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Board debates summer school grade changes, adopts 2026 summer school book as revised
Summary
Administrators told the Highlands County School Board that projected summer school enrollment will fall from 1,683 in 2024–25 to about 685 under the revised plan; members debated which grades to include and agreed to adopt the book as presented for this year while noting grade‑level plans for next year.
Administrators and board members spent substantial time discussing the district's 2026 summer school book and which grades should be included for recovery and initial credit.
Danielle Erwin, who oversees secondary programs, told the board that principals recommended limiting this year’s summer school primarily to students in grades 11 and 12 and to targeted middle‑school students at risk of retention. Erwin said the district had 1,683 students in summer school in the 2024–25 school year; projected participation under the revised plan is about 685 students, a reduction the district expects will save costs.
Some board members urged clearer language to put students on notice about future eligibility for summer school. One member said she prefers that the district aim for third, eighth and twelfth grades next year to ensure earlier intervention and transparency for families.
After discussion, the board adopted the 2026 summer school book as presented for this year and recorded a note for next year’s planning on grade‑level targets. Administrators said the change reflects principals’ input and adjustments to curriculum and grading expectations; staff also explained that students can pursue initial credit recovery through other Florida options without the district losing full‑time‑equivalent (FTE) funding.
Board members and staff also discussed statutory programs that affect summer offerings for pre‑K students (VPK) and IEP‑driven extended school year services for eligible students.
The board’s action: adopt the summer school book for 2026 as revised (this year’s implementation adopted as presented; grade‑level planning for next year to be noted), with administrators to communicate details to schools and families.
