MUNCIE, Ind. – Tired of holding back dozens upon dozens of students, this summer, Muncie Community Schools is trying something new.
Transition Summer School was thought up two months ago and the district already has it up and running.
Muncie kindergartners and first-graders who aren’t quite ready to advance to the next grade are getting some extra help.
“All of them have knowledge – we just need to pull it out,” Southview Elementary School Principal Kara Miller said. “Some of them just need more time, more engaging activities. Some of them just need more practice.”
It’s a common reality for dozens of kids in Muncie. Nine months ago, 54 percent of kindergartners started the year behind where they originally should have been.
“There are kids that come into school that don’t know how to hold a pencil,” Miller said.
In the past, that would be a recipe to simply hold a student back. But not anymore.
The new remediation program lasts for six weeks. Every day, the kids come in to work on polishing up their knowledge.
“Hopefully the majority of these 76 students (here today) will be able to move on,” Miller said. “That is our goal.”
RELATED | Muncie schools broke, facing $11.5M shortfall | Schools cite tax-cap as big hurdle for funding
Muncie Community Schools is in a lot of debt right now. This new program, however, is being paid for with Title I funds, not through the district’s regular budget.
----
Follow Anne Kelly on Twitter: @annekellyrtv6 | Facebook: AnneKellyRTV6
