Philadelphia School District Outlines Details Of Summer Learning Program Aimed At Helping Students Who've Fallen Behind Due To Pandemic
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- The Philadelphia School District outlined details of its summer learning program on Thursday morning. Officials hope it will bring students who've fallen behind during virtual learning "back up to speed."
Students who have been in a virtual learning setting for more than a year now will get a chance to have that in-person connection this summer.
Thousands of students in the Philadelphia School District will soon get their first glimpse inside a classroom setting since the pandemic began in March 2020.
"Even though all students have not been back in our school buildings learning has and will continue to take place," Superintendent Dr. William Hite said. "We want to keep that momentum going forward and keep a bridge to what they will be learning in school next year."
School officials announced an extensive summer learning and enrichment program aimed at first through 12th-grade students. The five-week program, which will encompass academic studies and extracurricular activities, will begin on June 28.
The goal is to prepare students for a full return to in-person learning in the fall.
"There will be a full day in-person opportunity for students entering grades 1 through 12," Chief of Academic Support Dr. Malika Savoy-Brooks. "We will offer a new virtual transition program for students entering pre-k and kindergarten."
School district officials will be using as many as 39 school buildings to help bring students who may have fallen behind during virtual learning back up to speed.
The district says right now as many as 14,000 students are being targeted for the programs, but they want as many students as possible to enroll.
"These programs will take place at 24 schools throughout the city and based on the registration we are prepared to open 39 schools or more if necessary," Savoy-Brooks said.
The school district will be working closely with the City of Philadelphia to help with their summer programs. Registration for summer learning begins Thursday, April 8.
Part of the $1.6 billion federal stimulus funding allotted to the school district will be used for this extensive summer programming.
