Summer school programs facing budget cuts

ANCHORAGE, Alaska — Summer school helps thousands of students get ahead or get back on track. Every year summer school draws so much interest students have to be put on a waiting list.

This year the Anchorage School District expects it will have to scale back on summer programs.

ASD says it is focused on funding the regular school year first and whatever money is left over from that budget will go into summer programs.

Last summer, ASD used federal stimulus money to help fund summer school programs, but that funding won't be there this summer.

In the long term, board members worry the reductions could mean a decrease in graduation rates.

Elementary and middle school students enter summer school often based on whether they fall below proficient levels on state or district assessment tests.

The school board isn't sure what the cap will be or if they'll have to further narrow the entrance requirements.

“Some of the reason we find such great success with our summer school programs is, first of all, it's a targeted group of students, a shortened school day, you have teachers who are able to receive professional development in a specific program so they are able to concentrate their efforts,” said Assistant Superintendent of Instruction Ed Graff.

According to ASD, it will either have to ask for more money from the legislature or cut down the number of students it can accept this year.