As the Anchorage School District wraps up its 2012-2013 school year Thursday, summer school is set to begin next week -- but budget cuts are already impacting students' options.
Due to ASD's budget shortfall, which stands at over $20 million, there will be no elementary and middle summer school this year. Instead the options are limited to ASD's iSchool online courses, and a shortened summer session in high schools -- choices that administrators hope doesn't limit students' ability to succeed.
For East High School Principal Mike Graham, teaching students doesn't stop on Thursday. Even on the last day of school, he hopes to use every tool possible to reach them and get them to learn.
Graham says summer school is one of those tools, and has played a role in improving graduation rates at East by 10 percent over the last six years.
"It's pretty much extended (the) year -- in other words the kids (who) have been in the course, they are going to go and earn another 10 percent, maybe they are at the 50 percent range," Graham said. "They are going to do a few more days and do what it takes to get it up, so they can get the credits."
With budget cuts reducing the summer school program in high schools to just credit-recovery classes, there's concern that fewer students will get help.
"We won't have classrooms full of kids taking classes with teachers this year," Graham said. "Counselors have been working with kids, advisors, teachers, helping them know that, 'Hey, the options are not there for you that you may have had in the past, that sort of safety net, so you got to step it up and do it now.'"
Doing it online is another option for students this summer, since the district's iSchool offers accelerated online courses in everything from health to economics to even forensic science classes.
"The range of what we offer is immense -- we really can handle students at all different levels," said Denise Trujillo, ASD's iSchool team coordinator.
Officials say that for students willing to put in the work, iSchool offers the flexibility to learn anywhere there is a computer.
"They can work on their class 24-7, wherever they have Internet access," Trujillo said. "Students may be working a job during the regular (school) hours; they can do this on the evening, they can do it on weekends."
It's not too late to sign up for summer school at ASD, either in the high-school programs or iSchool. The cost is $100 per course, but waivers are being offered. There's also help available for students who don't have a computer or Internet access.
Contact Corey Allen-Young