May 23, 2008 5:01 pm US/Pacific
CBS13 Asks: Who Has Priority For Summer Classes?
SACRAMENTO (CBS13) ―
Local schools are running out of money and many are cutting summer school classes. Tonight, CBS13 asks the questions – Who gets priority?
Wrapping up his junior year at Encina High School, Jonathon Gonzalez is finishing on a low.
"I understand some of it but there are some words I just don't know," he says.
Learning English as his second language, the 16-year-old says he struggled, failing both World and American History.
"I want to go to summer school so I can get those credits," says Jonathon.
But Jonathon's hopes of regaining those credits could just be a dream and not a reality.
"They may revise the cuts for the summer school programs have come to fruition."
Cuts Melissa Bassanelli says make it even harder for students to go to summer school and get credits needed for graduation.
"We have pulled the rug from underneath students. So we are able to provide a program that accommodates some students but not all," she explains.
This gives priority to students who need to pass the California High School Exit Exam first, and then to students who failed classes.
And Melissa says this puts a strain on those who do not get in.
"We are probably going to see the fullest classes we've seen in summer school yet," she explains.
Meanwhile, students like Gonzalez wait to find out if they've made the grade to even get into summer school.
"I don't know yet, I hope so," says Jonathon.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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