Philadelphia Schools Attribute Gains to Summer School (PA)
November 19, 2010
Philadelphia School District officials say the district’s expanded summer-school program helped a record number of students improve their academic performance.
Nearly 60,000 students from prekindergarten through high school – nearly twice as many as in 2009 – attended summer classes this year to improve their reading, math, and language skills.
David Weiner, associate superintendent for academics, told the School Reform Commission on Wednesday that the total included 597 high school seniors, who took courses and earned enough credits to obtain their diplomas.
"This is the highest number of graduates we have ever had in summer school," he said.
High school students who lack credits are allowed to take summer course to earn up to three credits, he said.
Overall, Weiner said, the district’s program focused on instruction for students attending the lowest-performing schools, and students who were performing below grade level on standardized tests.
Research, he said, showed that struggling students who do not receive academic support over the summer lose ground and are further behind in the fall.
Math and reading tests the district gave to third through eighth graders found that students who had attended at least 16 days of summer school made academic gains while similar students who did not attend summer school lost ground, Weiner said.
The district also offered a program for new ninth graders to ease their transition to high school. A similar session was held for new sixth graders, he said.
In other action Wednesday, the commissioners heard from several charter school administrators, trustees, and parents who urged them to approve pending requests to expand their schools.
"Please do not delay this action," said Paul Stadelberger, chief executive of New Foundations Charter School.
His elementary school, in the Northeast, received SRC permission to add ninth g rade this fall but is awaiting commission action on its request to continue to add high school grades.