LYNN — Students in the city’s public schools will be able to participate in an in-person summer learning experience to make up for lost time due to the pandemic.
“We believe additional opportunities for learning this summer are critical pieces for stabilization and simply getting back on track,” said Superintendent of Schools Dr. Patrick Tutwiler in last Thursday’s School Committee meeting. “Among other things, students have lost that all-too-important interaction with peers and their educators.”
Students at the elementary-, middle- and high-school levels will be invited to the program based on teacher recommendations and data from iReady and other testing. The district is not yet sure exactly how many students will be able to participate, as they are still finalizing what staff will be available, but hope to start outreach to families in the coming week or two.
The program will run for four weeks. At the elementary level, rising first to fifth graders will meet from 8 to 11 a.m. four days a week from July 6 to 26, and will focus on English language arts and math. They will also participate in a morning meeting and closing circle.
“We wanted to make sure we provide a substantive learning experience while ensuring there is still time to do other things during the day,” Tutwiler said.
At the middle-school level, rising sixth to eighth graders will meet from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. four days a week from July 12 to August 5 and will also focus on English and math, as well as arts enrichment. At the high-school level, rising ninth-grade students will meet three days a week from 8 to 11 a.m. from July 12 to August 5. In addition to English, math, and science programming, these students will receive help with the transition to high school.
Breakfast and lunch will be served for all grade levels.
The district will also provide activities for English language learners in grades K through 12, including printed and online “menu boards” with activities and voluntary, synchronous online sessions with English as a second language (ESL) staff.
“The summer learning plan marks a notable first. It’s the first time we’ve offered a district-wide summer learning experience in the way that it’s proposed, and obviously the first time we’re doing so on the heels of the year that we’ve had,” Tutwiler said. “We really endeavor to launch a summer learning experience that is realistic, will have an impact and embraces balance.”
The program is separate from the summer programming the district usually offers for its high-needs special education students, Tutwiler noted.
While the district is working with its community partners to develop enrichment programming and arrange transportation to other summer day programs at the end of each day’s classes, Tutwiler said that he doesn’t believe they will be able to provide transportation to and from the program for most students.
In addition, he said that, because of staffing shortages, he isn’t sure that the district will be able to provide social workers in every building to help with student mental-health issues, but hopes that having the in-person learning will help with those challenges.
“We thought the most prudent thing to do was to build into the everyday experience trauma-responsive activities, because we don’t know that we’ll have enough staff to do direct service or clinical support that way,” Tutwiler said.