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As someone who works in schools in the Eugene area one thing that I would love for the community to come together and fund would be half day summer schools for all grades. This would allow students to eat breakfast and lunch at school and also improve their academic skills (while still having time to have fun). At the high school level here in Eugene there is only paid summer school. Students on free and reduced lunch do get a discount but I have had a number of parents saying that even with the discount it is still too expensive. Also the high school summer school is only held at one of the 4 high schools (so it is a long commute for students who cannot drive). There are many students who are credit deficient who if they could go to summer school could then get back on track to graduate.

I have seen the data from the Bethel School Districts summer program and students who participate have the opposite of the summer slump, they have the summer spike in improved reading scores. I have worked at summer school and it has a good balance between fun and academics and not a moment is wasted.

posted 4 years, 10 months ago
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