UCPS committee reviews 2026 summer program offerings; referral to full board approved

Union County Public Schools staff on Jan. 28 presented the district’s 2026 summer program offerings and the curriculum committee voted to send the item to the full board for approval.

Dr. Rogers opened the item and said the district will offer high-school credit recovery and a summer reading camp focused on students in second and third grade who are not demonstrating grade-level proficiency. Dr. Tyson described the credit-recovery program: students recover previously failed courses primarily online via Apex with a teacher on-site in a distance lab, and the district has provided transportation on a two-day basis as requested by schools. "This is for students that have a previously failed course that they are trying to recover," Dr. Tyson said.

Staff said the summer reading camp is legislated and offers 72 hours of instruction across a four-day week over three weeks (12 student days). Students will have a six-hour day; staff will work seven-hour days. The program includes site administrators, K–5 certified teachers, tutors, nurses and support from child nutrition and transportation to provide breakfast and lunch and bus transportation as needed. Timeline details: site administrators will contact host principals in March, hiring and applications open in February with a goal to finish hiring before spring break, and invitation letters to families go out in April. In response to a question about parent orientation, staff said site administrators host open houses to explain camp logistics and how parents can support student learning.

A committee member moved to send the summer program item to the full board for approval; the committee approved the referral by voice vote.