JPS LEAP (Learning Enrichment & Academic Progress) had an amazing summer with 396 Jamestown students entering the first though fourth grades this school year enjoying literacy learning and enrichment activities with three main partners, Winifred Crawford Dibert Boys & Girls Club of Jamestown (Lincoln Elementary School), YWCA (Fletcher & Bush Elementary Schools) and YMCA(Ring and Love Elementary Schools), who also brought into the schools a wide variety of community partners to provide enrichment opportunities. LEAP ran for eight weeks from Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The YWCA, YMCA and Boys & Girls Club also provided extended-day care for those parents that needed it after 3 p.m. JPS provided neighborhood bus transportation for all students to and from school and the YMCA provided breakfast and lunch at no cost to any participant.

The summer LEAP Program helped propel Jamestown students forward this summer by improving reading and comprehension skills and offering enrichment activities during the summertime when traditionally students hit a “summer slide.” Literacy was the focus of JPS LEAP. JPS provided certified JPS teachers who delivered literacy intervention four days a week in the mornings. Teachers worked with students in small “like-skilled” groups utilizing research-based teaching strategies and assessments and helped students develop skills needed to positively progress as readers and try to avoid “summer slide.”

“I am very pleased to report that the preliminary Summer LEAP data indicates great success in terms of preventing ‘summer slide’ for our students,” said Michelle McDowell, JPS chief academic officer. “Data shows that 57 percent of students that attended LEAP were able to maintain their reading skills while 41 percent of students were able to improve upon their reading skills, which is a 98 % success rate. By maintaining and improving upon reading skills over the summer, students are even better prepared to be successful as they start school this fall. I want to thank all of the teachers, community partners, parents, and students who have all contributed to the great success of this program.”