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Charles County schools keep summer boost and camps but add fees and cut some services amid funding changes
Summary
District leaders told the school board on March 24 that federal pandemic funds that had paid for nearly all summer offerings have ended; the system will still provide targeted free programs but will charge for some camps, charge original‑credit high‑school courses and drop transportation for middle/high summer school.
Charles County Public Schools officials told the Board of Education on March 24 that the district will continue targeted, largely free summer learning programs for elementary students but will charge fees for some offerings after federal pandemic-era funding ended.
The announcement came during a work session presentation by Chief of Teaching and Learning Mister Lowndes and Dr. McKenna Lewis, who outlined details for elementary “summer boost,” middle/high school summer school, enrichment camps and extended‑year services for students with Individualized Education Programs (IEPs).
Dr. McKenna Lewis said, “we are going to continue to be able to provide summer boost for our students, our rising kindergartners, and through rising fifth graders.” She described a narrowed, data-driven focus this year on phonics, phonemic awareness, informational text and foundational mathematics skills and said the elementary boost will run Monday–Thursday, 8 a.m.–noon, July 7–20 at eight sites with transportation provided and breakfast and lunch served.
District staff said some program elements will now carry parent fees. AlphaBEST will continue to offer before‑ and after‑care for elementary families but at a reduced fee after the district stopped paying the full AlphaBEST contract. Officials gave the following AlphaBEST fees: before care $35 per week; after care $85 per week; before and after care combined $120 per week. AlphaBEST has indicated it may provide scholarships for some families, but district staff said corporate decisions about scholarships are made by AlphaBEST.
For middle and high school summer school, the district will provide make‑up and original‑credit courses and tutoring, but it will not provide transportation. Staff moved middle/high instruction to 8 a.m.–noon Monday–Thursday to make drop‑off easier for working families. The district said it must pay for students who are required by Maryland law to receive summer instruction to make up credits necessary to graduate; however, it will charge $300 per original‑credit course at the high‑school level (the same price the district charged pre‑COVID).
Enrichment and AP boot camps will run full days with fees. The enrichment week serving kindergarten–grade 8 will run July 28–31 and carry a fee of $150 per week; AP boot camps will be full day and run the last week of July. The James E. Richmond Science Center will operate STEM drop‑in days in June and July with per‑day fees; the junior space entrepreneur program for grades 10–12 runs July 21–Aug. 7 with a $150 program fee. District staff said many camp fees remain the same as pre‑COVID levels.
Extended school year (ESY) services for students with IEPs will be three weeks this summer rather than four. Dr. Lewis explained that the district added a fourth week in the years after the pandemic to provide compensatory services when students missed in‑person supports; district staff said compensatory needs have declined and a three‑week ESY period now meets identified requirements. ESY sites, staff said, will provide breakfast and lunch and transportation where indicated on the IEP.
Board members pressed staff on equity and access. Board member Miss Smith said she struggled with charging fees, noting transportation barriers for families in outlying parts of the county. A student speaker, Mister Burke, urged the board to create a system so lower‑income families can afford programs, saying summer course access can affect later academic opportunities. Superintendent Navarro and staff said reduced fees exist for students eligible for free or reduced‑price meals and that staff will look into additional supports for families facing hardship.
Vice Chairperson Kramer and other board members praised the district for keeping many programs running despite budget limits, while acknowledging the loss of some free services. Staff said family registration pages and scheduling details will be posted on the district summer school web page and that the district will email parents when registration opens.
The board asked the district to continue monitoring scholarship availability and transportation barriers and to return with clarifying materials about how families can apply for reduced fees or scholarships. No board action was required at the March 24 work session; staff said some program details were still pending (for example, final community school funding to extend AlphaBEST coverage).
