Summer Academies

Philosophy

Worcester County Public Schools believes that every student can and will achieve high academic and performance standards as they grow physically, intellectually, emotionally, and socially, with enthusiasm for life-long learning. Because needs vary, we believe that some students require additional time and diversified instructional strategies to achieve this goal. Further, we believe this goal is achieved by providing an enriching and diverse curriculum, including one which challenges the thinking and creative skills of all students.

Purpose

Worcester County Public Schools Summer Program will provide additional instruction that:

  • Supports the Maryland College and Career Readiness Standards and curricula in the areas of reading and math, enabling students to advance in levels of proficiency as defined by the Maryland School Assessment Program.
  • Provides an enriching program in content areas of fine/performing arts, physical education and technology requiring students to extend and refine reading and math concepts and skills.
  • Helps to eliminate the achievement gap.
  • Supports a safe and drug-free environment.
  • Supports continued learning and avoids the summer slide.

Selection Process

All students entering grades Pre-kindergarten through 12th grade (possibly including three-year-old students with disabilities) will have an opportunity to apply for the summer program. In addition, selecting some, targeted, students may be issued an invitation to attend the program. The decision to issue this invitation will utilize the process outlined below:

Reading

  1. All students scoring at a basic level on the state assessment will be considered a candidate for invitation.

  2. A school-based team will review other data related to the student's academic performance to confirm the issuing of an invitation to attend this data will include: iReady Scores; Local Reading Benchmark Results; IEP Teams; PST Teams; Teacher Recommendations; Parent Recommendations and ELL students.

Mathematics

  1. All students scoring at a basic level on the state assessment will be considered a candidate for invitation.

  2. A school-based team will review data related to the student's academic performance to confirm the issuing of an invitation to attend this data will include: iReady Scores; Local Math Benchmark Results; IEP Teams; Dream Box or Math Conceptua Lab Results; Teacher Recommendations; and Parent Recommendations.

Curriculum

A curricular framework is being provided that is based on the objectives and assessment limits as indicated in the Maryland College and Career Readiness Standards for reading and mathematics. Individual schools will develop lessons utilizing existing resources to meet the individual needs of students.

Evaluation of Student Progress and/or Assessment:

Locally developed pre- and/or post-assessments or diagnostics in reading and mathematics may be given to students, to help determine what curriculum is best suited for summer programming and summer students. The assessments are developed to match the objectives of the state curriculum that are in the summer curriculum. These are used to guide instruction and to determine a child's progress.

Contact Information

Tamara Mills | 410-632-5031.

For specifics about the summer school program at your child's school, you may also call the school's main office or principal.