The number of city kids sent to summer school this year is way down for the second year in a row, but that's not necessarily a good thing. NY1's Lindsey Christ filed the following report.
Just days after walking out of school, thousands of students are walking back in, and most are not thrilled about it.
Their parents, however, see the value of summer school.
"She might not be too happy, but I'm happy that she's going to get the extra help that she needs," said one parent.
Under Mayor Bill de Blasio, the number of students getting that extra help is down 57 percent. De Blasio ended the controversial Bloomberg-era policy that forced students who failed statewide tests to repeat a grade or pass summer school. Under de Blasio, principals and teachers decide who needs the extra month of school.
The number of students attending summer sessions was supposed to stay the same, but the new numbers show that's not happening.
More than 32,000 students in third through eighth grades attended summer school in Michael Bloomberg's last year as mayor. That number dropped to about 22,500 students last year and to less than 19,500 this year.
Parents bringing their children to the first day of summer classes in East Harlem Wednesday said they're grateful their kids are getting extra help.
"It's a better program for him, and it's something that he needs so he can be successful," said one parent.
The plunging summer school enrollment would make sense if city students were doing better during the regular school year, but nobody is claiming that's the case.
Last year, just 29 percent of third through eighth graders passed the state reading exam, and 35 percent passed the math exam. This year's test results are expected later this summer.
Thousands of high school students who have fallen behind on credits are also attending summer school, and tens of thousands of elementary- and middle-school students are expected to take advantage of free summer enrichment programs.
They'll have plenty of space in those schools, with nearly 13,000 fewer elementary- and middle-school kids sent to summer school compared to two years ago.