Record numbers of students succeed in summer school

As thousands of eager students entered the Fallbrook Union High School campus August 27 looking forward to nine months of classes, what amounted to a small and efficient smaller high school operation quietly assessed its near-record-breaking accomplishments over the summer.

In two 3-week sessions beginning June 18 and concluding July 26, while the lure of the beach and vacations consumed most Fallbrook teenagers, a FUHS summer school student body of nearly 1,400 students attended classes. All the essential elements of the school were in place, including transportation and food service that included breakfast.

Seven hundred students enrolled in the first session and all but a hundred students successfully completed courses and received credit for their classes. In the second session, 650 students enrolled and 560 received credit, says FUHS teacher Adam Dawson, who administered the summer school program as its principal. Although the attrition rate may appear alarming, Dawson points out that attendance in the accelerated classes is different than during the regular school year. Students who miss two class sessions are dropped.

Twenty-seven different classes were offered the first session, including five college prep remediation classes. Other courses included Driver’s Education, Physical Education, Restaurant Occupation, Computer Applications and Prep Honors/AP English class for incoming freshmen. Ten special education classes as well as a senior make-up class were also available.

“Seniors can make up any credit they need in order to meet graduation requirements,” Dawson says. Having the same offer in the second session permitted seniors to graduate on July 26.

The same classes were offered second session, with the addition of an English Language Development proficiency course to support limited English proficiency students. Dawson says the California English Language Development Test (CELDT) was administered to 420 limited English proficiency students during this period. The CELDT was taken by more than 1.3 million California English learners in kindergarten through grade twelve in the 2006-2007 school year.

Dawson says some kids took classes both sessions, but at least 40 percent were new to each. Concerning course choices, students who are credit-deficient have first option and students who received a “D” or an “F” in their original college prep classes can take a class over. A “C” grade or better is required for credit.

Thirty teachers credentialed to teach a given class subject were chosen from existing FUHS staff for the first session, followed by 26 teachers in the second session, Dawson says. “It was a quality staff,” he adds, dispelling the notion that summer school classes are taught by teachers who know little or nothing about the subject. “The teachers’ salary is good. We respect [their] time so we’ll pay.”

Dawson also commended the district administration for their assistance. “I got support from Chet Gannett and Jim Yahr particularly, who always took the time to be very helpful.”

This was the first time in a few years that a single administrator supervised the entire summer school program, although it has been done before. In previous years, assistant principals would oversee individual summer school sessions, Dawson says.

For Dawson overall, it was a good experience. He says he has a greater appreciation for teachers as a result. “I’d love to do it again.”

FUHS Principal Rod King commended Dawson, saying, “Adam is great with communication. [He is] very diligent and followed through on everything.”

Adam Dawson is in his fourth year at FUHS as a North County Regional Special Education teacher who works with emotionally disturbed children. He has a Master’s Degree in special education and an Administration Certificate. He graduated from Sacred Heart College in Connecticut and taught in the South Bronx before moving to California. Employment at Fallbrook High School is his first teaching job in the state.