The Summer Solution

8-30-99 Hartford Courant
"Standards Across State Grow Clearer, Tougher"
[Connecticut state standards push teachers to be accountable.]
http://www.middleweb.com/MGN907.html#anchor4905619

9-5-99 Hartford Courant
"Summer School: Hardly Magic"
[Effectiveness of summer programs to end middle school social promotion questioned.]
http://www.courant.com/news/archive/Sep4-ctnews4.stm

9-2-99 New York Times (may require free registration)
"Most Assigned To Summer School Will Not Be Promoted"
[NYC school chancellor reneges on optimism of two weeks ago; more than 21,000 will repeat.]
http://www.nytimes.com/library/national/regional/090299summer-school-edu.html

9-3-99 New York Times (may require free registration)
"Mandatory Summer School Flunked In Student Counting"
[NYC attendance records flawed for 35,000 third, sixth and eighth graders.]
http://www.nytimes.com/library/national/regional/090399ny-summer-school-edu.html

9-3-99 New York Daily News
"City's Schools Scurry To Fit Repeaters In"
[Little room available for hundreds of middle schoolers who were denied promotion.]
http://www.nydailynews.com/1999-09-03/News_and_Views/City_Beat/a-39598.asp?last6days=1

9-2-99 San Francisco Chronicle
"Summer School Flip-Flop Draws Fire In Oakland"
[Oakland school officials will promote thousands of students who failed to show for "mandatory" summer school.]
http://www.sfgate.com/cgibin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/1999/09/02/MN16466.DTL

8-18-99 New York Times
"Chicago Provides Model in Summer School's Use"
[Profiles success of eighth graders in Chicago's summer school program.]
http://www.nytimes.com/library/national/081899chicago-school-edu.html

8-17-99 New York Times
"Suit Threatened Over School Promotion Rules"
[Advocacy groups say NYC school board failed to follow own regulations; sixth and eighth graders affected.]
http://www.nytimes.com/library/national/regional/081799nyc-school-promotion-edu.html

8-13-99 Chicago Tribune
"Summer School Strides In Chicago"
[Test scores up; superintendent proposes year-round school for middle schoolers.]
http://chicagotribune.com/news/metro/chicago/article/0,2669,SAV-9908130240,FF.html

8-10-99 Chicago Sun-Times
"CHA Students Make The Grade In Summer Program"
[Most 8th graders in Chicago Housing Authority tutoring program improved enough to attend high school.]
http://www.middleweb.com/MGN817.html#anchor30363334

8-8-99 The Oregonian
"Summer Classes Build Skills of Youngest Kids"
[Not a middle grades story, but a thorough look at summer school trends among elementary schools in Oregon and the U.S.]
http://www.oregonlive.com:80/news/99/08/st080811.html

8-3-99 New York Times
"Optimism And Anxiety As Test Time Draws Near"
[Summer school snarls notwithstanding, NYC sixth and eighth graders may still be held back if they do not pass exams.]
http://www.nytimes.com/library/national/regional/080399nyc-summerschool-edu.html

8-4-99 Education Week
"Summer School In New Orleans: Serious Business In The Big Easy"
[Middle schoolers enjoy creative lessons, but city may opt for drill next summer if failure rate is high on state assessments.]
http://www.edweek.org/ew/vol-18/43orlean.h18

8-6-99 The Oregonian
"Summer School May Be Out For Good"
[Budget constraints could eliminate successful summer program for middle grades.]
http://www.oregonlive.com:80/news/99/08/st080602.html

8-5-99 Seattle Times
"No More Carefree Summers?"
[Pressure on parents to find summer options for kids, including middle schoolers, increases.]
http://www.seattletimes.com/news/local/html98/altsumm_19990805.html

8-5-99 Boston Globe
"Summer School Works For Them"
[The Middle School Summer of Work and Learning helps students manage working and summer school.]
http://www.boston.com/dailyglobe2/217/metro/Summer_school_works_for_them+.shtml

8-5-99 Philadelphia Inquirer
"In Summer, The Students On Campus Are Younger Than Usual"
[Middle schoolers participate in unique summer college programs.]
http://www.phillynews.com/inquirer/99/Aug/05/city/COLL05.htm

7-28-99 New York Times (may require free registration)
"Summer School Enrollment Is Record For New York City"
[Among the 228,000 students are 37,500 in the third, sixth and eighth grades who must raise test scores or repeat grade.]
http://www.nytimes.com/library/national/regional/072899summer-attend-edu.html

