Summer Programs: What You Need to Know

FCPS is in the midst of a difficult budget year. To help reduce costs, summer school will not be offered in the same manner as it has been in the past. Summer learning opportunities for FCPS elementary and middle school students in 2008 will be school–based. Programs will focus on meeting the identified academic needs of student participants and is tailored for each location.  Individual school administrators are completing their plans for summer programs at their locations and will be an excellent source of information about the new summer programs being offered in 2008.

The summer school booklet, Encore, is available online. View Encore. (PDF format)

Assistant Superintendent for Instructional Services Peter Noonan and Superintendent Dr. Jack Dale discuss FCPS summer programs for elementary, middle and high school levels in this featured story from Insight. Insight airs every day at 6:30 p.m. and most days at 1:30 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. on Cox Communications Channel 21, Comcast Cable 21 in Reston, and also on Verizon Channel 21. Watch the video.

The high school summer program remains similar to last year; four central sites will offer courses for both acceleration and credit recovery. Locations, dates, times, and registration forms can be found in Encore 2008, the summer school programs booklet, which is available in late spring to families of FCPS students. Copies will be available at Fairfax County public schools and public libraries, in FCPS administrative offices, and online.

A limited number of enrichment opportunities will be available for student in grades 4-12.  Details can be found in Encore 2008 which will be available online in late April. Note: The elementary, middle, and high school programs are contingent upon final approval of the FCPS budget by the School Board on May 22, 2008. Budget documents, including work session and public hearing dates, are currently available. We encourage you to stay updated by visiting this web site or signing up for the Keep in Touch message system.

Registration Starts in May
Registration for most summer school programs begins in May. Registration for elementary and middle school summer programs will occur at school sites.  Registration for high school summer programs will be done through central administration via mail and fax Monday, May 12 through Tuesday, June 24.  High school registration forms and instructions will be included in Encore 2008.

Eligibility
The elementary and middle school academic summer programs are open to FCPS students only. Participating students will be identified by school-based teams at the local school. The high school summer programs are open to FCPS students currently enrolled and nonpublic students who are residents of Fairfax County.  Out-of-county high school students are eligible in most cases with increased tuition and specific documentation.

Transportation
Transportation is provided for select elementary academic summer programs. Transportation will be provided to most middle schools and the four centralized high school academic summer programs. Transportation is provided only within the assigned summer school attendance area for all Fairfax County students.  However, bus stops are not the same as those during the school year. Transportation is not offered for all summer programs.
 
General Education

Elementary School Academic Summer Program Courses
The elementary school summer program is a school-based intervention program at selected sites.  It provides continuity between summer and the regular school year learning goals and activities.  Individual schools will determine the instructional priorities at each site.  Most general education elementary summer programs will run from Monday, July 28 through Friday, August 15.  

Middle School Summer Program—Students Currently in Middle School
The middle school summer program is a school-based intervention program at selected sites.  It provides continuity between summer and the regular school year learning goals and activities. The middle school program will focus on literacy and numeracy and will concentrate on preparing students for the next academic school year.  Most general education middle school programs will run from Monday, July 21 through Friday, August 8.

High School Courses—Students Currently in High School
The high school summer academic program is a central site-based program. The locations are Edison, Lake Braddock, Oakton, and Westfield. The program will run from Wednesday, July 9, through Thursday, August 7, 7:30 a.m. – 2:15 p.m. High school courses will include: Algebra 1 Part I, Algebra 1, Algebra 2, Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science, English 9 (repeat only), English 10, English 11, English 12, Geometry, Geosystems, Physics, Va. and U.S. Government, Va. and U.S. History, World History and Geography 1, and World History and Geography 2. Prerequisites for each course are outlined in Encore 2008.

Services for Students With Disabilities

Extended school year (ESY) services will be provided to identified students with disabilities in accordance with their individual education programs (IEP). These services are intended to maintain progress on critical life skills for students for whom a prolonged break in services may cause regression or significantly jeopardize gains made during the regular school year.

The need for ESY is discussed at the annual IEP each year. If parents feel their child’s needs may have changed since the annual IEP was completed and wish to request an IEP addendum, they can do so by contacting their child’s special education teacher or department chair. In addition, a limited number of high school courses—Algebra 1, Biology, English 9-12, World History 1, and Va. And U.S. Government—will be offered in a special education setting at Lake Braddock Secondary School for students with disabilities who require additional support. Visit the web site for additional information, or call the Office of Special Education at 571-423-4190.

In addition to courses for academic credit, a wide range of noncredit enrichment learning opportunities are offered during the summer. Students may pursue academic and skill strengthening or focus on personal interests. There are several new and exciting enrichment opportunities for summer 2008. Including: Institute for the Arts*, Driver Education Program, Enrichment—A variety of options exist for sharpening academic skills or for personal interest, and Foreign Language Mania, Spanish Conversation, Spanish Language and Culture, Tech Adventure Camp, SAT/PSAT Preparation, and TJHSST Admissions Test Prep Seminar. Summer enrichment courses and programs are administered by the Office of Adult and Community Education, a division of the FCPS Instructional Services Department.

*The deadline for Institute for the Arts registration has been extended. Please contact the IFTA office at 703-227-8446 for further information.

Other Opportunities