Hampton City Schools receives $1.5 million for Extended-Year and Year-Round school grants

Hampton City Schools (HCS) is one of four Virginia school divisions that received funds from the Extended-Year and Year-Round school grants. The announcement was made by the Virginia Department of Education on November 2, 2022. HCS received $1.5 million.

 

The HCS grant money will be used to support existing programs at Bethel, Hampton, Kecoughtan, and Phoebus through extended enrichment learning. Each high school's Extended Enrichment Learning Programs (EEL) provide a comprehensive set of offerings for students in grades 9-12 to connect with their peers, teachers and the world beyond the classroom, engage in rigorous tasks, accelerate learning, and improve their social and emotional wellbeing. All EEL programs, whether they are offered after school, on weekends, or during the summer, align curricula and content with classroom curriculum and instruction through a variety of learning programs, enrichments, and academic supports that compliment and coordinate with - but does not replicate - the learning that occurs during the school day. Some examples include but are not limited to:

• Summer Bridge Program - helps ease the transition between middle to high school for more than 1,500 freshmen. This week-long freshmen orientation helps students understand the differences in expectations between middle and high school, builds a strong social support network, and makes positive connections with the teachers.
  
  

• Summer Career College 1.0 - immerses up to 400 rising 9th grade students in career and industry experiences as they participate in three weeks of weekly (20 hour) micro-exploratory modules that introduce the concepts and technical content of career clusters that align with Hampton's 16 college and career academies.
  
  

• Summer Career College 2.0 - a two-week, academy-connected career exploration program that offers over 300 rising sophomores a wide range of themed enrichment and curated career exploration opportunities.
  
  

• Academy League - an after-school and weekend program that runs throughout the academic year. Enrichment activities and academic and remediation support compliments and coordinates with classroom instruction; high-quality, meaningful learning opportunities focused on applying knowledge and skills to address authentic real-world situations; and students learn how what they are learning in class applies to the future they want.
  
  

• Summer Business Institute - immerses 400 students in experiences that require them to apply academy knowledge and skills to an authentic industry-specific challenge presented by business partners. 
  
  

• The Floating Classroom Summer Edition - connects 100 students to expeditionary and immersive learning experiences that allows them to become more deeply involved in addressing local issues and community concerns as they focus on the boat design challenge, wetlands exploration, and learn more about water safety and sailing exploration.
  
  

• The Portrait of a Graduate Senior Conference - provides all seniors an opportunity to attend workshops on postsecondary college, careers, and life topics; explore local industry; and participate in mock interviews.
  
  

• The College Tour Series - offers all 10th-12th grade students a scaffold series of experiences with specific purposes and aligned activities based on grade level.

The grant money will also be used for new programs at all of the schools who serve middle school students (i.e., middle schools, PreK-8 schools, gifted center) to support the middle school transformation as the division continues to put every student on the path to success in college, career, and lifelong learning. 

The middle school transformation is about redesigning instruction to integrate more career exploration, exposure, and training, not pushing the high school academy model down through the middle schools. The expected benefits of the middle school transformation for students in grades 6-8 include awareness of and exposure to the diverse array of career possibilities; increased self-awareness and potential occupation that align with their interests and talents; acquisition of foundational technical and employability skills; being more knowledgeable of and prepared to make informed educational decisions; and successfully transitioning to high school. Like our high schools EEL programs, the middle school transformation extended learning time programs, whether they are offered after school, on weekends, or during the summer, will align curricula and content with classroom curriculum and instruction through a variety of learning programs, enrichments, and academic supports that compliment and coordinate with - but do not replicate - the learning that occurs during the school day. Ultimately, the division will be creating signature experiences at each grade level that align with the Portrait of a Hampton Graduate.

The General Assembly created the Extended School Year Grant Program in 2013 in response to a Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission study that found that achievement of historically underperforming students improved faster in extended-year programs than in schools following traditional calendars. 

“Extended-year and year-round school programs provide consistent and structured learning environments for our students to succeed,” Superintendent of Public Instruction Jillian Balow said.