Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Summer Programs topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
JPS previews summer programs: Freedom Schools, children's museum camp and Teach For America partnership
Summary
Jackson Public Schools reviewed several summer programs and partnerships including Freedom Schools, a Mississippi Children's Museum weeklong camp for third graders, and Teach For America support at Blackburn Middle School; registration information and free meals were highlighted.
Jackson Public Schools provided details on multiple summer learning opportunities and partnerships, including district‑run and external‑partner programs available to scholars this summer.
Superintendent Eric Green and district staff highlighted the district’s Freedom Schools program, a grant‑funded summer program sponsored by the Children’s Defense Fund and supported by an Innovative Approaches to Literacy grant. The district announced the program runs June 2 through July 20 (dates read from announcement segment) and offers field trips, music, meals and literacy instruction at no cost to participating families; registration requires scholars to be registered for the upcoming school year.
Dr. Anthony Moore, the district’s executive director of advanced academics, described an agreement with the Mississippi Children’s Museum to provide a one‑week summer camp June 9–13 for selected third‑grade scholars. The museum camp is designed to provide targeted instruction to help participating students prepare for the third‑grade Mississippi academic assessment and will include breakfast and lunch at no cost to families; Jackson Public School District transportation will transport scholars to and from the site.
The administration also recommended continuing the partnership with Teach For America and the Mississippi Reading Clinic to support summer school programming at Blackburn Middle School. The presentation said Teach For America core members will teach summer school and receive pre‑induction experiences at Blackburn; the district clarified that any potential changes to AmeriCorps educational awards resulting from AmeriCorps funding cuts would be Teach For America’s responsibility and would not require JPS to supplement awards.
The district urged families to register students as soon as possible through PowerSchool and provided a phone number and email for parent portal assistance. Officials reminded families that registration is required for bus service and some summer programs.
Why it matters: Summer learning and partner programs are part of the district's strategy to support literacy and grade‑level outcomes. The museum camp specifically targets third‑grade assessment preparedness, while the Freedom Schools and Blackburn summer supports provide broader enrichment and remediation.
