Two students work together on an enrichment lesson at DuVall Elementary School during the summer of 2022. For 2024, Dearborn Public Schools will offer a free Summer Discovery Program for thousands of elementary and middle school students over seven weeks in June and July.
DEARBORN — Dearborn Public Schools is planning a large 2024 Summer Discovery Program for current elementary and middle school students, thanks to a multi-million grant.
The free Summer Discovery Program will provide hours of additional math and literacy education for students, using an extension of the same curriculum students received during the school year. A variety of enrichment activities will also be included.
Students will attend their regular schools, except students at four elementary schools undergoing construction this summer (Haigh, Howard, Long and Nowlin) who will attend other schools in their area.
Parents can contact the office at their child’s school to enroll their student for the summer program no later than May 10.
Slots are available for about 3,500 students. The program is only open to students already enrolled in DPS and currently in kindergarten through eighth grades. Free breakfast and lunch will be available to participating students.
The Summer Discovery Program is mostly funded through a grant of up to $7 million from the Ballmer Group and United Way for Southeastern Michigan. Supplemental funding is also coming from Title I and 23G grants.
Classes will run for 25 days from June 12 to July 24. Days off will be June 17 and 18 for Eid and July 4, 5, 12 and 19. Elementary students, Lowrey, McCollough/Unis, and Salina Intermediate students will have literacy, math and enrichment from 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., with optional free childcare extending until 4 p.m. Middle school programs will run from 8:45 a.m. to 3:15 p.m. each day, with optional free child care lasting until 4:45 p.m.
Students eligible for transportation during the school year are eligible for transportation to and from the summer academic program. Transportation home is not available for students remaining for child care.
DPS usually offers some summer programs at most schools, but typically the programs are much smaller and focus on helping struggling students strengthen their academic skills. The 2024 Summer Discovery Program is intended to reach a much larger number of students and provide more instruction and more enrichment.
In the summer of 2021, Dearborn Public Schools used COVID-19 relief funds to provide a Summer Academic and Enrichment Program to more than 8,400 students across the district.
“We are extremely thankful for this grant that will allow us to provide a great summer program to thousands of students in the district,” Supt. Glenn Maleyko said. “We are looking forward to providing students a fun and educational experience that strengthens their academic skills.”