Summer school sets sail in Sonoma

Almost 1000 students are participating in summer school classes in the Sonoma Valley Unified School District in the weeks ahead.

According to Sydney Smith, who oversees the district’s wide range of summer school options, many are English learners and special education students, who benefit greatly from an expanded school year. “Some are students who need credit recovery opportunities in order to graduate on time, while some need a boost before plunging into Algebra 1, and some are kids who want to accelerate,” she explained.

“We are being true to what research and exemplary similar school districts tell us to do: We are responding to the results of our data by asking questions about which students need additional learning opportunities, which instructional practices are the best to meet their needs and further, how we can extend learning for those students who are proficient and advanced.” Smith added that the district is proud of its summer programs and the support that they provide to its students.