Summer school tuition will increase 18.75 percent next summer, a jump that state officials say will help save summer classes.

The state Board of Education approved the $30 hike—bringing tuition to $190 in summer 2011—at a meeting Thursday. It is the first time the board increased tuition since a $35 jump in 2002.

Board member John Penebacker criticized the fee increase, saying it would hurt struggling students the school board is trying to help, along with parents with multiple children.

“;A lot of kids are going to fail because of their inability to pay,”; he said.

But board member Maggie Cox supported the hike, saying principals do not have the funds to pay for summer programs and are threatening to cancel them.

“;We are trying to make the best choice of the lousiest options there are,”; Cox said. “;If we don't help them out, we're going to have less and less summer schools.”;

A Board of Education committee that studied the issue reported that summer programs are struggling to pay for themselves and facing increased student-to-teacher ratios.

The committee report said the hike would help summer programs attract better teachers and directors, keep pace with payroll increases and help more schools offer summer school.

It said the average cost per student in summer school is $220, before supplies. Despite that, school officials told the board on Thursday that summer programs could continue for a few more years at the $190 rate.