In a month, school will be out for the summer… and it’s time for summer school.

The Warren County School District is again offering summer programs at no cost this year.

Summer school for students in grades six through 12 will begin on June 13. They will be offered virtually. High school courses must be completed by August 5. College courses must end before July 29.

The district is working to make up for lost time due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We want to fill learning gaps and also help any student who fails a course during the 2021-22 school year,” said Eric Mineweaser, director of curriculum, instruction and assessment. “The goal is to help them get that credit back.”

Making up for a failed course or making up for a learning loss due to COVID aren’t the only reasons students may choose to participate.

“We had several students who took a summer course as an enrichment,” said Mineweaser. “Students like to take a course in the summer to free up time during their school year.

The following courses are available for credit recovery: English 9, 10, 11, 12; United States History I, II; The history of the world; economy (half credit); US government (half credit); Algebra IA, IB, II; Geometry; Consumer Mathematics; Biology; environmental sciences; Chemistry; and Physics.

The list of courses available for initial credit includes all credit recovery offerings plus: Mythology and Folklore; Criminology; History of the Holocaust; Forensic Sciences I; veterinary biology; forensic science II; Astronomy I; Health; physical education I, II; and Computer Literacy (all half-credit); and Algebra ICP and Marine Science (full credit).

Course descriptions for core content courses can be found at www.wcsdpa.org/Page/1089.

Students cannot take more than one initial course credit. “Students in credit recovery courses may take one credit at a time, but add credits after the course is completed, time permitting,” said Mineweaser.

College summer courses are not available for credit.

“Any sixth- through eighth-grade student with an unsuccessful cumulative score in a physical or virtual core content course is eligible to enroll in virtual summer school…to complete courses to fill gaps in learning”, said Mineweaser.

Only core content courses — math, science, language arts, and social studies — are available.

For those who have never taken an online course before, there is virtual orientation training on the student dashboard.

Registration forms are available and can be completed online by visiting www.wcsdpa.org. Completed forms must be received by June 6. Anyone who encounters barriers to registration can call (814) 723-0574 ext. 1701. The district will work with individual students if laptops are required. Access points will not be provided.

The primary summer program is different.

“The Warren County School District will host 21st Century Half-Day Summer Programs for elementary school students (K-5) and middle school students (6-8) at Beaty-Warren Middle School from July 11 to August 5, Elementary education supervisor Lynn Shultz said. “For students attending the 21st Century Elementary Program, a Learning Enrichment Afternoon Program (LEAP) will also be offered. Please feel free to contact 21st Century Program Manager Chris Haslett for more information about 21st Century at haslettc@wcsdpa.org.

The district plans to offer programs to address learning gaps among elementary students, Shultz said.