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Charlesville Middle principal outlines Mustang summer enrichment program and seeks VDOE implementation grant
Summary
Principal Brandon Keith presented a planning-to-implementation timeline for a six-week Mustang Summer Enrichment Program at Charlottesville Middle School, drawing on a $50,000 VDOE planning grant and a planned VDOE startup application of up to $500,000.
Brandon Keith, principal at Charlesville Middle School, told the Montgomery County Public Schools board that a planning committee has designed a six-week Mustang Summer Enrichment Program aimed at reducing chronic absenteeism and providing a mix of remediation and enrichment for rising fifth- through eighth-grade students.
"When we initially received the planning grant from the Virginia Department of Education for the extended school year grant of $50,000, number 1, we want to look at opportunities to think outside the box to get our students engaged," Principal Brandon Keith said. "Number 2, we were looking at a way to get students excited and improve chronic absenteeism rates."
Keith described the committee’s work over the last 17 months. The committee included administrators, counselors, core and elective teachers, the athletic director, the PBIS coordinator and three parent representatives. The program design preserves a balance of remediation (targeted math and reading) and enrichment (project-based learning, STEM activities, field trips and community partnerships). Instructional targets include math, reading, writing, science, social studies and STEM, plus arts and elective extensions.
The committee considered a year-round calendar but rejected a single-building calendar change because it would conflict with siblings and county-wide schedules. Instead, the proposed Mustang Summer Enrichment Program would be a six-week summer option, open to all Charlottesville Middle School students in the first year with targeted invitations to students with disabilities and those not meeting proficiency. Keith said the committee hopes to apply for the VDOE startup grant (maximum award $500,000) and has budgeted roughly $420,000 of materials, projects and trips in its draft submission, due in August. The goal is to pilot the program in summer 2026 if the grant is awarded.
Board members asked about staff availability and participation. Keith said teachers have been more receptive since the committee abandoned the calendar-change option and that staff can sign up for two-week segments rather than commit to the entire six weeks. He said principals and curriculum administrators have identified field-trip and community partners including Virginia Tech, Radford University and local experiential sites; the committee also plans project work that can continue during the school year.
The board did not take action on the presentation; Keith said the school committee will meet in April and May to finalize the startup application and return with more details.
Why it matters: The program is designed to address retention over the summer, chronic absenteeism and learning loss. If the startup grant is awarded, the school would use grant funds for salaries, transportation and program costs; the division has been asked to provide administrative support and transportation as needed.
