Board hears plan for targeted summer school: third grade, multilingual learners, and credit recovery

Superintendent Murphy asked the board to support a targeted summer-school program focused on third-grade students, multilingual learners (MLLs) and high-school credit recovery. The administration said the proposed summer program is leaner than earlier models and uses a mix of Title funds and administrative carryover rather than the larger ESSER-driven models used immediately after COVID.

Program details and evidence: The administration linked a summer-school fact sheet and fall diagnostic data showing prior-year attendees’ outcomes. Murphy said the previous Summer Scholars program recorded 2,522 students who actually attended, and the district used attendance data (not registrations) to measure fall diagnostic improvements.

Board members asked about curriculum (whether paused materials would be restored), attendance and persistence (concerns that students who register do not always attend), transportation costs and incentives to improve retention. The administration said curriculum held in abeyance would be included and that data reviews and return-on-investment expectations for summer dollars will be tracked. The district also flagged credit-recovery opportunities for newly enrolled DAWN students and said about 237 DAWN students had enrolled in the district.

Budget context and next steps: The administration presented a smaller budget than earlier proposals and is seeking board approval so staff can order supplies. Members asked administration to present year-by-year historical summer budgets and outcomes (pre-COVID, COVID-era ESSER spending and the scaled budgets afterward); the treasurer offered to provide a multi-year budget history at a future meeting. The board did not take a formal vote on summer programming at the April 7 meeting; staff requested board support and said they will return with program materials and post-summer outcome analyses.