As the end of an anything-but-normal school year draws near, Orange County districts are making plans to offer summer accelerated learning programs designed to help students’ with everything from enrichment to grade recovery to mental health.
While summer school is certainly not a new concept for school districts, the pandemic has exacerbated the need for extended learning that goes beyond credit recovery. So, summer programming looks a little different from what’s been offered in past years.
District leadership teams from across OC are putting together programs that incorporate fun, innovative enrichment and recreational activities for students. And the majority of classes offered are open to both students assigned to summer school for remedial work and those just looking for fun activities.
Below is a sampling of summer programs offered by districts across the county. Please check your local district’s website for additional information on summer program offerings.
Brea Olinda Unified School District
Summer Boost 2021
June 21 through July 2 and July 12 through July 23 (elementary)
Summer Boost is a 10-day, in-person, workshop-style program offered to elementary students in grades K-6. Interactive lessons will be designed to give students a “boost” in English language arts and math. The program will be offered Monday through Friday and will operate at Olinda, Mariposa and Laurel elementary schools.
Middle and high school programs
June 21 through July 23
Summer Boost will also be offered at Brea Junior High, Brea Olinda High School and Brea Canyon High School. Students will participate four days per week via in-person and asynchronous instruction.
For more information, visit https://www.bousd.us/.
Fullerton School District
Fullerton School District Summer Learning Academy
June 7 through 25
Students in grades K-8 will be invited to participate in the Summer Learning Academy. The program will be held at multiple FSD sites and will be offered in-person. In addition to supporting students in ELA and Math, students will receive arts and physical education classes for students in grades K-6, as well as CTE classes for students in grades 7 and 8.
FSD Extended Play: Summer Edition
For students who are not taking part in the Summer Learning Academy, K-8 students can participate in an online program called FSD Extended Play: Summer Edition. This self-paced online program provides students with personalized ELA and math lessons based on a diagnostic test that is completed at the beginning of the program.
The district is also offering a variety of other programs including a summer STEAM camp, GATE Academy, speech and debate and more. For more information, visit https://www.fullertonsd.org/.
Fullerton Union High School District
2021 Summer School
May 27 through June 17 (first session)
June 21 through July 8 (second session)
The Fullerton Union High School District will offer its annual summer school program designed for remediation and advancement. Additional information can be found at https://www.fjuhsd.org/.
Irvine Unified School District
Elementary School Learning Recovery Academy (Invitation Only)
June 21 through July 20 (no school on July 2 and 5)
Elementary Learning Recovery Academy classes will be in-person at Springbrook and Cypress Village elementary schools. Students who qualify will either be invited to the ELA class or the ELA/Math combo class.
Middle School Learning Recovery Academy (Invitation Only)
June 21 through July 20 (no school on July 2 and 5)
The Middle School Learning Recovery Academy (ELA/Math/ELD) classes will be in-person at Jeffrey Trail and Lakeside middle schools.
High School Learning Recovery and Acceleration and Enrichment Academies
June 21 through July 30 (no school on July 2 and 5)
The Learning Recovery Academy will be in-person at Woodbridge High School, and the Acceleration and Enrichment Academy will be fully virtual through San Joaquin Alternative High School.
Additional information can be found at https://iusd.org/.
Laguna Beach Unified School District
LEAD (Learn, Enrich, Advance and Discover) Summer Enrichment Program
Aug. 2 through 6 and Aug. 9 through 13
The Laguna Beach Unified School District plans to offer additional learning opportunities to students of all ages through summer workshops.The district’s four campuses — Laguna Beach High School, Thurston Middle School, El Morro Elementary and Top of the World Elementary — will host students for the LEAD (Learn, Enrich, Advance and Discover) summer enrichment program. Students will be invited, at no cost to their families, to immerse themselves in activities ranging from writing to robotics, and from yoga to mathematics.
For more information, visit https://www.lbusd.org/.
La Habra City Schools
Summer BRIDGE Academy
June 8 through 18 and June 21 through July 1
District administrators are working with the City of La Habra to offer enrichment activities through the BRIDGE academy. After the Learning Acceleration program in the morning, all students will have the opportunity to attend afternoon enrichment. Enrichment activities being explored include music, dance, cooking, drawing, drama, calligraphy, cake decorating, crafts, sports, martial arts, yoga, self-defense, coding, robotics, astronomy, woodwork, magic, gardening, chess and more. Additional information can be found at https://www.lahabraschools.org/.
Newport-Mesa Unified School District
Elementary school programs
Summer Session
June 21 through July 16; no class on July 5
Summer Session is a four-week instructional program (four hours per day) for elementary students focusing on English language arts, English language development and mathematics, with instruction anchored in priority grade-level content to build strong readiness skills for the 2021-22 school year. Students will be invited for priority enrollment based on academic assessment scores in the 2020-21 school year. Summer Session will be available at multiple locations throughout the district.
Enrichment Camp
July 19 through July 30
Enrichment Camp is a two-week program for elementary students providing enrichment activities for students (2.5 hours per day). If interest exceeds capacity, students will be admitted to Enrichment Camp via a lottery process. Enrichment Camp will be offered in-person at multiple locations throughout the district.
Online Summer Learning Challenge
June 21 through August 13
The Online Summer Learning Challenge will provide elementary students asynchronous learning activities with weekly grade-level Zoom sessions available. The Online Summer Learning Challenge is designed to accommodate all students interested in participating.
Middle and High school programs
June 21 through July 16
Middle Schools will be offering two-week Summer Bridge programs to promote readiness for the 2021-22 school year. High Schools will offer a variety of course offerings through Extended Learning Academies for credit recovery and other academic programs.
Additional information can be found at https://web.nmusd.us/.
Santa Ana Unified School District
Santa Ana Unified School District will host in-person summer programs starting June 8 that will offer options for visual and performing arts, career technical education, English language learner support, credit recovery, academic intervention and other opportunities. Summer school activities and offerings include:
TK-12 Summer Enrichment
Provides students with opportunities to participate in the arts, STEAM and other high-interest content areas that simultaneously target literacy and critical thinking skills.
TK-8 Summer Intervention
Provides targeted academic support to students with a specific focus on English Learners, foster youth and students of low socioeconomic status, focusing on building foundational literacy and numeracy skills for students who have been specifically identified as needing additional support.
Career Technical Education (CTE)
Courses offered in CTE in fields including medicine, esports, graphic arts, building trades, automotive, solar science, drone operations and law.
High School Summer School
Provides students access to summer credit recovery, and prepares incoming 9th-graders for the high school transition.
Intermediate Bridge
A three- to five-day experience to support students in their transition from elementary to intermediate school.
Summer Language Academy
Offers students with limited English comprehension with language support.
For more information, visit https://www.sausd.us/.