The Henson Fund

Why Eagle Academy – Summer Learning Program

It is important for all children as they start a new school year to be able to learn and grow academically to that year’s objectives, and not need to “catch up” to a previous years’ goals as well.

In 2012, at Alta Vista Elementary School, a Sarasota Title 1 school, a six-week summer pilot program named Eagle Academy was designed and taught by master teachers. The program featured a robust daytime academic curriculum for rising kindergarteners and an evening Parent University that offered comprehensive parenting workshops. The program had a two-generation approach. Transportation, daycare, and meals were free.

Based on the positive results in participant and non-participant student testing, the Sarasota County School District took over the program in 2015, expanding it to include all 10 Title 1 schools and grade levels up to rising 5th graders, and renaming the program Summer Learning.

Before COVID shut down the program in 2020, almost 1700 Sarasota pre-K through grade 5 elementary students were participating in Summer Learning.

The school district brought the program back for summer 2023 with an enrollment of 1,077 students.

Summer Learning Program Goals

• To establish a strong educational foundation by providing an integrated day of learning that improves children’s success in school by helping them make a smooth transition to each new grade level.
• To nurture the development of a positive self-concept and encourage students to excel in reaching high expectations.
• To provide rich experiences that enhance skills in listening, speaking, emergent reading and writing, and mathematical concepts with an emphasis on concrete, hands-on, and multisensory learning.
• To provide appropriate assessments that identify the strengths and needs of each child to differentiate instruction to meet the learning needs of individual students.
• To engage parents/guardians in their child’s education through participation, communication, and learning.

Summer Learning is so very important to our students! It prevents the summer learning loss, keeps students in the routine of learning and growing, and gives students more time to master skills and learn new ones. Students maintain friendships and have fun in a safe, supportive environment.

 Amy Edelkind

Summer Learning Program Elements

The Summer Learning program features an academic period from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., enrichment activities and STEAM learning (science, technology, engineering, art, and math) from 1 p.m. to 3:30. Parents are invited to join the afternoon sessions. Some schools have opted to continue Parent University at night.