7-26-99 Baltimore Sun
"Jobs Give Youths Pride"
[Middle schoolers gain job skills and new dreams in federal program.]
http://www.sunspot.net/cgi-bin/editorial/story.cgi?section=archive&storyid=1150100216487

7-25-99 Baltimore Sun
"Skills Blossom During Summer"
[Dyslexic middle school students receive multisensory tutoring and academic support in summer camps.]
http://www.sunspot.net/cgi-bin/editorial/story.cgi?section=archive&storyid=1150100215787

7-29-99 Detroit News
"Summer School--It's Not Just For Catching Up Anymore"
[Middle schoolers attend summer school for learning enrichment, as well as catching up.]
http://detnews.com:80/1999/classrooms/9907/29/07290036.htm

8-2-99 U.S. News & World Report
"Scholars of Summer"
[More schools opt for year-round schedule; junior high in Hawaii saw fights "plummet."]
http://www.usnews.com/usnews/issue/990802/summer.htm

8-2-98 St. Petersburg Times
"Summer School Called Students' Easy Way Out"
[Too many students use summer school as an excuse not to do their work in the regular academic year, some teachers in Florida say. (Story from last summer.)]
http://www.sptimes.com/Pasco/80298/Summer_school_called_.html

7-26-99 New York Post
"One In Three Skip Summer School"
[Many middle schoolers do not show up for "mandatory" summer school; many who do show up find less than cool conditions.]
http://www.nypostonline.com/news/11437.htm

7-20-99 The Oregonian
"Trading Sunshine For Knowledge"
[Middle school teacher says it's tough to get students up to standards in just six weeks.]
http://www.oregonlive.com:80/news/99/07/st072010.html

7-20-99 Detroit Free Press
"Making the Transition To High School"
[Eighth graders receive help through two innovative summer programs.]
http://www.freep.com/news/education/qkids20.htm

7-22-99 Los Angeles Times
"Creativity Reigns In Summer Enrichment Classes"
[Organizers of four-week program hope what middle schoolers learn will carry over into the new school year.]
http://www.latimes.com:80/excite/990722/tCB0052424.html

7-23-99 Chattanooga Times & Free Press
"Program Enriches Studying For Students"
[Sixth graders take advantage of free summer enrichment program as school prepares to become a technology magnet.]
http://www.timesfreepress.com/1999/JUL/23JUL99/FRIPIXSTORY.html

7-22-99 Sacramento Bee
"UCD Summer Camp Provides Fun Today, Tools For Tomorrow"
[Low income middle schoolers encouraged to think of themselves as college material.]
http://www.sacbee.com:80/news/news/local05_19990722.html

7-22-99 Binghamton Press
"Students Help Others In Hands-On Program"
[Middle school students volunteer for summer service learning.]
http://www.binghamtonpress.com:80/binghamtonnews/local/Thnews3.html

7-20-99 Chicago Tribune
"Students Learn Power Of Words"
[Teen writing group allows middle schoolers to hone creative writing skills outside of school.]
http://chicagotribune.com/news/metro/dupage/article/0,2669,SAV-9907200225,FF.html

7-19-99 The Oregonian
"Kids Try Space Travel On For Size At OMSI"
[Middle schoolers interest in space travel soars.]
http://www.oregonlive.com:80/news/99/07/st071903.html

7-21-99 Chicago Tribune
"Students Ready To Dig Up Secrets Of The Dinosaurs"
["This is kind of opening new ideas for me," says 13-year-old about program that sends inner-city children to Montana with noted paleontologist.]
http://chicagotribune.com/news/metro/chicago/article/0,2669,SAV-9907210205,FF.html

7-13-99 Long Beach Press-Telegram
"Programs Aim To Make Learning Fun, Exciting"
["Summer school mainly is designed for students who need to catch up,'' says middle school principal.]
http://www.middleweb.com/MGN721.html#anchor6260126

7-12-99 San Diego Union Tribune
"Freshmen Have To Make The Grade Or They're Out"
[Eighth graders beware: be prepared to succeed in ninth grade academics.]
http://www.middleweb.com/MGN721.html#anchor6270828

7-13-99 San Diego Union-Tribune
"Reality Bites San Diego Schools"
[San Diego Unified rethinking promotion policy with 2000-3000 per grade at risk for retention.]
http://www.middleweb.com/MGN721.html#anchor6285055

