programs in summer school for students of all ages, but the state’s budget woes have decimated these programs.
“Summer school used to be where a student could go during the summer to get extra units and enhance their educational career,” said district Superintendent Steve Herrington. “That changed in 2000 to deficiency summer school for students who needed to make up units.”
Last year the district discontinued all summer school programs for elementary school students, and this year only high school students will be offered the new extended day program. Herrington said struggling middle school students are offered intervention classes if they need more help and that they had no need to make up units since students don’t begin earning units toward graduation until they enter high school.
The extended day program includes both a credit make-up program for students who missed too many days of school and the Omega Program for students who failed classes and need to retake them. For credit make-up, students must complete 12 instructional hours per unit.
The Omega Program offers students full classes—not just time requirements—to make up lost units. These classes are offered in 10-week sessions beginning in October and January. Law said if demand is high enough the district will consider a third session next spring.
Law believes that the extended day program might be a better fit for students than the former summer school program. “I think, for a lot of students, summer school is hard,” she said. “They get in a mindset that it’s summer and they want to be out there with their friends. With the extended day program they’re already in the mode of doing school. I absolutely think this is a better plan for them.”
Herrington agrees. “It’s going to be a little more rigorous but they’re a little more focused during the traditional school year,” he said. “If you’re a junior or a senior this is your only chance to move up.”
The extended day program will offer students make-up classes in the late afternoon and is scheduled to begin on October 19. District officials said letters will be sent to parents on the change and that enrollment priority will be given to upperclassmen nearest to graduation.
“We’re offering more classes, at a better quality, for less money,” said Law. “In summer school we’re limited by the number of teachers and the hours. Students can only take two classes, max, during the summer. With this they could take three or four classes, depending on their needs.”
The district spent $140,000 on summer school in 2009 and hopes to spend only $100,000—a $40,000 savings—in the coming year.
Instead of summer school, students will be offered additional classes at Windsor High School and Windsor Oaks Academy from 4-7 p.m., Monday-Thursday. The district plans to offer classes in English and Math (including prep for the high school exit exam), social studies, science, health, P.E. and art. These classes will typically be two days a week and will be offered to students who need to make up credits due to non-attendance or failing grades.
The size of the district’s summer school program has declined in the past decade as the state has decreased funding. Districts throughout the state once offered enrichment programs in summer school for students of all ages, but the state’s budget woes have decimated these programs.
“Summer school used to be where a student could go during the summer to get extra units and enhance their educational career,” said district Superintendent Steve Herrington. “That changed in 2000 to deficiency summer school for students who needed to make up units.”
Last year the district discontinued all summer school programs for elementary school students, and this year only high school students will be offered the new extended day program. Herrington said struggling middle school students are offered intervention classes if they need more help and that they had no need to make up units since students don’t begin earning units toward graduation until they enter high school.
The extended day program includes both a credit make-up program for students who missed too many days of school and the Omega Program for students who failed classes and need to retake them. For credit make-up, students must complete 12 instructional hours per unit.
The Omega Program offers students full classes—not just time requirements—to make up lost units. These classes are offered in 10-week sessions beginning in October and January. Law said if demand is high enough the district will consider a third session next spring.
Law believes that the extended day program might be a better fit for students than the former summer school program. “I think, for a lot of students, summer school is hard,” she said. “They get in a mindset that it’s summer and they want to be out there with their friends. With the extended day program they’re already in the mode of doing school. I absolutely think this is a better plan for them.”
Herrington agrees. “It’s going to be a little more rigorous but they’re a little more focused during the traditional school year,” he said. “If you’re a junior or a senior this is your only chance to move up.”
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