NEWS INFORMATION FROM |
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THE OFFICE OF MAYOR STEPHEN R. REED |
FOR IMMEDIATE USE |
CITY SUMMER SCHOOL PROGRAMS WIND DOWN; OVER 2,000 STUDENTS SERVED BY ARRAY OF PROGRAMSMayor Stephen R. Reed today reported that over 2,025 city school students have participated in a wide array of summer educational programs offered by the Harrisburg School District, ranging from literacy courses and English as a Second Language classes to graduation credit courses, PreK Summer School and high school preparatory work. The Mayor said the District’s extensive summer learning program is designed to assist students in study areas where weaknesses have been identified and to better prepare them for academic life in the upcoming school year. The programs offered involve every age group and grade, and include students from pre-school through high school. “Summertime is an excellent period to strengthen our students’ academic skills and prepare them for the challenges of the coming school year,” said Mayor Reed. “It also gives us time to individually address each student’s specific needs and areas for improvement, and concentrate our tutoring and other teaching services on those students and subjects that need the most support. “They have also helped keep city youth productively engaged during the idle days of summer.” Harrisburg School District Superintendent Gerald S. Kohn noted that the District’s extensive summer learning activities have been provided free of charge to students, and that free breakfasts and lunches have also been provided to participating city youth, for many the only meals they would get during summer days when no parents or adults are around to look after them during daytime hours. Kohn said many of the District’s programs are now wrapping up and students are still getting several weeks of free or leisure time before the new school year starts. The Mayor said some of the summer learning programs offered this year include: o Summer Academy, a five-week program that provides students with academic support in the morning and enrichment activities in the afternoon. Over 500 students in grades 1 through 8 participated in this year’s Academy. o Migrant Summer School, for non-English speaking or otherwise mobile youngsters whose parents perform migratory agricultural services in the midstate. English as a Second Language and other literacy skill develop- ment classes were the primary offerings to more than 100 students who attended Foose School for the classes. o The PreK Summer Program, operated by Head Start, offered structured daily learning and play sessions for over 450 three and four year olds, many of whom will be entering Kindergarten this coming school year. o The Extended Year School Year Program, as required under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, provided intensive educational tutoring and other learning enrichment opportunities for nearly 100 physically or cognitively challenged students. o The Credit Recovery Program, an intensive and individually-tailored summer graduation credit school session for seniors who didn’t have sufficient credits to graduate with their classmates this past June. About two dozen students were served. o Summer School at John Harris, a comprehensive graduation credit program for students from all four city high school programs, including John Harris, William Penn, Sci Tech High and the Career and Technology Academy involving over 150 students. It includes students who failed to academically qualify for graduation in June receive special help and testing to secure enough credits to allow their formal graduation in August. o The 9th Grade Academy, a six-day orientation for all incoming freshman attending John Harris, to better prepare them for life in high school, involving 400 students. o Sci Tech High, for nearly 300 students in grades 10 through 12, a series of advanced classes, field trips, special study areas, university and college classes, seminars, workshops and other extracurricular academic activities for high-achieving students. |
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