With no state money in sight for the eight Governor's Schools of Excellence this summer, four programs are stepping in to help fill the gap.

Though none of them can be called Governor's Schools, these four programs, each with a focus similar to governor's schools, are expected to be offered.

Like the governor's schools, they are residential programs for high school students. Unlike the governor's schools, at least some will charge tuition and some last less than five weeks.

The fate of the prestigious governor's schools has been in jeopardy since Gov. Ed Rendell eliminated the $3.2 million to fund them in his budget proposal in February. His decision brought protests from thousands of alumni who say the highly competitive programs are life-changing experiences.

The list of alternative programs for this summer includes:

• The University of Pittsburgh Health Career Scholars Academy, a four-week program, which will charge a to-be-announced tuition.

• The Pennsylvania School for Global Entrepreneurship at Lehigh University, a five-week program that will charge $2,950. Lehigh plans to offer 10 scholarships and is underwriting the remainder of the $3,880 cost for each student.

• Lincoln Park Performing Arts Center in Midland, Beaver County, plans to offer a free two-week residential arts program, including music, theater, dance, creative writing, and visual and media arts. It is getting help from sponsorships and partnerships.

• The Drexel University Computing Academy, which the state is not counting as a replacement. If enough students enroll by May 1, the five-week program will be offered to sophomores and juniors from throughout the United States at a charge of $4,000.

The state has been sending letters to high school students who had applied to each of the academies.

The state Department of Education is sending the applications for the global entrepreneurship school to the new program. It told those who had applied for the arts program at Mercyhurst College that their applications will be sent to Lincoln Park if they ask the state to do so.

The state Department of Health told governor's school applicants about Pitt's new health careers program and pledged to work with Pitt as it implements it. Pitt expects to send letters to those who have applied.

However, the state Department of Education wrote those who applied to the information, society and technology program at Drexel University that it will not be held this summer.

Drexel designed its new summer computing academy to fill the void left by the cancellation of the governor's school conducted at Drexel for the past decade. The state has declined to send the governor's school applications to Drexel or tell the applicants about it in the letters.

An official explanation from the state was not available late yesterday.

Thomas J. Smith, director of Drexel's new program, said the state is "holding hostage 157 applications. They won't give them up until we guarantee a certain number of free rides for students."

Mr. Smith said, "We're certainly not opposed if a well-qualified student needs assistance. We're more than likely going to help them out."

High school students who applied to the international studies program at Pitt, the agricultural sciences program at Penn State, the teaching program at Millersville University and the sciences program at Carnegie Mellon University all were being sent letters telling them their programs were canceled this summer because of the "recent economic downturn" and budget cuts.