By Laura Katauskas
Staff Reporter
Despite the success of Valley View School District 365u’s Summer Learning Experience program, low enrollment is forcing the district to no longer continue it.
The Summer Learning Experience (SLE), an elementary summer programming initiative began in 2012, offering students in grades K through 5, a low-cost enrichment-based summer school program. The idea for the program was to help diminish the loss of learning which inevitably occurs over the summer break.
Throughout the years , the program was offered at various schools based on enrollment projections. However an average of only 5 percent of the student population took advantage of the program, leading the district to now look at alternatives to offer its students for summer learning.
Parent input from those in attendance for the SLE 2014-2015 school year mainly chose the program to continue academic work over the summer, be in an environment for enrichment and was used as a good child care opportunity, according to Adam Hurder, executive director for educational services Pre-K-5.
“Essentially we want to continue to look at the main motivations for families attending and make sure we are addressing these same motivations going forward,” said Hurder.
Families will be informed of free summer resources for continuing learning at home utilizing free access to online tools for math and literacy, tools students currently use in the classroom. Such academic resources include Greg Tang Math, Dreambox math, Reflex Math, NewsELA, Starfall, Achieve 3000, and Khan Academy.
“These are all researched-based programs we believe strongly in as they are already part of our curriculum and can be used to continue their academic success throughout the summer,” said Hurder.
In addition, there are a significant number of resources available including those offered by local park districts and townships with a similar fee structure to SLE, such as its day camps and summer bridge programs.
The district also plans to shift its focus to key transitions within the district: the first, identifying the need to proactively support the transition from home or preschool to kindergarten. A district-wide tracking of social-emotional data shows a rapid increase in concerns at kindergarten.
“We know that the earlier we can support a student, the more effective the long-term outcomes will be, not just in kindergarten but years later,” said Hurder.
BJ Ward Elementary currently has been offering a summer bridge program for kindergarten and administration believes the program sets its students up for success for the entire year.
The district is proposing to build upon Ward’s success and open a Kindergarten Summer Bridge Program to all 12 elementary schools. The goal is to help children and families understand and begin to meet the academic and social expectations of a kindergarten student.
“There is a large aspect of the program that involves parents and families at an early stage and encourages time for us to screen students before school begins, allowing us to intervene as early as possible if our students need some help,” said Hurder.
“I absolutely have no doubt that this is and will be an outstanding program, anyone who doesn’t see the benefit to it, I don’t what you’re thinking,” said School Board Member Diane Parro, who also questioned how it would be funded and who would be running the program.
Title 1 funds were used at BJ Ward and the program would be taught by Valley View educators.
A committee has been formed of administrators, educators and parents to design the specifics of the program and the resources needed for teachers and families.
To date, the program will aim for a broad-reaching approaching to impact as many incoming students as possible and be provided for half-days, one week prior to the start of the school year.
Further information will be shared with the community once developed.