Updated 07/05/2011 11:10 PM
Students Head Back To Class For Summer School
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Summer school officially kicked off Tuesday for thousands of kids across the city.
The city Department of Education says 34,069 students from third to eighth graders will have to attend summer school this year, up from about 23,000 last year.
In a follow-up to a NY1 exclusive, Bronx valedictorian Lashawna Cromwell shares how she feels after she and eight classmates from the Performance Conservatory School learned they were missing credits, could not graduate and had to attend summer school.
Although the official results will not be out for another few weeks, students who score a level one or two out of four on state English and math exams must attend summer school or repeat a grade.
"It's a disappointment but he has to make it to fifth grade so we are going to have to do what he has to do. So no summer fun for him, he has to go to summer school," said parent Donnalee Simon.
At the Boys and Girls High School in Brooklyn, classes really got off with a bang as some students set off fireworks inside the school's entranceway.
The principal later told NY1 it was all caught on surveillance camera and that the students responsible will be suspended.
Summer classes for elementary and middle school students go through August 4.
High school classes go through August 16.
Meantime, the city has chopped the number of places where kids can get a free meal this summer.
Read New Yorkers' reactions to the dramatic increase in the number of students requiring summer school this year.
Currently, there are more than 1,000 locations throughout the city that offer free breakfast and lunch to anyone 18 and under.
Some of the sites though are restricted to only children enrolled in summer school or day camp.
Of the locations that are not restricted, the city will cut nearly a quarter from 478 sites to 372.
The DOE's spokeswoman says the department is only closing sites that have seen a low turnout and adds, "We have recommended 10,000 more students in summer school this year and we anticipate serving more meals at locations where these children will be. Our goal is to serve as many children as possible and keeping underutilized locations open doesn't make sense."
For locations and other information, call 311.