Now that most school districts in Colorado have resumed a certain level of personal learning, questions are beginning to determine how many students lost this year, and how to catch up. One idea that is gaining traction is summer school.
President Joe Biden’s $ 130 billion education plan specifically set aside $ 29 billion for education and summer school. Public schools in Orange County, Orlando, Florida, have told teachers to expect a five-day workday through the summer.
In a statement, Denver Public Schools spokeswoman Winna MacLaren told Denver7 the district is “in the early stages of planning for summer school and tackling student learning loss.”
DPS is getting feedback on the community until March, but will announce a learning loss and summer school plan by April. MacLaren said DPS will implement the plan in the spring and “through the summer” with a focus on acceleration rather than recovery.
The district has announced a plan that includes the following:
- Improved teaching through a laser-like focus on grade level content and timely student support
- Extensive learning available that reinforces the core content is culturally relevant and involves students in groups of eight to 12
- Intensive teaching for students with the greatest need through individualized teaching for one or two students who meet them where they are and join what is taught in the classroom
- Social-emotional learning that supports students’ social-emotional needs and is embedded in core teaching
Cameron Bell, a spokesman for JeffCo Public Schools, said the district usually offers summer school at four high schools and allows schools to offer summer programs as well. The district has not said whether it intends to expand the offer of summer schools this year.
The Boulder Valley School District will submit a catch-up plan to the school board on Tuesday night.