7-13-99 Boston Globe
"Summer School Start Brings Enthusiasm, Just A Little Chaos"
["I get to be with some friends," says middle schooler on attending summer school to boost skills.]
http://www.boston.com/dailyglobe2/194/metro/Summer_school_start_brings_enthusiasm_just_a_little_chaos+.shtml

7-16-99 Philadelphia Inquirer
"Medicine? Paleontology? This Summer School Isn't Such A Bitter Pill"
[At-risk sixth and seventh graders participate in a method usually reserved for gifted students.]
http://www.phillynews.com/inquirer/99/Jul/16/city/SKUL16.htm

7-18-99 New York Times (may require free registration)
"In Season Of Play, Pupils With Low Scores Struggle To Learn"
[New York students attend mandatory summer school to raise performance.]
http://www.nytimes.com/library/national/regional/071899ny-summer-edu.html

7-15-99 Baltimore Sun
"Summer School A Must As Standards Toughen"
[Middle schoolers attend summer school, including computer camps.]
http://www.sunspot.net/cgi-bin/editorial/story.cgi?section=archive&storyid=1150100211451

7-7-99 Christian Science Monitor
"Schools Not Out For Summer"
[Article highlights summer school programs across the US, including middle school efforts.]
http://www.csmonitor.com/durable/1999/07/07/p13s1.htm

7-8-99 The Baton Rouge Advocate
"After 5 Weeks Of Intensive Study, Students To Get LEAP Test Results"
[Louisiana eighth graders hit the books during summer in order to pass into next grade; now awaiting results of re-administered state test.]
http://www.theadvocate.com/news/story.asp?StoryID=7419

7-6-99 Philadelphia Daily News
"New Methods Give Students Opportunity To Think For Themselves"
["It's fun. Ain't nothing else to do at home," says seventh grader; students don't have to attend but can be held back if they don't.]
http://www.phillynews.com/daily_news/99/Jul/06/local/SKUL06.htm

7-12-99 Boston Globe
"Summer School Planning Criticized"
[Middle schoolers are required to attend summer school or repeat grade -- but transportation woes "could result in chaos."]
http://www.boston.com:80/dailyglobe2/193/metro/Summer_school_planning_criticized+.shtml

7-19-99 US News and World Report
"Waco Wages War Against Social Promotions"
[Waco implements efforts, including summer programs, to help struggling eighth graders to make it into high school.]
http://www.usnews.com:80/usnews/issue/990719/waco.htm

7-10-99 The Hartford Courant
"Schools Open, But Where Are The Students?"
[Only half the students who registered for summer school in Hartford showed up.]
http://www.courant.com/news/archive/Jul10-ctnews8.stm

6-30-99 Baltimore Sun
"Failing Pupils Targeted by State"
[Mandatory summer school for low-performing 8th graders proposed by Maryland State Board of Education; plan calls for major improvements in teacher training.]
http://www.sunspot.net/cgi-bin/editorial/story.cgi?section=archive&storyid=1150100203835

6-29-99 Seattle Times
"School Districts Try To Give Kids A 'Jump Start' On The Basics"
[Summer school intensifies in wake of low test scores in Everett, WA. "No field trips, no recess, no nonsense."
http://www.seattletimes.com/news/education/html98/summ_19990629.html

6-30-99 San Francisco Chronicle
"Third of Oakland Students Must Go To Summer Schools"
[Last year, "everybody got passed even if they failed everything,'' says seventh grader who has heard wake up call.]
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/1999/06/30/MNE49473.DTL

6-29-99 The Oregonian
"Summer School Makes A Strong Start"
[Voluntary program is for fifth-, sixth-, seventh- and eighth-grade students struggling to meet state benchmarks in reading, writing and math.]
http://www.oregonlive.com:80/news/99/06/st062906.html

6-28-99 Anchorage Daily News
"Kids Who 'Mess Up' Get Chance To Catch Up"
["I was snowboarding a lot," says middle school student. Legislature's mandates revived summer school program.]
http://www.adn.com:80/stories/T99062867.html

7-1-99 Columbus Dispatch
"College Camp Can Fire Up Interest"
[Recruitment-conscious colleges invite middle schoolers to summer camps.]
http://www.dispatch.com:80/pan/localarchive/campnws.html

