Amery district says summer Act 20 instruction had low turnout and strains local budget

District administrators reported to the Amery School District board that this summer's Act 20 intensive instruction was implemented as required but drew far fewer students than expected, leaving the district to cover most costs.

"Learning loss is real. It happens over the summer. We as educators call it the summer slide," a district administrator said while describing the program's goals and the pull-out structure used for students with personalized reading plans. Staff said the district offered the instruction in 30-minute small-group blocks across five weeks and used Aimsweb and diagnostic tools to track participation and progress.

Administrators told trustees they had mailed letters, called families and provided options for weeks students could attend, but attendance was low — roughly a quarter or less of the students the district sought to reach, according to staff. Board members pressed for a clearer accounting: while the program was offered, staffing and purchased materials were paid from district funds and state reimbursement was limited. One board member described the requirement as "an unfunded mandate." The board asked district staff to provide a financial breakdown of summer instruction costs, including staff pay and resource purchases, at a future meeting.