Due to the coronavirus pandemic forcing schools to rapidly transition to online learning in the spring of 2020 and for many to remain online or hybrid through nearly the entire 2020-2021 school year, students have unsurprisingly suffered significant learning loss. Teachers and education officials are working to develop solutions to said learning loss. One that has been repeatedly suggested is summer school learning programs. In fact, in the American Rescue Plan, the Covid-19 relief package President Joe Biden signed in March, Congress set aside 1 percent of more than $122 billion in K-12 education funding for states specifically to support summer enrichment programs.
As school districts begin exploring summer school programs, and some even consider a transition to year round learning, this has the potential to once again put military students at a disadvantage. A permanent change in station (PCS) is common in the military with more than 400,000 service members PCS annually to new duty stations, both domestically and overseas. Roughly 60 percent of these moves take place during summer intentionally so families can be settled before the school year starts.
This places military children in a difficult position. If their family move is scheduled to take place this summer they could miss out on the opportunity districts are providing to combat learning loss.
This also raises many questions including, but not limited too; If a child moves from a district that isn't offering summer school to one that is, is enrollment required and necessary? If a child earns credit at summer school but then moves will the receiving district honor that credit? Can those credits put students ahead of others who are not able to attend summer school? Additionally, if a family is waiting on quarters, searching for a rental, or trying to buy a home, would the permanent address typically required to enroll a child in school be waived?
Finally, should these summer learning programs prove successful and districts elect to make them a regular option this could continuously put military connected students at a disadvantage year after year.
We are hopeful that education officials and lawmakers consider the implications summer learning programs would have on military students and how best to engage and meet their needs.