Several parents in the Bronx are voicing
confusion over the city’s newly announced summer school program.
Sarah Nasson has four daughters who are all in elementary school.
She and her husband also work full-time.
Nasson tells News 12 that when she heard about the Department of Education’s Summer Rising program, she felt excited to have
a free option where her children could continue learning while she worked.
However, obtaining a slot wasn’t so simple. Nasson’s children were put on a waitlist due to high
demand.
"I've been in a bit of a panic because we're now less than two weeks from when the program was
supposed to start. School… ends next Friday,” says Nasson.
Other
parents voiced their frustrations about being waitlisted on Twitter.
One parent says the Department of
Education put her son on a waitlist and she has no idea what to do
because their family really needed the program.
Another parent tweeted, “I applied to my son’s school on
the first day of application and was waitlisted. All the schools within my son’s reach are
waitlisted.”
Instead of waiting, Nasson began researching summer programs as a last resort
despite the high costs.
"We had looked into summer camps and
things...and when we're looking at thousands and thousands of dollars a month,
my husband and I were discussing and it's like...I might have to leave my job,”
says the mother of four.
News 12 was told the Summer Rising program was able to accept all of Nasson’s
daughters, and she understands that it’s a new program that may experience
“some growing pains.”
According to the Department of
Education, “Every family who is interested will have a seat.” A
representative also tells News 12 all families will receive an application
status update by the end of the week, and programs were added on an ongoing
basis since late April.