Vanessajoie Castillo had been hoping to get ahead in the race for college by taking precalculus and trigonometry courses this summer at Evergreen Valley College in San Jose. But when the James Lick High School student arrived last week to register, she found the classroom packed — and the waiting list already closed.
Her own school district, San Jose’s East Side Union, canceled most summer school for lack of money.
Welcome to the summer of the California budget crisis. Normally, tens of thousands of valley students would be beginning summer classes in their home districts now. But those courses — whether meant for students who want to get ahead, catch up, or take enrichment classes in arts, music or science — have become another casualty of the state’s education funding crisis. When the state granted them budget flexibility, most districts siphoned money earmarked for summer school to help keep their educational ships afloat during the regular school year.
The result: Many students have been scrambling to find alternatives from community colleges and a confusing array of private course providers. “One program charged $900,” said Vanessajoie, 16. “I don’t have that kind of money.”
The cancellation has left many students fearing they’ll be less competitive in college applications or will lack the credits to graduate.
“We would have to suspect that it would have an effect both on the dropout rate and academic performance,” said Terry Peluso of the Campbell Union High School District, which canceled summer school except for some special education students and for seniors needing to make up work.
Likewise, San Jose Unified has about 675 high school students enrolled this summer, most trying to make up credits. Last year, the district canceled most of its summer school at the last minute, when the state declared it would not reimburse districts. This year, San Jose Unified is referring other students to its approved online courses, offered by third parties such as K12.com, Brigham Young University and the Fresno County Office of Education. The costs range from $150 to $350 per online semester course, summer school Principal Dane Caldwell-Holden said.
For the rest of the article, go to Summer school classes vanishing as South Bay students scramble for options
