Reasons for Summer School and Other Learning Opportunities

There are many circumstances that lead families to explore education options outside of the regular school year. Students who are at-risk of falling behind due to learning gaps or incomplete courses may need support in building required skills or recovering credit needed for graduation. All students can benefit from additional learning and enrichment inside or outside of the school year.

As a parent, you may be considering a credit recovery or summer school program for your child. There are two compelling reasons why it’s worth exploring.

Credit Recovery

When students fail or are unable to complete a course, they may need to recover the credit to graduate. A failed or incomplete course can put a student off sequence for taking other required or enriching courses. For many students, simply retaking the failed or incomplete course the following year may not be an option or the best strategy. Academic credit recovery courses can be a successful strategy for many students as a way to earn credit towards their diploma and avoid falling further behind.

Credit recovery courses are specially designed for students who need to recover credits required for high school graduation so are often accelerated and flexibly scheduled. Credit recovery courses may be available online or in alternative settings.

Summer programming offers a valuable opportunity for high school students to make up classes they didn’t pass during the regular academic year. If your child needs to recover credits, enrolling in a credit recovery program during the summer can provide focused support and dedicated time to master the course material. By addressing the challenges they faced before, your child can reclaim their credits, stay on track for graduation, and build a solid foundation for future academic success.

Enrichment

Credit recovery concentrates on students who must recover failed course credit. But additional summer programs can be considered enrichment for any student. Whether it’s pursuing a class aligned with their interests or taking a prerequisite for a desired course in the upcoming year, the possibilities are vast. Summer programming can also meet the needs of at-risk students or close learning gaps before the start of a new school year.

Summer programming provides an excellent opportunity for your children to embark on a journey of growth and exploration. From a wide range of electives like theater, drawing, cyber security, business law, web design, sign language, and more, they can delve into exciting areas of interest, uncover potential majors, and discover promising career paths. By participating in these summer programs, your children not only have fun but also nurture their minds, fuel their curiosity, and develop valuable skills that will serve them well in the future.

Steps to Enrolling Your Child

There are important considerations for a family when deciding whether your child will pursue credit recovery or enrichment via external courses. The first step is having the right conversations—with your child and with your child’s school, specifically the guidance counselor, admissions officer, or head of academics. You’ll want to clearly understand what options are currently available to your child through the school and which external programs and courses are acceptable to the school. This person will be able to advise and guide you as you consider the best program for your child.

Considerations

When evaluating credit recovery and summer school programs, it’s important to consider certain factors to ensure your child has a valuable and rewarding experience.

Prioritize accreditation. Schools will most likely only accept credits from accredited programs, so it’s important to make this a top priority. Accreditation ensures that the program meets rigorous educational standards and guarantees that the courses, curriculum, teachers, and overall experience are of the highest quality. By choosing an accredited program, you can have confidence that you are making the right choice for your child’s educational journey.

Consider pacing, format, and delivery of the programs. Since the summer is usually shorter than a semester or grading period in a school setting, it is important to understand how your children are expected to complete the content in the time they have. Programs may be accelerated into a shorter, intensive course; however, these programs should not abridged. Your child should learn the same depth and breadth of content as they would during the school year.

Online credit recovery courses may allow your child to test out of modules or units of study that they have already mastered. However, this may not always be the case so it is important to consider the full time commitment and how this will work with your child’s other activities.

Summer courses may be delivered in person or online. Often, online courses provide additional flexibility and options for students and families. For one, they can be self-paced, meaning your child can complete them as quickly or slowly as needed. Consider your child’s learning style and the support they’ll have at home if you choose this option. Creating a plan to complete the content in the time they have is important to their success.

By embracing summer learning opportunities, your child can make significant progress in their academic journey, gain valuable skills, and confidently embrace the challenges that lie ahead in the upcoming school year. With a flexible and self-paced summer program, your child can seamlessly balance their summer activities while continuing their education. Self-paced classes empower them to take control of their learning and make progress at a pace that works best for them.

Investigate selection of classes. Reviewing online course catalogs will allow you and your child to see the variety of options available to them. Whether they are recovering a credit or expanding their learning, the sky's the limit!

In summary, nearly all students are eligible for credit recovery programs or can benefit from extended learning beyond their school’s course offerings. Discuss options and questions with your school, then dive into the options available to your child to meet your family’s needs and goals.

Ready to explore credit recovery and summer learning options?