Dearborn summer program draws 4,000 students and nearly $8 million in grant funding

The Dearborn Board of Education heard a summer-school update on Aug. 18 detailing expanded enrollment, curriculum adoption and a major private grant.

Summer program presenter Miss Malybezi reported the district received a grant funded by the Ballmer Group and United Way "for nearly $8,000,000" and enrolled roughly 4,000 students in 2025, up from 3,600 in 2024. The presenter described grant requirements — an eight-hour day, 20–25 days of instruction, and a required 90 minutes of literacy and 90 minutes of math each day — and said the district adopted the LitLab curriculum for most grades this year and provided credit-bearing opportunities for rising ninth graders.

The presenter said enrichment included field trips (Detroit River boat cruise, Detroit Institute of Arts, Blake's Orchard, Zap Zone/Revved Up/High Velocity, Turtle Cove), arts and music programming, cardio drumming and a board-game room. She reported the program employed about 250 teachers and several non-instructional staff and said a program video will be available next month. "Four thousand kids were actively engaged in academic and social activities," the presenter said.

Separately, the board carried an omnibus motion approving action items on the agenda that included awards to vendors listed in board reports (Burlington English Inc., Henry Ford College, Amplify, Pearson, Apple Stores for Education, Access, Agile Sports), non-instructional and instructional personnel items, board reports and the approval of summer-school graduates (board report 25-22). The board secretary summarized 16 action items that were included in the approval.

Next steps: presenter will provide summer-program data to the board via board briefs; administration will finalize vendor awards and personnel actions authorized by the board.