A whole lot of elementary school and middle school students, about 50 percent more than last year, are going to be hitting the books this summer according to the Department of Education. How many? An estimated 34,000, up from 22,800 kids last year, which was already more than double the number of kids enrolled in the summer of 2009.

"Before promoting any of these students to the next grade, we need to make sure they have mastered the skills needed to succeed," city Schools Chancellor Dennis Walcott explained.

The number for students who need summer remediation is only an estimate because summer school is required for kids who score a Level 1 (out of 4) in the state's math and English exams, and the results of those tests aren't available until July. However! Since the DOE grades its own tests, it can already make a projection of who will need summer studies to move forward. So that is what it does.

Of course last year, using the same system, the DOE's estimates were wildly off base. The Department suggested 22,800 kids stay in school for the summer, though it turned out 31,000 kids bombed the test. Those kids who needed the extra tutoring but weren't told to stay for summer school were promoted anyway (and the same thing will happen this year if more kids than expected fail their exams).

The city currently runs 369 summer school programs, down from 562 in 2008. This year the program should cost $51 million, up $4 million from last year. Chump change when you consider how much the DOE spends on consultants.