SAUGUS — Middle-high school principal Brendon Sullivan sent out a letter in February informing families that the school will not be offering Credit Recovery Summer School for its high school students this summer. Instead, the school is offering another option.
Saugus High School is continuing its Saturday Online “Grade Recovery” Intervention Program, and hosting it in person this spring.
Any SHS student who scored a 64 or below in English, Math, Science, or Social Studies during Term 3 is eligible to participate in this grade-recovery program.
The duration of the program is six weeks, and students are required to attend at least four out of the six sessions. They will be removed from the rolls after their third missed session.
The sessions began Saturday, April 30 and will run every Saturday until June 11.
Students must earn a passing grade of 80 and must have 12 active working hours in the program in order for their Term 3 grade to be changed to a 65.
No summer credit recovery options meant students who failed classes during the school year wouldn’t be able to make up the course for credit during an abbreviated summer session.
“Our mission is to provide the highest quality education during the nine and a half months that school is in session,” Sullivan said in the letter. “It is impossible to provide that same level of quality during a brief summer session.”
With the grade recovery program, students have extended time instruction on Saturday mornings from 8 a.m. to noon, to “help struggling students find success in English, Math, Science, or Social Studies,” stated a school explanation of the program.
Students are able to earn a 65 in the assigned subject area for Term 3 — which does not impact Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association eligibility — to help them get on track to pass the course for the year.
“This is a great opportunity for students, as there is no summer school to make up courses,” stated the explanation.
“Teachers, administrators, counselors, and paraprofessionals work hard each day to help all students to succeed,” Sullivan previously said. “However, you (the student) must do your part. Remember, this is your education; you must own it. Even if you are behind at the moment, I know with effort and determination, you can still succeed. It will not be easy, but few worthwhile things in life come easily.”
Allysha Dunnigan can be reached at [email protected].