WASHINGTON, DC – Today, in partnership with District of Columbia Public Library (DCPL) and children’s literacy nonprofit Reading Is Fundamental (RIF), DC Public Schools (DCPS) kicked off an exciting summer of learning and exploration with a “Summer Book Jam” and Lego “Build Your Lego Dream” contest. The kickoff was held at J.C Nalle Elementary School with first-grade students, where students received free books and Lego sets and signed up for the DCPL summer reading challenge. 

Research shows that “summer learning loss” disproportionately affects low-income students. As much as 80 percent of students from economically disadvantaged communities fall behind their higher-income peers during the summer months, and stand to lose one to three months of reading skills each summer. 

The DCPS summer book giveaway and “Build Your Lego Dream” contest are focused on boosting literacy skills during the summer months, highlighting students’ critical and creative thinking, promoting family engagement, and valuing student choice and self-selection. 

“These fun and engaging books and resources keep our students’ skills sharp over the summer so they can have a successful start to the school year, and we are thrilled to get them in our students’ hands,” said DCPS Chancellor Kaya Henderson. “Just because the school year is coming to a close doesn’t mean the learning should end. Giving students learning tools like books and Legos engages their creativity and imagination and allows them to continue building fundamental skills even when they’re not in the classroom.” 

Prior to the end of the 2014-15 school year, all DCPS students in pre-K through Grade 5 as well as eighth grade will have an opportunity to select at least three high-interest books to take home, own and read throughout the summer. This book distribution is part of an overall summer reading pilot program, Read for Success, developed by RIF as part of a research study on reading proficiency and combating the summer learning slide. The DCPS pilot program is funded in part by Macy’s. Nearly 100,000 books have been distributed to 7,500 students from 30 schools throughout the District as part of the summer reading pilot program. 

“RIF is delighted to partner with DCPS to bring the joys of reading to students all summer long,” said Carol H. Rasco, president and CEO of Reading Is Fundamental. “Through our research, we validated the importance of access and choice to books to improve reading proficiency not just during the summer, but all year long. Books can open students to new worlds and take them on special journeys.” 

All first-grade students in DCPS’ targeted 40 schools in Wards 7 and 8 will also receive a 484-piece bucket of Legos. Studies have shown that playing with Legos improves the creative and critical thinking skills of students and boosts fine motor development. Students will have the opportunity to showcase their Lego creations through entering the “Build Your Lego Dream” contest. To enter, families can submit photos of students’ creations on Instagram and Facebook contest pages. Three winning students will receive a super-deluxe Lego product at the end of the summer. 

Students will also be encouraged to participate in the DCPL summer reading challenge. This year's summer reading theme is, “Every Hero Has a Story,” and participants who log at least eight hours of reading this summer can win two free ticketsto a Washington Nationals baseball game and a coupon for a free Chipotle burrito. Participants who read at least 28 hours can join The League of Extraordinary Readers and be entered for a chance to win lunch with seven famous children's authors. DCPS students can sign up at their school or any local library branch.  

Getting access to library books will also be easier for students this summer and throughout the school year with the DC One Card, an identification card that gives children, adults and seniors access to DC government facilities and programs, including public schools, recreation centers, libraries and the Metro. DCPS students can now use their One Card to check out books at all DCPL branches. 

In addition to free books, Legos and DCPL programs, students can participate in a variety of free programs and academic experiences this summer, from reading to high-quality academics and field trips. Academic and enrichment opportunities are available for all students, including students with disabilities and English Language Learners.

DC Meets Washington
July 13-July 31, 2015, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Location: Browne Education Campus, 850 26th St. NE.

After successfully launching "DC Meets Washington" last summer, DCPS will expand the college-focused, DC-centric program this year to include rising sixth-, seventh- and eighth-graders. In this three-week program, students will get a behind-the-scenes view of the city’s growing industries – IT, engineering, hospitality and government sectors.  They will meet with local leaders from each of these sectors and participate in site visits where they will directly experience professional and postsecondary opportunities in each of these fields. Examples of site visits for each sector may include speakers from and visits to the floor of the United States House of Representatives, a prominent architecture firm, the DC Convention Center and the Georgetown University Schools of Public Policy and Foreign Service. Register for the DC Meets Washington program. 

School-Wide Enrichment Model (SEM) Summer Program
July 6-July 31, 2015, 9 am - 1 pm
Location: Hardy Middle School (1819 35th St. NW) and Stuart-Hobson Middle School (410 E St. NE) 

High-performing and rising middle school students (those currently in grades 5, 6 and 7) will participate in the Summer Enrichment Program, a partnership between DCPS and the University of Connecticut's Neag Center for Gifted Education. Students work in groups and use technology and other resources to explore and solve real­world problems in science, math, creative writing, social studies, or the arts in this hands-on, enjoyable learning experience that includes field trips. Register for the School-Wide Enrichment Model Summer Program.  

Camp Let’s Go
July 6-July 31, 2015, 8 am – 3 pm
Location: Noyes Education Campus, 2725 10th St. NE 

Camp Let’s Go is a program designed for students ages 3-6 to explore their world and enhance communication skills. The program provides language, vocabulary and phonemic awareness development through a variety of hands-on activities including sensory, motor and environmental experiences. Each class is taught by a speech pathologist and paraprofessional. There is a $30 registration fee. Register for Camp Let's Go. 

DCPS Summer School – Grades K-7
June 29- July 31, 2015, 8 am -1 pm
Location: Various locations – For the full list view the "K-7 Summer School" section on the Summer School Programs - Pre K through Grade 8 page. 

Students explore a wide range of subject matters in the K-7 Summer School program. This summer's academic programming includes:

• Kindergarten: Wonders of Nature - Students will explore how plants exist, grow and change.
• First Grade: Protecting Our Earth - Students will learn how conservation and recycling are important to the environment.
• Second Grade: Taking Care of Ourselves - Students will learn about the four body systems, while understanding what needs to be done to maintain our health.
• Third Grade: Inspired by the Sea - What's Down There? - Students learn about legends of the sea and become familiar with informational texts about animals that live in fresh and salt water.
• Fourth Grade: The Changing Earth - Students will explore how waves, wind, water, and ice shape and reshape the earth's land surface. Students will be able to explain how natural disasters such as earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and landslides change the surface of the earth.
• Fifth Grade: What's Out There? - Students will learn how the Earth is part of the Solar System and about other bodies that make up the Solar System, such as planets, stars, comets, moons, and asteroids.