Jefferson City News Tribune

September 27, 2005

Students in Miller and Moniteau counties improve in math, reading after summer session

Students in Miller and Moniteau counties have shown improvement in mathematics and reading after attending summer school program.

The Iberia R-V summer school students recorded an 82.6 percent improvement in reading and a 66.9 percent improvement in mathematics, and the Moniteau County R-VI students advanced 56.1 percent in reading and 50.7 percent in math, according to Newton Learning.

Newton Learning partnered with the Iberia and Moniteau County school districts in operating summer school programs, a relationship it had this year with 87 other Missouri school districts with a total summer school enrollment of almost 51,000 students.

Student achievement was evaluated in a criterion-referenced examination developed to measure specific student progress against summer school academic goals.

"The success of the Iberia and Moniteau County programs is a reflection of the school boards', administrations' and teachers' commitments to providing students with a summer school curriculum that encouraged thought and academic progress. We are very pleased with the results and these partnerships," said Larrie Reynolds, Newton Learning president.

Newton Learning is a private firm that specializes in conducting summer school and after-school learning programs.

It also works with school districts in meeting the requirements of No Child Left Behind, a federal program developed to elevate individual schools and school districts that do not achieve adequate yearly progress in their educational programs.