Dist. 211 expands freshman program

Math teachers at Schaumburg High School say students selected and enrolled in the Incoming Freshman Academy were doing better academically compared with students who chose not to attend the summer program.

That's one of the reasons Palatine-Schaumburg High School District 211's incoming superintendent, Nancy Robb, wanted to make the academy mandatory for students the district felt needed a skill boost in reading, writing and math.

"I think we have the data to show it's been successful in the past," Robb said at Thursday night's board meeting.

Not only did the board approve making the summer program mandatory for selected students, they also waived the $30 course cost and the $35 transportation cost for the now three-week program, which will be renamed the Incoming Freshman Summer School Initiative. Waiving the tuition of the program will cost the district $59,525. In the past the program has spanned six weeks. The changes start in 2009.

Last year 867 incoming freshmen were invited, but only 64 percent, or 555 students, enrolled, Robb said. That represented an increase in participation, as prior years only 53 percent to 56 percent of selected students chose to enroll, Robb added.

The students picked for the academy often could read only at a fourth- or fifth-grade level, Robb said.

Robb said she wanted to make the program mandatory last year, but two of the district's five schools lacked enough classrooms. The districtwide construction program has taken care of that.

Though the board unanimously approved the action, board member Bill Lloyd asked if the district should look at extending the program to be yearlong for at-risk students. Robb said the district had not considered that but could in the future.