Policies and Standards for Summer School Programs

PURPOSE: This rule establishes policies and standards for public school districts and charter schools which choose to conduct summer school programs that will qualify for state aid in accordance with Chapter 163, RSMo. (1) Summer school programs, approved by the local board of education, may be held any time between the close of the regular school term and the beginning of the next regular school term. School districts with a “year-round” regular term schedule may conduct an approved component of summer school during the breaks in the regular term. A summer school program consists of a planned schedule of course offerings for Missouri domiciled students at the elementary or high school level. An approved summer school program for students without disabilities must be in session for at least one hundred twenty (120) clock hours. Summer school programs for students with disabilities are to be aligned to the Individualized Education Program (IEP). (2) A school board may authorize the operation of summer school programs at the elementary or high school level, or both. Minimum clock hours for programs are included in section (1). An elementary summer school program may include any combination of grades kindergarten through eight (K–8). A high school summer school program may include any combination of grades seven through twelve (7–12). A school district or charter school may operate one (1) or more summer school programs at any level. Minimum clock hours apply to each program. Schools may “stack” a variety of classes to meet the requirement of one hundred twenty (120) clock hours. Under the “stacking” method, typically sixty (60) hours of instruction are offered at the elementary level with sixty (60) hours of instruction offered at the secondary level for a combined total of one hundred twenty (120) clock hours. The clock hours of regular summer school classes may be combined with the clock hours of special education extended school year programs to reach the one hundred twenty (120) clock hour requirement. With the exception of special education programs, individual courses or segments consist of a minimum of thirty (30) hours. Minimum time requirements exclude break time and lunch time. School districts with “yearround” regular term schedules may include instructional hours offered in a structured summer school program held during breaks in the regular term. (A) Title I summer school hours may not be used in the “stacking” method per federal law. (3) The curriculum in an approved summer school program at any level includes one (1) or more of the following academic areas as the major portion of the clock hours of instruction in the program: elementary school—language arts, mathematics, science, social studies; and high school—language arts, mathematics, science, social studies, practical arts. (A) Any course which may be offered in the regular school term may be approved for summer school with the exception of physical education hours that do not count as credit toward graduation for students in grades nine (9), ten (10), eleven (11) and twelve (12). Special approval must be requested for summer school courses that would require special approval during the regular term. (B) Activities such as gymnastics, weight lifting, tennis, and swimming lessons conducted under the sponsorship of the school cannot be included as part of the approved summer school program unless they are an integral part of a comprehensive physical education course which is part of the scheduled clock hours of instruction in the approved summer school program. (C) Non-curricular programs such as camps and athletic practices may be offered but not included in clock hour requirements or for summer school membership and/or the associated attendance hours for state aid purposes. (4) The attendance of resident students between the ages of six and twenty (6–20) in grades one through twelve (1–12) and students who are eligible to attend kindergarten the next fall (must be five (5) years old before the first day of August of the school year beginning in that calendar year) may be counted for summer school state aid purposes in accordance with Chapter 163, RSMo. (5) Summer school teachers must have valid Missouri teacher certification. (6) Summer school program applications and reports shall be submitted in a form and at a time as may be required by Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE). AUTHORITY: sections 161.092(2), 163.011, 163.031, 167.227, and 178.280, RSMo 2016, and section 163.021(2), RSMo Supp. 2018.* This rule previously filed as 5 CSR 50-340.050. Original rule filed May 14, 1971, effective May 24, 1971. Rescinded and readopted: Filed Nov. 15, 1977, effective Feb. 15, 1978. Amended: Filed Aug. 12, 1983, effective Dec. 12, 1983. Amended: Filed May 11, 1995, effective Dec. 30, 1995. Amended: Filed Jan. 16, 2008, effective Aug. 30, 2008. Moved to 5 CSR 20-100.160, effective Aug. 16, 2011. Amended: Filed Sept. 20, 2018, effective May 30, 2019. *Original authority: 161.092(2), RSMo 1963, amended 1973, 2002, 2003, 2013, 2014; 163.011, RSMo 1963, amended, 1967, 1973, 1977, 1982, 1985, 1986, 1988, 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2001, 2002, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2014, 2015, 2016; 163.021(2), RSMo 1963, amended 1973, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1988, 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2005, 2006, 2015, 2018; 163.031, RSMo 1963, amended 1965, 1967, 1969, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1982, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1993, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2000, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2009, 2014, 2015, 2016; 167.227, RSMo 1990; and 178.280, RSMo 1963, amended 1973, 1977.