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Board warns that Third Grade Success Act mandates exceed available summer-learning funding
Summary
Preston County officials said the Third Grade Success Act requires summer interventions but state funding (cited at $50,000) is far below district summer program costs ($120,000–$150,000), creating an unfunded-mandate problem.
Board members and staff told legislators the Third Grade Success Act requires summer interventions and creates retention mechanics that are difficult to administer without dedicated state funding.
Officials said the district must provide summer learning and intervention for students who do not meet grade-level expectations, but the board cited a mismatch between the law's expectations and available funds: district summer programs cost roughly $120,000–$150,000, while the meeting cited a single $50,000 state allocation connected to early implementation support.
District leaders highlighted two operational problems: first, the cost to run summer programs (including paying teachers beyond their contract) is substantial; second, retention rules can be nullified when parents temporarily withdraw students (for example, to homeschool) and then enroll them again, which undermines the retention provisions unless the state adjusts statutory procedure.
Lawmakers acknowledged the budget shortfall and asked district staff for concrete minimal-cost proposals that would meet the statutory requirements. Board members asked for funding streams that could support local summer programming and suggested flexibility in delivery so families in remote communities can access services without long bus rides.
