Ector County ISD’s summer learning program will include everything from eSports to LEGO robotics and making T-shirts.
Executive Director of Curriculum and Instruction Lisa Wills said some 5,000 students are expected to attend the sessions which run from June 3 through July 17.
Elementary schools will have content for half a day and enrichment time the second half of the day, Wills said.
Middle school summer learning is for content and the high school edition is for end-of-course testers, credit recovery and acceleration.
“Let’s say you’re a freshman, you want to knock out some electives, so that you can take other courses during the school year. We allow them to go ahead and earn those credits in the summer, so it kind of gives them some openings in their schedule for the next year,” Wills said.
At the elementary schools, it will be different than a normal school day would look like.
“We invite all students. The old summer learning used to be if you failed for whatever reason, then you had to come to summer school. Now it’s just come, let’s fill in some gaps; let’s get ahead. We looked at it both ways for the kids and then they also get to learn some different things that they’re just interested in, and they find to be fun,” Wills said.
Elementary and middle school gifted and talented students will also have a chance to attend Camp SIP. SIP stands for Scholars in Progress.
“It’s been pretty popular for the middle school students, so we’re excited about it,” Wills said.
Camp SIP will run from June 10-20 (Monday through Thursday).
Elementary Camp SIP will be at Blackshear Elementary and Middle School Camp SIP will be at Odessa Collegiate Academy, Director of Advanced Academic Services Kristen Vesely said in an email.
Teachers get a daily rate of pay and principals who run the summer learning course are compensated as well.
Elementary summer learning is funded through the TCLAS grant.
Texas COVID Learning Acceleration Supports is a set of funding and targeted supports available to Local Education Agencies to accelerate student learning in the wake of COVID-19, using state and federal funds, the Texas Education Agency website said.
“This is our last year with the TCLAS grant, so summer school might change a little bit next year,” Wills said.
Wills said she has gotten largely positive feedback from parents. The only negative thing she’s heard from a parent is that they wanted it to start later.
“We adjusted our times last year to give a little bit later start time for the students so they don’t feel like it’s still so much school … But the parents have been very positive about, especially in elementary, the enrichment time. It’s quite popular because it’s unusual for them to get to do three hours of something they really enjoy doing outside of … regular schoolwork,” she added.
The benefits of summer learning are that students continue their learning and not be at home all day. It also helps students move ahead.
“We take our most tested standards, and that’s what we focus on during summer learning and then we also look at what are they going to need to know from let’s say, a fourth grader to be successful in fifth grade,” Wills said.
“The feedback I get from students is always very positive. They like the smaller classes. They like being able to come to school with their friends during the summer when they don’t normally get to see them, so they have different reasons why they like it. But we know our test results” show they are growing, she added.
There are 10 elementary, five middle and two high schools involved. The Transition Learning Center will also continue their learning. All students can attend, but it may not be their regular campus.
The summer school campuses will also make meals available to the community. The students in summer learning will be fed breakfast and lunch.
“We’re excited to get started with it. Summer learning is a different feel than what it has been in years past. Especially the elementary campuses, you go on those campuses and there’s such excitement and the kids are happy and excited to be there. They think they can’t wait to get out of school, but then they get home and they’re bored. So it keeps them busy and out of trouble,” Wills said.
