Romulus schools win Ballmer Group grant for five-week summer Discovery Learning program
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Summary
Interim director Janelle Edwards told the board Romulus Community Schools was awarded a Ballmer Group grant to run a free five-week summer program for K‑8 students focusing on academics and enrichment; enrollment had reached 223 as of the presentation.
Romulus Community Schools will run a five-week Summer Discovery Learning program for students in kindergarten through eighth grade after the district received a grant from the Ballmer Group, interim director of teaching, learning and professional development Janelle Edwards told the board on April 7.
The free program will run June 23 through July 24, Monday through Thursday. Elementary academic sessions (ELA and math) were planned at Wick Elementary with afternoon enrichment at the high school; middle‑school academics and enrichment also will be at the high school. "This program will begin on June 23 and go for 5 weeks until July 24 The program will run from 8 to 4 Monday through Thursday," Edwards said.
Nut graf: The Summer Discovery grant targets students enrolled in Romulus schools and combines an academic component aligned to state standards with enrichment. The district reported outreach and targeted enrollment for students who are below grade level or failing core courses; high-school summer offerings will be credit-recovery.
Edwards said enrollment opened April 1 and that 223 students were enrolled as of the presentation. School leaders named David Thompson as elementary summer-school leader and Akua Marshall as secondary administrator. Curriculum materials were chosen with a crosswalk to state standards and to MAP/NWEA assessment priorities; Edwards said LaVena curriculum materials were selected for classroom instruction.
The district will provide professional development for teachers June 16–18 in advance of the program. Edwards said enrichment partners and field trips were being planned and that participation is free; the high-school program (grades 9–12) will operate separately as credit recovery from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. "Although our program is a free program for all of our students, we will also have targeted groups of students as well," Edwards said, describing targeted outreach for students identified by MAP scores or failing grades.
Ending: Edwards said the district will continue to update the board as enrollment and program plans solidify and invited principals to support outreach to families to boost participation.
