WATERLOO -- Summer break has barely gotten under way, but hundreds of students returned to class Monday for another six weeks of school.

Seven different programs are serving more than 800 elementary, middle and high school students with enrichment, remedial and recreational activities during June and July. The programs are taking place at five different schools and the University of Northern Iowa's Center for Urban Education in downtown Waterloo.

The District A.M. Academic Program is the core of summer school, with almost 500 students enrolled at Longfellow and Irving elementaries and Central Middle School. At the elementaries, the program focuses on students from across Waterloo Community Schools who are entering third through sixth grades. The Central program is for district students going into seventh, eighth and ninth grades who are below or just above proficiency standards on the Iowa Tests of Basic Skills.

John Van Pelt, the district's associate superintendent for educational services, said certain students were targeted for the voluntary program.

"Some students simply need more time and more direct assistance to learn what they need to learn, and that's the students we're focusing on," he said. During the school year, that additional help is provided through initiatives at two schools and the extended day program at all district elementary and middle schools.

The idea was piloted at Longfellow Elementary School last summer in a program that drew about 120 students.

"When we piloted the Longfellow program, we probably had students from four different schools," said Van Pelt. This year, at the elementary level "we are pulling students from 13 different sites, all but Cunningham," which starts its regular classes in July on a year-round schedule. The Central program also draws students from all four district middle schools.

In the afternoon, students going into sixth through ninth grades can take part in the ECHOES enrichment and recreational program at Central. The program starts next Monday and is expected to draw some of the morning program students.

This will actually be the third year that the after-school program has offered the summer activities, which range from cooking to leadership training to soccer.

"We're in the registration process right now and, as with all our ECHOES programs, we will continue to accept kids throughout the program," said Program Director Chris Francis. "However, classes are filling up."

He noted the majority of students who have signed up so far are "not involved in the district's A.M. program."

A number of specialized summer programs also are being held during the mornings, most of which have been offered in past years.

A program for 40 English language learners started June 7 at West High School and ends June 29. ELL programs started Monday for 38 students at Irving, 36 at Longfellow and 19 at Central.

A program for 70 special needs students in kindergarten through 12th grade also is being held at Central.

Logan Middle School is hosting two programs. Gear Up's Summer Adventures in Learning is serving 70 Logan honor roll and gifted students. It also is offering supplemental educational services for 30 seventh- and eighth-graders who will be held back unless they successfully complete the program.

Another 40 district students are attending UNI-CUE Academy, which is open to those across Black Hawk County enrolled in the Talent Search program.

Van Pelt noted that in past years individual schools have offered special summer programs. But this is the first time where a "district-sponsored program that had reading and math" has been offered recently.

The last time a similarly sized summer school program began was 12 years ago. About 600 elementary to high school students attended classes at Central Middle School that encompassed preschoolers, the Title I reading program and the talented and gifted program. It ended after two years, though, due to the expense.

This year, the district is spending $150,000 on the academic programs, which includes transportation, teacher's salaries and program materials. The ECHOES program is spending $80,000, which comes from its grant funding.