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58,000 Philly students took part in expanded summer-school program

School for thousands of Philadelphia students was not out this past summer. Roughly 58,000 kindergarten through 12th-grade students attended the expanded summer-school program called SLAM in July, David Weiner, associate superintendent for curriculum and accountability, said yesterday during a presentation to the School Reform Commission.

Teacher Theo Wood hands out food items so students can match them to their English words in their workbooks. The language class was part of their day in the district's 2010 summer program.
Teacher Theo Wood hands out food items so students can match them to their English words in their workbooks. The language class was part of their day in the district's 2010 summer program.Read moreMICHAEL S. WIRTZ / Staff Photographer
    by DAFNEY TALES
    Published 

School for thousands of Philadelphia students was not out this past summer.

Roughly 58,000 kindergarten through 12th-grade students attended the expanded summer-school program called SLAM in July, David Weiner, associate superintendent for curriculum and accountability, said yesterday during a presentation to the School Reform Commission.

Weiner said that 597 students graduated as a result of this year's Summer Learning and More program.

The district also saw an increase in teachers who showed up for summer school, Weiner said.

Of the district's 11,000 teachers, 35 percent taught summer classes, double from two years ago, he said. Weiner said the boost was due in part to the teachers-union contract, which extended the school year into July.

The summer program cost $42 million, half paid by federal stimulus dollars, half by state grants, Weiner said.

Academically, participants showed more gains in reading and math in tests given in September than students who were not in the summer program.

    DT
    DAFNEY TALES