Miami-Dade County will be launching 18 summer school programs

DORAL, FL – This summer, after the end of probably one of the hardest school years ever lived, summer school programs will be a lot more intensive in Miami-Dade County to reduce learning gap.

The district will be opening 179 schools to host 18 programs aimed for a quarter of its enrollment in traditional public schools, which represents 65,000 students, reported the Miami Herald.

According to the report, in past years, between 5,600 to 6,000 students would engage in the district’s summer school programs. 

For this purpose, the district will be using $50 million from federal stimulus funding in addition to other federal grants to hire staff. Also, there will be a partnership with the Children’s Trust to put the project into action under what was called “Summer 305”.

The massive initiative is composed of summer programs and camps free of charge for students in Pre-K through 12th grade in physical and virtual modalities. It will include before and after care, and extended care until 6 p.m. for an additional fee at elementary and K-8 school sites. 

Not only that. Transportation, free breakfast and lunch available in grab-and-go containers, as well as mental health services through counselors ready to assist students in person or virtually will also be offered to all participants. 

“We want and need, and need for the sake of our students, parents to gravitate to our offering this summer,” said Carvalho according to the Herald. “We have a golden opportunity during this time, a federal investment for us to leverage and augment these opportunities.”

Those interested in joining the programs must know that COVID-19 protocols will be enforced, which includes wearing facial coverings, hand washing and social distancing. Also, registration may open by the end of April or early May. 

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