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Colton SD 53 reports strong summer-school completion; district considers repeating program
Summary
District presenters reported summer-school outcomes: middle/high program enrolled 39 students with 33 completions (~85%), producing 18 completed classes (9 credits) and returning several upperclassmen to on-track status; elementary program had about 22 students with strong daily attendance and hands-on learning activities.
Colton SD 53 staff told the board on Sept. 8 that the district’s summer-school initiative produced measurable gains for students and that staff aim to run a similar program next year if funding and staffing permit.
Rebecca Barton, who presented the middle- and high-school summary, said 39 students enrolled in the middle/high program and 33 completed course requirements — an about 85% completion rate. Barton told the board that 18 classes were finished in five weeks, equating to nine high-school credits, and that many upperclassmen who had been off track were able to return to on-track status for their senior year because of credit recovery.
Barton described the program design: Mondays were used for in-person check-ins and transportation support; an online platform (Edmentum) tracked student activity and allowed staff to monitor progress and share progress reports with families. She said the platform’s reporting helped the district intervene when students logged in but were not completing work.
Karen Groat, who led the elementary summer program, said about 22 students were signed up and the program averaged about 20 students daily. Groat described instruction divided into five small groups covering letter-sound work, reading fluency and multi-digit arithmetic, and credited high-school volunteers for additional one-on-one support.
Funding and logistics: presenters said the summer program was supported by a noncompetitive state grant and that transportation and staffing remain important constraints. Board members and staff discussed the possibility of offering different summer windows or more staffing to increase capacity and reduce barriers for families with transportation challenges.
Next steps: district staff said they will track year-to-year gains and report back on student outcomes at the end of the next reporting cycle; several board members encouraged continued outreach and strategies to grow participation.
