Gilmer High’s summer school program helped 22 students regain lost credits and they are now back on track to graduate on time.
The COVID-19 pandemic often wreaked havoc on schedules of students who attended in-person instruction, as well as those who learned virtually. Quarantines and positive cases led to more absences and missed assignments, and principal Carla Foley enacted summer school for the first time in the six years she has held the position.
“What we were offering is what is called a ‘credit recovery course,’” Foley said. “Teachers who taught the classes went into the standards and curriculum to see the most important skills a student needs to master within the content.
“The state filtered funds to the schools, and we got some additional Cares Act money that was really geared to closing those gaps for students who have been out of school because of COVID. We had a larger number than normal of students who failed at least one class. I wanted to give them the opportunity to make up that credit over the summer.”
In years past, students who failed a class attended the Mountain Education Center to make it up. Students learned all of the material from start to finish over an 18-week period, same as they would in a regular class during the school year.
This summer, classes were held at GHS from June 7-24 and taught by its staff. To be eligible, students needed a grade of at least 50 and could only make up core classes they failed the previous school year.
“With a 50 (as a starting point), it showed me they at least got something out of the class previously and to do the three-week summer school credit recovery made sense,” Foley said. “It’s not for a kid who made a 15 in a class. You’re not going to sit there for 18 weeks and not do anything then come for three weeks in the summer and get credit for the class.
“Teachers retaught the skills during that three-week period and did assessments along the way to make sure students were meeting the standards. At the end of the three weeks when they had demonstrated mastery of those standards, the student earned credit for the class.”
Twenty-two GHS students took advantage of the credit recovery program, and all regained credits lost. Foley plans to keep the program in place going forward.
“I really would like to do this every year,” she said. “It’s really good for the students who are right on the cusp. Some kids had a 65, 67 or 68 in a class they were so close to passing. If we can provide the opportunity for them to get the credit without starting over from scratch, I think that’s better for the kids.”