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Orange County Schools outlines smaller summer programming as ESSER funds wind down
Summary
District staff presented summer programming plans that prioritize required Read to Achieve camps, high‑school credit recovery, expansion of multilingual bridge programs and a new arts residency partnership; administrators warned funding reductions with ESSER sunsets will limit optional offerings.
Orange County Schools staff presented district plans for summer 2025 on Monday, saying a reduction in federal ESSER funds will shrink available programming but that the district will continue required literacy and special‑education services and prioritize other supports.
Amber Wilson, identified in the meeting as the district staff member leading the summer programming report, told the board the district will offer required Read to Achieve (RTA) literacy camps and high‑school credit recovery, and will expand some optional programs that remain a priority for the district. "This year, we will only serve second and third grade students" in Read to Achieve camps, Wilson said, and she gave dates and locations for the two RTA offerings: a Hillsborough Elementary (year‑round) session scheduled for June 16–July 3 (observing the Juneteenth holiday) and a traditional session planned for July 14–August 1.
Wilson told the board both sessions will provide more than the 72 hours of direct literacy instruction required under state rules. She said the district will continue the local practice of offering camp invitations even if a student demonstrates proficiency later in the year, and that family notification letters and multiple outreach channels (printed letters, email, ClassDojo, family liaisons and teacher contacts) will be used.
Optional summer offerings to continue or expand include middle‑ and high‑school transition activities (Middle School 101 and freshman orientation), a Career Academy and internships through the district’s CTE program, an expanded multilingual high‑school bridge program (front‑loading academic vocabulary for newcomers), and a partnership with the Art Center to offer an artist‑in‑residency component during the traditional RTA weeks. Wilson said the arts residency is funded through community sponsorships and will not require additional district funds.
Other operational details Wilson provided: transportation for summer sites will be provided based on the student address in Infinite Campus; breakfast and lunch will be free at sites; after‑school care tied to RTA will be offered through a YMCA Camp Crush paid option (ages 5–12) at River Park; and staffing will be advertised first to internal applicants with standardized summer pay rates (Wilson said changes in rates are relatively modest, with the largest differences about $10 up or down from prior summers).
Board members asked for additional detail on participation and equity: several members asked for historical participation rates and for district follow‑up on how to provide summer resources to students who no longer qualify for RTA under the narrower eligibility this year. Wilson said historical enrollment for invited students runs about 60% sign‑up and that about 80% of signed‑up students attend at least one day, and that additional family resources and non‑technology‑dependent activities may be shared districtwide.
The presentation contained no formal board action; board members requested further information about participation rates, access for exceptional‑children students to YMCA programming, and the possibility of more district‑level materials parents can use at home to support summer learning.
