The summer school programs offered by Newton Learning, the summer school arm of Edison Schools,may soon become a thing of the past.
Under the education bill adopted by the Missouri State Legislature last week, schools will no longer be allowed to receive double funding for students who attend summer classes. The double funding was originally put in place to boost enrollment.
Students have been encouraged to attend by Newton Learning and some school districts through incentives, such as gifts. Because of the double payments, districts have not only been able to pay Newton, but also to make a nice profit from summer school.
Today's Kansas City Star says the changes will probably force districts to drop many of the enrichment aspects which have made summer school an attractive learning option in recent years and return to more what it has traditionally been in the past: a time to catch up on lost credits or to receive remedial attention.
Districts in this area that contract with Newton Learning include East Newton, Sarcoxie, and McDonald County.