Pupils in kindergarten through third grade not reading at grade level are eligible for the sessions.
By JAREMY SHELTON and LETITIA STEIN
Published May 28, 2004
For struggling elementary students, summer vacation will see little rest and relaxation. Many Hillsborough County elementary schools are offering summer reading camps for kids from kindergarten through third grade in response to state pressure to boost reading scores.
This June, schools will invite struggling readers from kindergarten through third grade to attend a voluntary summer camp for three weeks of additional lessons. The program targets students who failed the reading portion of the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test.
Summer school turned serious last year, when Florida's school accountability program for the first time required districts to retain third-graders if they failed FCAT reading - even by a point. After running camps only for third-graders, the district decided to expand the concept to students in kindergarten through second grade this year.
"We can't wait until third grade to remediate," said Marilyn Blackmer, an elementary curriculum supervisor for the school district. "Reading is not cured overnight."
The district expects to serve almost 8,000 students in the kindergarten through third-grade reading camps, and another 3,500 students in a summer program for at-risk students.
However, attending one of these camps will not promote students to the next grade if they're being held back. That's an important point, because one in five Hillsborough third-graders is in danger of not advancing to the fourth grade.
"It does not mean they automatically pass," said Debbie Talley, assistant principal at Cimino Elementary, which only had to retain one third-grader. Cimino's struggling readers can attend a camp at Brooker Elementary. "They will be assessed at the end of the reading camp.
The smaller summer setting should allow teachers to spend more time with students, educators said. They also provide an opportunity for students with low reading levels to get extra practice.
"Students who read during the summer make a lot more progress than they would otherwise," said Gloria Kolka, principal of Lutz Elementary School.
In east Hillsborough, elementary schools offering reading programs include Apollo Beach, Brooker, Cypress Creek, Dover, Folsom, Ippolito, Mintz, Ruskin, Schmidt and Valrico. Wimauma and Gibsonton Elementary will offer both reading camps and a schoolwide summer enrichment program.
"We were recognized as a school with so many students who are at risk," said Wimauma Assistant Principal Lisa Tierney, who sent out 700 summer school invitations and signed up more than 300. "Usually, it's because of the language barrier, they need a little extra."
In addition to the reading camps for younger students, Wimauma will offer another reading program for fourth- and fifth-graders that passed the FCAT, but could benefit from extra lessons. The rest of the school is invited to a math and science enrichment course.
Across Hillsborough, students whose schools will not have a reading camp can enroll in one at another local school. Students can find out which camp to attend by calling the school they normally attend, or the district headquarters. The camps are free for students, and both breakfast and lunch will be available. In addition, certain schools are offering fee-based summer programs. For more information, parents can contact the district headquarters at 272-4000.
For many students, the summer camps could offer an extra boost to earn promotion to the fourth-grade. When Hillsborough's FCAT scores came out this spring, the school district said about 4,000 third-graders could be held back unless they could prove reading proficiency.
The options available to those who failed the FCAT include passing a state or national reading test. Student also can prepare a portfolio for a reading assessment by the school district, which can then decide if the student should be promoted or retained.
At a glance
WHAT: Summer reading camps.
WHO'S INVITED: Kindergarteners through third-graders who are below their grade's reading level.
WHEN: 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.June 7-30.
WHERE: Various elementary schools.
DETAILS: Call 272-4000 for information or to register.
