MISSION VIEJO : State Funds Spur Summer Classes

Since state funding was restored four years ago, summer school enrollment in the Saddleback Valley Unified School District has increased by more than 1,000, with more students making up failed classes and taking supplementary courses.

The four-week summer school for elementary and junior high school students concluded last week with an enrollment of 2,015, compared to just 1,084 two years ago. Enrollment has also increased in the English-as-a-Second-Language program and the Head Start class, which prepares sixth-graders for junior high school.

But the largest number of students enrolled in summer school this year attended the high school program at Trabuco Hills High. Of the 7,000 high school students in the district, more than a third--2,456--were enrolled in the six-week summer school. The program drew 1,996 students in 1988.

This increase is important, district officials said, because it means more students are taking the opportunity to make up failed and missed courses rather than live with a bad grade that could harm prospects for college admission or could prompt them to drop out of school.

College-bound students are encouraged to take summer school classes as a way of meeting ever-stiffening university requirements. By taking two three-week summer school classes, students can get college prerequisites out of the way and raise their grade point average at the same time.

And more academically troubled students are giving up four hours a day of summer vacation because it is the easiest way to make up a class, Ferruzzo said.

“For a student who is already having trouble in one area, it is hard enough to take a normal course load, let alone carry one extra class,� Feruzzo explained.

Before the reinstatement of state funds for summer school, however, failing students had to take courses during the year either at night school or as a seventh class during the school day.

This often meant students would stick with the bad grade because some considered taking the extra class as too much work.

“I think now students are beginning to realize summer school is another option and really take advantage of it,� Ferruzzo said.