Students across Delaware benefitted from multiple enrichment programs this summer designed to enhance literacy skills and overall well-being. Backed by the Delaware Department of Education (DDOE), Governor John Carney, and key community partners, the programs were offered in school districts and charter schools statewide.
Nearly $1 million in federal Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) funds were dedicated to enrichment programs entered on the science of reading, ensuring students received evidence-based instruction to improve their literacy skills. In addition to literacy, programs also emphasized health and wellness, social and emotional learning, and exposure to the arts and STEM fields. Many schools also provided high-dosage tutoring, an intensive tutoring approach that involves frequent, consistent sessions – often conducted one-on-one or in small groups – to accelerate student learning.
Through high-dosage tutoring this summer, Delaware students grew in three out of the three measures of foundational literacy by August. Measures included students’ abilities to segment spoken words into their parts, to produce correct letter sounds, and to read nonsense words correctly. Ninety-four percent of 5th graders grew in at least one of these measures, as did 90% of 3rd and 4th grade students. Kindergarten and 2nd grade students also made significant progress toward benchmarks in nonsense word fluency. This progress aligns with the goals of the Delaware Early Literacy Plan and implementation of the state’s science of reading legislation.
“We know that summer programs make a significant impact on students when school is out of session and will continue to do so in the upcoming school year,” Secretary of Education Mark Holodick said. “We are incredibly grateful to the dedicated school staff and community partners who are making this possible.”
At Academia Antonia Alonso, students also participated in a unique program that included equine therapy, providing an innovative way to support students’ emotional and mental health.
“Our summer program, supported by the DDOE Summer Learning Grant, had a profound impact on our students at Academia Antonia Alonso Charter School,” Academia Executive Director Mercedes Alonso said. “The resources we were able to provide empowered our students to explore new learning opportunities and reinforced their academic skills, setting a strong foundation for the upcoming school year. We witnessed increased engagement, confidence, and enthusiasm among our students, and we are truly grateful for the support that made this possible.”
In Seaford School District, the summer program took a family-oriented approach, inviting families of pre-kindergarten students to engage in reading activities together. The program also offered parents strategies they can use at home to support their children’s literacy development.
“We are grateful for this generous grant, which will provide our families with the tools and resources they need to support their children’s literacy development. This partnership will have a lasting impact on our youngest learners, setting them on a path to success,” Superintendent Sharon DiGirolamo said.
The Caesar Rodney School District partnered with Capital School District to provide the Freedom School to students in grades 1-8. The district also offered Camp Aloha, a program designed for incoming kindergarten students. For eight days, students attended half-day sessions to help them prepare for their full-day kindergarten experience this fall.
“The Freedom School partnership provided reading enrichment in a camp like environment that was both engaging and entertaining for the students,” Caesar Rodney Assistant Superintendent Jessilene Corbett said. “At Camp Aloha, students made new friends, played games, sang & danced to music, all while practicing the alphabet and learning numbers.”
Innovative programs were also available in Appoquinimink, Brandywine, Cape Henlopen, Christina, and Red Clay Consolidated school districts as well as Kuumba Academy, Odyssey, and Sussex Montessori charter schools.
As the state continues to focus on educational equity and student success, the summer enrichment programs are an essential component in preparing students for the challenges of the next academic year.