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SAUSD unveils expanded "My Summer, My Future" program to serve roughly 5,000 students
Summary
Santa Ana Unified presented a consolidated 2026 summer plan that expands enrichment, ESY, newcomer services, internships and meal sites; staff said the program will serve about 5,001 students June 2–July 16 and will include 70+ internship placements and 61 meal locations.
The Santa Ana Unified School District presented its second-year summer initiative “My Summer, My Future,” a districtwide set of enrichment, literacy and support programs that staff said will operate June 2–July 16 and initially enroll about 5,001 TK–12 students.
Lupita Cruz, the district's summer program lead, told the Board that the initiative combines expanded learning, career technical education, migrant and newcomer programming, and extended school‑year (ESY) services into a single, coordinated strategy designed to reduce learning loss and strengthen student engagement. “These programs are designed very intentionally by this large team,” Cruz said, adding that the design emphasizes both academic and social–emotional supports.
Staff described core elements that include a daily 90‑minute teacher‑led literacy block for many participants, STEAM offerings for elementary and middle grades, arts performance camps that culminate in showcases, a ninth‑grade bridge to prepare freshmen, and ESY hubs to meet individualized IEP needs. Marcese Hernandez, director of special education, said ESY services are legally required extensions of IEPs and that eligibility and accommodations are determined by each student's IEP team.
The district also highlighted workforce connections: coordinator Steven Long said SAUSD expects 70 or more internship placements this summer through a partnership with United for Student Success and corporate partners such as L3Harris and UCI Health. “These are elevated, enhanced experiences,” Long said, noting the goal of giving students real‑world, paid or scholarship‑backed work experience where possible.
Nutrition services will expand meal access: Josefina Mejia reported that summer operations will run at 61 locations (51 school sites and 10 community parks) and that the district served more than 271,000 meals last summer; staff said a mobile eco‑food truck will also operate as a “rolling classroom.”
Cruz and colleagues said the district will track participation and outcomes using Aeries attendance, pre/post surveys, and other measures; Adam Knudson explained teachers will receive a professional development day on June 1 before instruction begins. Staff said the first enrollment window showed about 5,001 students and that a second wait‑list window was open the week of the meeting.
Board members asked about equitable recruitment, staffing numbers, site selection and whether programs would include students who do not attend SAUSD. Cruz said the ELOP funding requires participants be enrolled in SAUSD and that the district is prioritizing SAUSD students while pursuing additional outreach. Trustees also asked for more detailed placement and staffing numbers at the board's follow‑up b2b (behind‑the‑scenes) briefing.
The presentation noted specific hubs and offerings: Newcomer Summer Enrichment at McFadden and Santa Ana High School (targeted newcomer instruction, ~20–25 students per teacher), ESY at eight hub sites (Mitchell, Henninger, Escada, Santiago, Sierra Prep, MIT, Taft, and Lydia Romero Cruz for grades 6–8), and CTE internships at partner employers. Cruz said the program aims to increase continuity of supports beyond summer and called the approach a districtwide “wraparound” model.
The board did not take further action on the presentation, but multiple trustees praised the integration and asked staff for supplemental documents with staffing counts, participation by program and historical summer enrollment figures. The district said it will provide the requested details at a future technical briefing.
