Still Time to Apply for Summer Academic Enrichment Camps

4/12/2016

 

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

St. Paul, MN -- Just over 100 awards are still available for summer enrichment camps for low-income elementary and secondary students, according to the Minnesota Office of Higher Education (OHE). The camps aim to combat the "summer slide" that often occurs when children lack healthy stimulation over the summer weeks, causing them to lose a significant amount of what they learn during the school year.

Dr. Nancy Walters, Program Manager at OHE, said the summer slide is one of the least acknowledged causes of achievement gaps in America's schools.

"To support academic potential and develop career readiness in our students, they must be given every opportunity to succeed," said Walters. "Summer academic programming allows retention and enhances what students learn during the school year."

The Summer Enrichment Program is supported by Minnesota 2015 session law and administered by OHE. Participating students will attend one of 45 approved 2015 summer academic enrichment program sites.

A parent whose child attended a Summer Academic Enrichment Camp last summer, said this about the program:

"Programs such as this are crucial to ensuring our children graduate high school with the basic skills necessary to pursue higher education and highly skilled employment."

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 45 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.

Participating students must attend an eligible summer program. View a list of eligible programs. Students must apply directly to the eligible summer program for the stipend. Stipends will be issued and paid to the summer program on a first-come, first-served basis. Over 400 students have already signed up, with just over 100 grants remaining.

If you have any questions about the Summer Academic Enrichment Program contact Brenda Larter by e-mail or 651-355-0612.