SUMMER SCHOOL DAYS

While most area students are enjoying the first few weeks of summer vacation, others are busy hitting the books. The Cape Girardeau school system is offering a summer school program this year.

Is summer school needed? The demand seems to answer that question. About 130 elementary students, 40 junior high students and 140 high school students enrolled. That seems like a pretty good response, especially since the district hasn't offered summer school in a number of years.

At the lower grades, the programs combine basic instruction in math, reading and language arts with a summer camp atmosphere. Classes are federally funded. The four elementary schools that qualify for the funding -- Franklin, Washington, May Greene and Jefferson -- were allowed to send students.

Most of the junior high and high school instruction is remedial in nature, offering students an opportunity to make up failed grades or catch up with classmates.

The secondary program is paid by the state through the Outstanding Schools Act. In fact, the funding allowed the district to open enrollment to other school systems.

Reading, writing and math in the summer no doubt benefits students. These programs provide an advantage to youngsters without much local cost to the district. If the program works well this year, the district may want to consider expanding it in the future.