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Columbia Heights outlines summer 2025 offerings: Summer Encore returns, expanded EL and credit-recovery options
Summary
District staff presented plans for Summer Encore, extended learning for multilingual learners, credit recovery schedules and enrichment camps, and confirmed transportation and dates for the 2025 summer programing cycle.
Columbia Heights Public Schools staff presented their summer 2025 programming plan Tuesday, announcing that Summer Encore (the district’s theme-based summer learning program) will return and that multilingual learners and students in need of credit recovery will have integrated and targeted options.
Director Jodi Gadient and program leaders described offerings that include Summer Encore (incoming kindergarten through incoming eighth grade), summer credit recovery for high-school students, extended-school-year services for students with Individualized Education Programs (IEPs), activity- and athletics-focused camps, community-education classes, Mini Adventures childcare and Blooming Heights garden work. District staff said Summer Encore will run July 7–24, Monday–Thursday, 8 a.m.–1 p.m., at Highland Elementary and the high school; the district will provide transportation for students who live outside walking zones.
Why it matters: Returning Summer Encore restores a multi-week summer learning opportunity district families missed last year and provides targeted academic acceleration, enrichment and childcare supports. Assistant superintendent and program leads emphasized that the summer plan aims to combine academic skill-building, language development for English learners, and practical supports such as breakfast and transportation.
Key program details presented: - Summer Encore (rising K–8): July 7–24, Monday–Thursday, 8 a.m.–1 p.m., breakfast before programming; locations: Highland Elementary and Columbia Heights High School. Registration will be open to students enrolled for the 2025–26 school year; staff will post details when finalized. - Extended school year / special education (ESY): July 7–24, Monday–Thursday, 8 a.m.–1 p.m.; ECSE (early childhood special education) activities at the Family Center; teacher PD day June 13. - Secondary credit recovery: June 6–27 (off June 19), and July 7–22 for the second session; on-site 8 a.m.–12 p.m. and virtual 12:30–2:30 p.m. - Activities and athletics: camps and conditioning for mainly grades 6–12; offerings included theater triple-threat camp, a new yoga camp, driver’s education, babysitting certification and summer aquatics.
District staff said Blooming Heights (the district community garden) will continue youth and teen engagement, including a farm-stand component, and that staff are pursuing multiple funding sources (including county partnerships) to support teen employment and program costs. The community-education coordinator noted a small fee structure remains for childcare programs where applicable, while academic elements are offered without fee. Board members thanked staff for restoring Summer Encore and noted cross-departmental coordination — food service, buildings and grounds, transportation — is critical to running summer programs.
Quotes used in this article come from district staff who presented the summer 2025 plan during the meeting.
