Questions to Consider When Planning Virtual Summer School Programming

After years of disrupted learning, planning for summer school looks different for many educators. Schools are now exploring new models for summer school by making it more accessible to a wider variety of students than before. Many summer programs will include a digital or virtual component. To help with the planning process, we have compiled a list of things to consider.

These questions are designed to review:

• The type of summer school program you are offering.
• The students you are serving.
• The instruction and staffing needed for success.

1. What type of summer school programming do you plan to offer?

• Fully in-person options?
• Blended course options?
• Fully virtual options?
• Fully virtual and fully in-person options?
  

2. How will instruction take place?

• Fully automated, self-directed?
• Guided with educator support?
• Set schedule with direct instruction?
• Options through a 3rd party?
  

3. What additional resources are needed for a successful summer school program?

• Staffing?
• Online curriculum and programming?
• Technology?
  

4. What will the criteria for student summer enrollment be?

• First come first serve basis?
• Educator identified struggling students?
• Students in need of credit recovery?
  

5. How will the summer school program be structured?

• Will attendance be taken?
• Must students complete the entire summer semester?
• Can students work at their own pace?
  

6. How will student progress and program data be tracked?

• Technologies and systems?
• Who will oversee and monitor data?
• Who will run student intervention?
  

7. What are the program policies?

• How will assignments be turned in?
• How will grading be managed?
• How will completion be determined?
• Letter grade or pass/fail grading?
  

8. What are the expectations for program content?

• Is it aligned to state standards?
• Does programming need to be customized?
• Full-course or portion earned credit?
  

9. Who will be the main points of contact for program and support related questions?

• Contact overseeing all summer programming?
• Contact for participating educators?
• Contact for enrolled students?
• Contact for Parents of enrolled students?
  

10. What are the expectations for all stakeholders?

• Administrators?
• Teachers?
• Students?
• Parents?
  

Looking for online programs to support your teachers and students this summer? Learn more about Edmentum's suite of educational programs that help individualize learning for each student. These programs include digital curriculum, research-based assessments, and educational consulting.

Check out some of our how-to guides:

An Administrator’s Guide for Creating a Virtual Learning Program

In this checklist we provide the top considerations when pivoting from in person instruction to virtual learning. We have compiled tips and resources to help with communication with staff, students, and parents. We also have a plan for virtual learning to keep students on track during school closures, both long and short-term.

Blended Learning: Fundamentals of the Planning Process How-to Guide

This guide has been created to help you decide the best blended learning program for your school or district. Additionally, it will provide you with a plan for a successful rollout and a roadmap for the implementation process. It also includes interactive planning worksheets you can use to begin planning your blended learning implementation.

Virtual Learning: Exploring the Options for Expanded Student Opportunity How-to Guide

This workbook provides guidance to teachers and administrators on virtual learning. It helps them evaluate if a fully virtual implementation is the best choice for their school or district. It also provides guidance on developing a program and choosing a virtual program partner. It also includes interactive planning worksheets you can use to begin planning your virtual learning implementation.

Credit Recovery Program Planning Worksheet

This guide has been developed to help you evaluate: the type of credit recovery program you are looking to offer, the students you are looking to serve, and the instruction and staffing that will be needed for a successful program implementation.

Personalized Learning Planning Worksheet

Use this interactive personalized learning planning worksheet to start developing PLP's for each of your students! Continuous academic discussion and analysis, together with data and tracking tools, provides an accurate reflection of student performance.

This post was originally published June 2020 and has been updated.