Extra money for summer school programs in jeopardy

Proposed changes to Missouri's education funding system may eventually mean cutbacks to summer school programs in local districts.

The current summer school funding system was put in place in 1989 as an incentive for more districts to offer those programs.

Schools get paid based on the number of hours of attendance per student. The incentive allowed districts to count each hour as two, thus doubling the funding, said Geri Ogle, associate commissioner with the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.

The proposed legislation eliminates the double count. Ogle said the impact on districts is not clear at this point because the entire funding system is being revamped.

"Some districts may find it more challenging to offer summer school. Other may still be able to offer summer school," Ogle said.

Once a new funding system has been approved, districts will have a better idea of how they will be affected by the summer school cuts and other state aid changes.

Jackson School District superintendent Dr. Ron Anderson is afraid his district will have to downsize if the proposed changes take effect.

Anderson said the current funding method allowed his district to offer a variety of enrichment and remedial programs without using money from the district's general operating fund.

Around 1,200 of the district's 4,600 students will participate in Jackson's program, which begins May 26.

Anderson said there are no additional funds available to replace the loss of state money, so class sizes will likely go up and the variety of courses down.

"I think it will cause a lot of summer school programs to decline," Anderson said. "And we know from research that the two or three months students are not engaged in learning activities likely means they regress."

Summer school programs in Missouri are optional. Some districts choose to offer both remedial and enrichment courses, while others provide only remedial or no summer program at all. Certain school districts, including Cape Girardeau, do not qualify for the state's double-count attendance incentive.

Because of that, the Cape Girardeau School District offers only a remedial program for students to make up failed courses, said superintendent Mark Bowles.

Since that district is not currently receiving the incentive funds, the proposed legislation will have little impact.

Scott City superintendent Diann Bradshaw Ulmer said she hasn't calculated how much the proposed changes might cost her district because the decision hasn't been finalized.

Scott City's summer program begins May 23 and includes both remedial and enrichment classes.

"For the regular classes, it gives an opportunity for students to have extra exposure to math and communication arts," Ulmer said. "The kids in the enrichment classes have an opportunity to participate in things they may not have the chance to during the regular school year."

cmiller@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 128