Broward County Public Schools Awarded $250,000 Grant from Helios Education Foundation to Support Summer 2021 Learning

Broward County Public Schools (BCPS) Summer 2021 experience for the District’s youngest learners is getting a boost, thanks to a grant from Helios Education Foundation. The Foundation awarded BCPS $250,000 to help ensure students who just completed kindergarten are prepared to be successful when they begin first grade in the 2021/22 school year.

The grant is supporting a reading acceleration initiative for kindergarten students in the District’s summer program at five sites, including Challenger Elementary School, Driftwood Elementary School, Lakeside Elementary School, Stirling Elementary School and Tradewinds Elementary School. Each of these schools is serving as a feeder site, welcoming their students and students who attend other District schools during the regular school year.

During the six-week program, the students participate in four hours of intensive reading and writing instruction each school day. They also enjoy debate, music and art activities. The reading acceleration initiative aims to mitigate the summer slide, when students tend to lose some of the achievement gains made during the school year, as well as the impact of learning loss due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

BCPS partnered with Scholastic to develop the reading acceleration pilot program and curriculum. As the students enter first grade, they will continue to be monitored for their academic progress and growth.

The District’s Summer 2021 learning experience began on Monday, June 21, and runs through July 29. To learn more about the educational opportunities available for students in pre-K through 12th grade, visit browardschools.com/Summer2021.