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Summer Academic Enrichment Program Back for 2012

2/13/2012


 

Contact: Sandy Connolly, Director of Communications
Office of Higher Education
(651) 259-3902

St. Paul, MN - Nancy Walters, Program Manager at the Office of Higher Education (OHE), is happy to announce that the Summer Enrichment Program for low-income elementary and secondary students will once again be offered this summer.

The Summer Enrichment Program is supported by the federal College Access Challenge Grant Program and administered by OHE. Participating students will attend one of 49 approved 2012 summer academic enrichment program sites.

"Summer breaks from school often take a toll on student learning," said Walters. "Deprived of healthy stimulation, millions of children lose a significant amount of what they learn during the school year."

This "summer learning loss," or "the summer slide," is one of the least acknowledged causes of achievement gaps in America's schools. The Summer Academic Enrichment Program seeks to counter the achievement gap and give children access to high quality experiences that keep exercising their minds through participation in challenging enrichment classes.

The amount of each student's stipend will be based on the fee for the summer academic enrichment program up to the maximum stipend of $1,000. Students must be Minnesota residents completing grades 3-11 and qualifying for free or reduced price lunches. Students in grades 7-11 must have earned at least an overall "C" average or its equivalent for the most recently recorded academic term (semester/quarter/trimester) or have earned at least a "C" average or its equivalent for the most recently recorded academic term in the subject area applicable to the summer program the student wishes to attend.

In-state postsecondary institutions and nonprofit organizations are sponsors of the 49 approved programs. The programs provide academic instruction supporting student enrichment in curricular areas of communication/language arts, humanities, social studies, social sciences, science, mathematics, fine or performing arts, or foreign language/world languages and cultures. Programs provide an opportunity for students to gain exposure to a college environment and to improve academic skills in order to be better prepared for college.

The online student application is now available. Awards will be made on a first-come, first-serve basis.

If you have any questions about the summer academic enrichment program contact Brenda Larter at brenda.larter@state.mn.us or 651-355-0612.


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