DETROIT (WXYZ) — Parents say they feel their children are being left behind - and they want action. This after changes in which students are offered summer school in the Detroit Public Schools Community District.
7 Action News spoke to several moms who say enrolling in summer school has turned out to be way harder than they think it should be and they have questions they want answered.
Monique Bryant says when her son failed an English class at the Frederick Douglass College Preparatory Academy in Detroit she asked how to enroll him in summer school to make sure he is on a pathway to success.
“Well the pathway is backwards because they are now eliminating summer school,” said Bryant.
Here is what she says she was told. Her son’s school counselor turned in a list of students who could benefit from summer school, but many, including her son were not approved.
Here is what we have learned.
The summer school offerings have been curtailed in recent years in terms of where they are located and how many grades are given the opportunity. Previously parents could enroll struggling students in summer school to get improved grades. Now the district is limiting summer school enrollment to students who will not graduate without making up the credits.
Critics say summer school is proven to help students succeed and should be available to more students.
7 Action News spoke to several parents frustrated with the process of even finding out if their children are eligible.
“There is no published process for enrollment,” said Monique Bryant. “There is no opportunity for students to pay for classes whe want to retake them.”
The district tells a different story. It is under the impression Bryant’s son was offered summer school.
“As a district, our inequitable and limited funding is provided for school year learning (September to June). We stretch that funding to provide course credit recovery for grades 6-12 in literacy, math, science, and social studies (and electives for seniors) so students who have failed core classes can stay on path to graduate on time,” said the district in a statement. “Over the past two years, our summer enrollment numbers have been consistent and we continue to ensure students have the opportunity to stay on path to graduate on time. Those programs are fully staffed and funded. We also use online course recovery programs during summer school to avoid the reteaching of content already mastered by students. This is done with fully certified teachers.”
The district says it did have issues with some schools, CMA, Cass Tech and Mumford, not communicating effectively with parents. The district took action to help.
It also did cut down on summer school locations to save money and operate efficiently.
Bryant says she doesn’t want to risk her son not getting enough credits to graduate later - if she doesn’t get him help making up for a failing grade now.
She plans to enroll him in an on-line charter school for credit.
