Summer program to serve 5,000 kids

Academies aim to aid students most in need

Shelby County Schools will offer a summer academic program to 5,000 students most in need of intervention, Superintendent Dorsey Hopson announced Tuesday.

Twenty Summer Learning Academies spread across the nine school board districts will be offered free of charge, including lunch and before and after care. Registration starts in March.

Hopson said the program details are still in the works, but will offer students in kindergarten through fifth grade additional help in reading, math and science. Students in the lowest-performing schools will have priority. A summer bridge program for students entering sixth and ninth grades will also launch in the summer, eliminating some anxieties of the transition to middle and high school.

Although Hopson did not release a cost estimate for the learning academies, the announcement marks a clear investment in expanding educational programs in the county after years of cuts to programs and staff. Hopson announced the new program to the school board Tuesday night to much adulation from board members.

“Superintendent, I just need the names of every person I should hug and kiss that this is actually happening,” board member Shante Avant said. “I am so excited about the opportunity for us to address such a need for our students in our community.”

Hopson said he would elaborate on the program at a later date — he did not provide details on transportation or length of the program — but wanted to alert the public the learning academies were coming.

He said the district will track the progress of students to see if it makes a difference in their academic growth once they return to school the following year. The program will address the “summer slide” that teachers frequently bemoan, as many students regress in their academics after a long break away from school.

Hopson said the summer bridge program aims to address both academic and social needs of students entering middle

and high school.

“Oftentimes we hear from principals there’s a lot of time that’s needed just to get kids socialized to what’s going to happen,” he said. “We think that with these programs there’s going to be a big lift.”

Hopson said the intervention program could also be open to charter school students.

Board member Stephanie Love also praised the concept, noting she’s in favor of year-round school, but asked about a way to ensure parents who enroll their kids are committed.

“We really want the parents to have them there every day,” she said.

Hopson’s staff said each school would hold a parent orientation for the program and ask parents to sign a contract promising to participate fully.

Reach Jennifer Pignolet at jennifer.pignolet@ commercialappeal.com or on Twitter @JenPignolet.