6-27-99 (Massachusetts) Standard Times
"Project Gives Students A Lesson In Aquaculture"
["This is a nice way to get them to learn about something without reading it in a book," says middle school teacher.]
http://www.s-t.com/daily/06-99/06-27-99/c05lo091.htm

7-1-99 (Spokane) Spokesman-Review
"Students Building Chairs As Part Of Summer Program"
[Students work on fractions, construction and learn tips on how to sell the Adirondack chairs they're learning to build.]
http://www.spokane.net:80/news-story.asp?Date=070199&ID=s602164&cat=

6-24-99 Raleigh News-Observer
"Camp Gives Girls A Shot At Science"
[N.C. Girls in Science Summer Camp offers a science challenge to sixth grade girls.]
http://www.news-observer.com/daily/1999/06/24/tri05.html

6-23-99 Education Week
"Programs That Promote Summer Learning Gain Popularity"
[Once thought of as a punishment of sorts, summer-enrichment programs are gaining in popularity among parents and students.]
http://www.edweek.org/ew/vol-18/41summer.h18

6-21-99 Chattanooga Times & Free Press
"City Students Get Taste Of Country Life"
["It helps them get in touch with nature," says counselor in innovative program that exposes middle schoolers to a 300-acre "sustainable living demonstration plantation."]
http://207.69.235.40/news/today/Monday/June211999/CTStorym2kid621.html

6-21-99 Raleigh News-Observer
"Always The Season for Learning"
[Year-round schools a hot idea in North Carolina, even with middle schoolers.]
http://www.news-observer.com/daily/1999/06/21/tri09.html

6-27-99 The Oregonian
"1,155 Kids Defer Fun For More Class Time"
[Middle schoolers spend summer honing in on reading, writing, and math in wake of new state learning standards.]
http://www.oregonlive.com:80/news/99/06/st062709.html

6-21-99 Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
"Districts Beef Up Summer Classes to Make the Grade"
[With state standards adding pressure, schools try to boost summer programs' appeal.]
http://www.jsonline.com/news/metro/jun99/summer22062199a.asp

6-7-99 Corpus Christi Caller Times
"CCISD Summer Schools Target Culture, Job Skills"
[Middle schoolers' summer school options expand under unique program.]
http://www.caller.com/1999/june/07/today/local_ne/1558.html

6-17-99 Spokane Spokesman Review
"Girls Hone Science Skills, Mixing in Fun McMoments"
["It's cool," says 12-year-old of summer workshop designed to expose girls to science careers and to give them more hands-on lab experience.]
http://www.spokane.net:80/news-story-body.asp?Date=061799&ID=s595219&cat=

6-14-99 Hartford Courant
"School's In For Summer"
[Connecticut now requires schools in 14 urban school systems to phase in summer classes for sixth-graders failing the state exam beginning in 2000. Part of national trend.]
http://www.middleweb.com/MGN621.html#anchor5841925

6-14-99 Hartford Courant
"Social Promotions to End Gradually"
[Seventh graders urged to attend summer school even though they are "not in danger of repeating a grade." Superintendent eases standards.]
http://www.middleweb.com/MGN621.html#anchor5832200

6-17-99 Columbus Dispatch
"Central Ohio Schools Bet Practice Makes Proficiency"
[Some sixth graders who fail proficiency exam must pay for summer classes.]
http://www.dispatch.com:80/pan/localarchive/testinnws.html

6-10-99 Washington Post
"Summer School Boom"
[D.C.'s summer school policies are judged more "flexible" than Chicago's.]
http://www.WashingtonPost.com/wp-srv/WPlate/1999-06/10/055l-061099-idx.html

5-31-99 Hartford Courant
"More Pupils May Be Held Back"
[Seventh graders could face ultimatum: six weeks of summer school or repeat the grade.]
http://www.middleweb.com/MGN608.html#anchor4471295

6-2-99 The (Riverside CA) Press-Enterprise
"District Readies Remedial Academy"
[Eighth graders must bring up grades in summer school or be held back.]
http://www.middleweb.com/MGN608.html#anchor4393305

6-2-99 Columbus Dispatch
"Math Does A Number On Test Score"
[The many eighth graders in Columbus, Ohio who failed state math exam have slim chance of passing in the future, says testing director.]
http://libpub.dispatch.com/cgi-bin/slwebcli.pl?DBLIST=cd99&DOCNUM=11114