Milwaukee Public Schools Plans Summer School Amid COVID-19

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M.P.S’ summer academy is planned to change the upcoming summer of 2021. Changes include five new
programs that aid in credit recovery, career building and acceleration. The five programs are titled Virtual Summer Program, Skills Boost, Career Exploration Programs, Explore Your Future and Summer Academy-Exploration Camp.

“We are prepared to go from a face-to-face or virtual standpoint,” said Superintendent Keith Posley.

The Student Achievement and School innovation committee are waiting on science to decide if the academy will be in person, virtual or both. As of now, the academy is planned for both in person and
virtual.

In the past, summer programs included transportation for the students, but this year transportation will
be discontinued.

“We literally had one or two children on a bus,” said Director of college readiness John Hale. “At this point, them demand wasn’t there to plan for.”

The estimated total expenditure for the academy is $5.7 million.
All five votes on the committee approved 2021’s plan for Milwaukee Public School’s Summer Academy.

Former Milwaukee Public School Student Breon Roberson recalls his experiences in summer school.

“We would go outside, go on field trips and eat lunch,” said Henry David Thoreau alumni Roberson.

Roberson stated he didn’t ride the bus to school and when asked if he would’ve enjoyed virtual learning back then he said, “I couldn’t imagine doing summer actives online; but I’m sure it would’ve been better than doing nothing all day.”