by James A. Bacon

It’s a drop in the bucket compared to what’s needed, but it’s the right priority. The Youngkin administration is awarding $7.7 million in state grants to support year-round and extended-year instructional programs in 44 schools in five school divisions.

“Extended-year and year-round school programs provide consistent and structured learning environments for our students to succeed,” said Superintendent of Public Instruction Jillian Balow in a press release. “Extending the school year or adopting a year-round calendar are research-backed strategies to put students on the road to recovering learning lost due to the extended closure of schools during the pandemic.”

The General Assembly created the Extended School Year Grant Program in 2013 in response to a study which found that achievement of underperforming students improved faster in extended-year programs.

Balow urged school districts to use their nearly $2 billion in unspent federal pandemic-relief funds to supplement the state grants or to provide intensive tutoring for students who fell the furthest behind during the COVID-19 pandemic. “The need is urgent and our students can’t wait.”

The five school divisions include Hampton, Newport News, Roanoke, Salem, and Waynesboro. Newport News was the biggest recipient by far, netting $5 million of the total.

Bacon’s bottom line: School districts should institutionalize extended or year-round programs for students who didn’t meet the criteria for moving up to the next grade. Once upon a time we had “summer school.” I’m not sure what happened to it. But it is folly to socially promote kids in the hope that after failing one grade they will miraculously catch up after moving to the next grade. No, it makes far more sense to give kids a chance to catch up during special summer-time sessions dedicated to that purpose.