STORY BY MELODY XU, PHOTO BY EMILY MCNALLY

The Palo Alto Unified School District is expanding its summer school program to serve students facing “adverse learning and social-emotional circumstances.”

Funds for the program come from Assembly Bill 86 signed by Governor Newsom in early March, funding expanded learning opportunities grants for districts like PAUSD in serving student groups including low-income students, English learners and foster youth. 

According to the final plan presented at last night’s board meeting, PAUSD’s high school program will span six weeks of summer, throughout which credit recovery courses will allow students with insufficient credits to recover two courses per three-week session. 

Additionally, “kick-start” courses that come with credit are intended to “help students lighten the regular school year course load,” according to the plans. A variety of uncredited courses not typically offered — from public speaking to Shakespeare and acting workshops — will also be offered.

The final plan outlines around $7.2 million of planned expenditures in order to carry out this expanded program. 

The district plans to extend the program to 2022, and says decisions for that “will be determined at a later date and will reflect the needs of the students based upon the coming school year.”