We applaud the San Benito High School Board of Trustees’
decision to continue to fund a full-blown summer school program
this year.
We applaud the San Benito High School Board of Trustees’ decision to continue to fund a full-blown summer school program this year.
Summer school provides important educational opportunities that our students shouldn’t miss because of the state’s focus on the high school exit exam.
Due to California’s emphasis on the exit exam, most of the summer school money provided by the state will now be used for supplemental instruction for students who haven’t passed the all-important exam.
We understand the state’s position.
It is important that all students meet minimum educational requirements before graduating high school.
But we don’t believe that should take away opportunities from other students.
The school board made a wise decision at its meeting on Tuesday to approve continuation of the larger summer school program at San Benito High School. The program is expected to cost in the neighborhood of $100,000.
In 2006, between 1,700 and 1,800 students – nearly two-thirds of the students enrolled at San Benito High School – took summer school classes.
Students take summer school classes for a variety of reasons.
Some, indeed, take summer school to get remedial lessons that will help them pass the exit exam and graduate high school.
Others take summer school to make up failed classes that have nothing to do with the exit exam (which focuses on math and language arts).
Without an opportunity to make up these classes in summer school, students would be forced to either to leave the failing grade on their transcript or make up the class during the regular school year by taking an extra class. As many educators know, giving students more work is not always the best way to help them succeed.
Many students take summer school classes to get ahead. Perhaps they will take a government or math class during freshman year so they can take a fun, elective class, like photography or art, during their senior year.
We would hate to see these students deprived of the opportunity to get ahead and explore new, different opportunities.
In addition to providing San Benito High School students with educational opportunities, summer school also keeps public buildings like the high school in use during otherwise dormant periods.
From a taxpayer standpoint, it makes sense to keep public facilities in use as much as possible rather than sitting empty over the summer.
Although the school district can likely absorb the summer school funding hit this year, administrators and school board members should be looking for grants and other funding sources, or perhaps even considering a fee schedule, to help pay for summer school in the future.
Summer school is vital to many of our students and it shouldn’t be allowed to fall by the wayside.
