High school: Summer school recommended for some freshmen, sophomores High school: Summer school recommended for some freshmen, sophomores (May 25, 2005)

** District nixes some remedial classes over budget concerns.

By David Boyce

Almanac Staff Writer

Voluntary attendance at summer school and after-school tutoring rather than required remedial classes during the school day will be a choice facing sophomores and entering freshmen not quite ready for high-school level reading and math in the Sequoia Union High School District -- including Woodside and Menlo-Atherton high schools.

The change was announced at the Wednesday, May 18, meeting of the district school board. After recalculating the costs of raising the academic performance of students who don't meet the standards of the federal No Child Left Behind Act, district officials chose a less expensive approach for students whose standardized test scores are closest to the standards, said Francisca Miranda, assistant superintendent for educational services.

The summer-school and after-school recommendations affect students whose scores are in the middle tier of a five-tier scale, the so-called "basic" skill level. The bottom two tiers -- below-basic and far-below-basic -- will have mandatory remedial classes and seven-period days come September.

Basic-tier students who falter in English and math classes in the first semester will be considered for remedial classes, said district Superintendent Pat Gemma. In any case, their regular classes will be smaller than typical, and remedial classes will be open to them on a voluntary basis.

"It would have been much better to inform parents in February and March," said school board president Gordon Lewin, referring to the summer school recommendations and possible disruptions in family vacation plans.

The district's original plan called for $1.2 million to pay for new textbooks, additional teachers and mandatory remedial classes for some 3,500 students -- 45 percent of the student body -- including freshmen behind in reading, math and English language skills, and all students, sophomore and above, who have yet to pass the high school exit exam.

Plans changed upon discovery of 300 to 400 new students without test scores by which to measure their readiness, said Ms. Miranda. These students will be tested in coming months, but officials saw remediation costs rising to $3 million, which would have robbed other programs.

"We ought to strike a balance," said Ms. Miranda. "Let's not forget those students in the middle and those who are accelerating."

Sequoia district officials have said they are putting a high priority on minimizing the impact on students who are ready for high school work. The intent is to quickly get under-performing students up to speed and back into a regular schedule.

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