Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Education Programs topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Clinton City Schools plans expanded RTA summer reading camp, aims for 100 students
Summary
Superintendent Dr. Wesley Johnson outlined a revamped RTA summer reading camp that starts the week after school ends, prioritizes rising third graders (and eligible second graders), includes 13 instructional days and a field trip, and seeks stronger outreach after only ~70 families expressed interest so far.
Clinton City Schools on March 9 outlined an expanded RTA (reading) summer camp schedule designed to boost early-literacy outcomes for rising third graders and other elementary students who remain below proficiency.
“RTA camp will be 13 instructional days, starting the week after school ends,” Superintendent Dr. Wesley Johnson told the Board of Education. He described a required staff work day on Friday, May 29; a field-trip day on Friday, June 12 (the Railroad Museum in Wilmington); and end-of-program testing on June 18.
The program will prioritize third graders and invite second graders who remain on an individual reading plan (IRP). Johnson said the district will use a 95% reading curriculum and that two instructional leads — Dr. McPhail and Kelly Flynn — will administer the camp. The district also plans to use its Dark Horse Fellows and trained reading mentors to provide small-group instruction.
Board members pressed for outreach numbers. “Our goal is to have at least a hundred; currently we have about 70 who have expressed interest,” Johnson said, urging more proactive phone follow-ups after initial letters were mailed. Staff explained early outreach to families has so far consisted mainly of a mailed letter and that phone calls and additional notices will follow.
District officials said capacity exists to serve substantially more students than currently enrolled and emphasized that students who earn passing scores on the third-grade End-of-Grade (EOG) test would not be eligible to attend. The board also discussed logistics for staffing and clarified that the second-week Friday is reserved for the field trip and related activities.
The board did not take a formal vote on RTA at the March meeting; Superintendent Johnson said additional logistics and staff assignments will be finalized as enrollment and staffing are confirmed. The district plans continued outreach to reach the 100-student target and to provide training and assignment guidance for Dark Horse Fellows who will assist in instruction.
What’s next: District staff will continue family outreach, finalize selected staff for the camp, and provide updated enrollment numbers to the board as recruitment continues.
