Manatee Schools maps summer programs: statutory reading camps, VPK bridge, ESY and expanded extracurricular offerings

District curriculum leaders told the School Board on April 8 that the School District of Manatee County will run a broad slate of summer programs and professional learning in 2025 that mix statutorily required offerings with locally funded and grant‑supported activities.

The overview: Curriculum director Allison Nichols and colleagues outlined mandatory programs required by state statute — third‑grade summer reading camp for retained third graders, voluntary summer VPK and a new VPK summer‑bridge program for VPK completers who score below the 10th percentile, and extended‑school‑year (ESY) services for eligible students with Individualized Education Programs (IEPs). The district also will run a wide set of optional programs: Title I “Camp Esteem,” migrant camps, the “Smart Enough” arts camp (in partnership with the Manatee Arts Education Council and Manatee Education Foundation), Camp Creator for English‑language learners, robotics camps, credit‑recovery and bridge programs for secondary students, driver’s education, and career/postsecondary exploration with Manatee Technical College (MTC).

Why this matters: Several of the statutory programs require specified seat hours and staffing rules; staff emphasized that the state grant funding available does not fully cover operating costs. District leaders described summer programs as a way to reduce learning loss, provide intensive remediation, and offer targeted professional learning for teachers.

Key operational details and dates: Summer programs are scheduled to begin June 2. The district will hold full‑day staff trainings for summer programs on May 30. Third‑grade summer reading camp will be offered at nine sites; students who attend will have two opportunities for promotion to fourth grade during the summer — a STAR reading test (50th percentile threshold) and a state FAST ELA administration the week of July 14. Staff said historically the camp serves roughly 350–450 students and that about 100 students on average meet summer promotion criteria. The new VPK summer‑bridge program will run at Daughtrey and Rogers Garden elementaries and requires 100 instructional hours at a maximum of four countable hours per day under statute; the district received a $67,400 state grant for the program (consent agenda item referenced at the meeting).

Funding and staffing: Nichols and other staff described a mixed funding strategy: the district uses BSA (basic state allocation) set‑asides and leftover categorical funds for some statutory programs, federal grants and Title I or Title III funds for migrant and ELL camps, referendum dollars for new robotics programming, and community and foundation partners for arts and enrichment camps. Presenters said the available grant dollars do not fully cover operating costs and the district must subsidize programs from existing BSA funds and local referendum resources. Staffing was described as improving this year; statutory programs received priority hiring and staff reported a larger applicant pool than in recent summers.

Transportation and access: District staff said transportation is provided for third‑grade summer reading camp, ESY, Title I elementary camps, Camp Creator (ELL), and migrant camps. Other offerings rely on family transportation. Staff noted that while charter schools run their own required third‑grade reading interventions using their FTE allocations, this district‑operated set of programs is intended for district students; the new VPK summer‑bridge program must have seats available for eligible private‑provider VPK completers per statute.

Professional learning: In addition to student programs, the district will hold a three‑day in‑person “refresh” professional development conference July 28–30 at Braden River High School and new‑educator orientation in July at Manatee High School. The curriculum department emphasized that summer programs also provide targeted professional learning for instructional staff that the district expects to carry into the fall.

Ending: Staff said most previously offered programs were preserved despite expiring ESSER funds, though two offerings — Guy Harvey summer camps and an ESSER‑funded visual and performing arts camp — were discontinued this year. The board asked staff for attendance breakdowns by program; staff offered to provide program‑by‑program participation and cost details after the meeting.