Fewer students signed up this year to participate in the Guam Department of Education's summer school program.

According to Joshua Blas, a project lead for GDOE's classrooms support and academic interventions project, about 4,500 students from all grade levels are slated to begin summer classes Monday, which is a decrease of about 1,500. He told KUAM News that 6,000 students were enrolled last summer.

Blas explained the reasoning behind the decline.

"I think because last year was the first time students were actually getting ready to come back face to face for this coming school year so it was an opportunity for students to adjust getting back to face to face," he said. "This year we're really focusing on the students who really need interventions and we want to bring them up to grade level and really address all those needs to support them as a result of the instructional time lost as a result of the pandemic."

Blas said GDOE has the manpower to support students enrolled this year.

"So we do have enough teachers to support our summer school program," he said. "We also have the support from our teacher assistants and community program aides who are also on board to support all our students in summer school."

The first bell to ring for summer school is on June 13.