Summer Rising, a summer program for K-8 students in New York City, has been facing challenges with attendance this year, leaving many taxpayers questioning where the $350 million allocated for the program has gone. Teachers and administrators have reported that only a fraction of the 110,000 registered students are showing up each day, while tens of thousands of others remain on the waitlist. The program hired more teachers than necessary for the low attendance, leading to the need to consolidate classes and potentially release teachers due to the lack of students.
According to an email shared by Educators of NYC, the citywide program has been struggling with poor attendance despite efforts to reach out to families. Many classes have had to be consolidated, with remaining teachers being required to handle multiple subjects or grades. One anonymous middle school teacher mentioned that he only receives four out of 16 students in his course each day, attributing the low attendance to boring exams and decreased field trips. Additionally, the quality of the program varies between different community-based organizations running the recreational activities at each site.
While attendance tends to be better among younger students, older students who are mandated to attend Summer Rising due to academic setbacks often have to share classes with those who do not need the extra help. The Department of Education claimed that this year’s attendance is comparable to last year’s, but did not provide specific numbers. Parents have expressed concern about not being informed about new spots opening up for enrollment off the waitlist. Summer Rising was initiated in 2021 with federal COVID-19 stimulus funds but faced budget cuts when the funds ran out. The program was later supported with taxpayer dollars after concerns were raised.
Experts had warned about the financial sustainability of programs like Summer Rising that rely on non-recurring funding. While the program aimed to address learning loss during the pandemic, there are doubts about its effectiveness in achieving that goal. Instead, it has increased baseline spending without clear outcomes to show for it. Despite the challenges faced by Summer Rising this year, the Department of Education continues to provide support to program teams and school leaders as needed. The future of the program remains uncertain as it navigates through attendance issues and funding concerns.
