District 57 pilot summer enrichment draws positive reviews; 103 students participated

Assistant superintendent Dr. Vonderhaar summarized the district’s pilot summer-enrichment program, which ran alongside existing specialized summer services and targeted student needs identified by district committees. "We had 103 students who attended the program and we really targeted the enrichment classes based on needs that came up from the district," Vonderhaar said, describing classes such as a reading class targeted to boys, a coding/creativity course for girls and a middle-school "jump start" for incoming sixth graders.

Why it matters: Summer programming serves students who need learning supports and also provides enrichment options that families value; the pilot helped the district explore a sustainable model after ESSER funding for Summer Bridge ended.

Program details: Dr. Vonderhaar said the pilot was intended both to offset some Summer Bridge costs and to deliver outstanding student experiences in line with the strategic plan. She promised a follow-up memo after fall benchmarking that will include attendance, detailed finances and student outcome data to inform future Summer Bridge design. Board members asked about class caps and enrollment: Vonderhaar said classes enrolled between 11 and 18 students and ‘‘some of them were at the top end.’’ Board members praised staff creativity and the program’s reception from families.

Next steps: Administration will return after fall data collection with a financial assessment, attendance data and recommendations on whether to expand the enrichment program and how to structure future Summer Bridge offerings.