Topeka Unified School District 501 witnessed remarkable achievements this summer, fueled by Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) funds. These resources enabled the district to offer a diverse range of enriching summer programs, including hands-on enrichment camps, credit and unit recovery courses, and engaging summer music classes, all contributing to student growth and recovery.
Across Topeka High School and the Topeka Center for Advanced Learning and Careers (TCALC), a career magnet school, 380 enthusiastic pre-K to eighth-grade students immersed themselves in dynamic enrichment camps. Dedicated teachers led in-person sessions covering a wide spectrum of subjects, from art and science to sewing, coding and robotics, photography, and culinary arts. Recognizing diverse learning preferences, virtual classes were also available. Furthermore, aspiring musicians benefited from specialized band, choir, and strings camps, enhancing their skills and passion for music.
“These weren’t your typical summer school classes; they were hands-on, deeply engaging, and genuinely fun,” emphasized Billie Wallace, Assistant Superintendent of Teaching and Learning for Topeka USD 501. “Our primary goal was to provide enriching opportunities that would help students bridge learning gaps experienced over the past year. For instance, teachers cleverly integrated reading and math concepts into cooking activities, while sewing projects became practical lessons in measurement, pattern recognition, and precision cutting.” This innovative approach ensured learning was both effective and enjoyable.
In addition to the enrichment camps, more traditional in-person summer classes were conducted at Scott Dual Language Magnet Elementary School and Robinson Middle School, involving 245 students. These programs offered a blend of structured learning and supportive environments to cater to diverse academic needs.
High school students also benefited significantly from the summer initiatives. Credit and unit recovery classes were offered across the district’s high schools, resulting in an unprecedented 417 students successfully recovering 479 classes – the highest number ever achieved in a single summer session, according to Wallace. This success reflects the effectiveness of the revamped program model and the dedication of both teachers and students.
While a nominal fee of $25 was initially charged for high school credit recovery classes, this was fully refunded upon course completion, ensuring accessibility for all students. At Topeka West High School, teachers provided in-person instruction, offering flexible options for students needing either unit recovery or full credit recovery. This tailored approach allowed some students to achieve their goals in as little as one week, while others requiring full credit recovery could attend for up to four weeks.
Sydney Ho, a dedicated teacher at Topeka West High School, spent four weeks leading unit and credit recovery Algebra I classes. Many of her students were freshmen during the challenging 2020-2021 school year. Unlike previous years where summer credit recovery involved unsupervised computer lab work, the ESSER funding enabled in-person teacher-led instruction. While technology remained a component of the course delivery, teachers were readily available to provide personalized guidance and support.
Ho observed a remarkable outcome: “Every student who attended class and was willing to engage with the material successfully regained their Algebra I credit.” She further emphasized the program’s transformative impact, stating, “It removed significant learning barriers and effectively set these students back on a positive trajectory for their sophomore year. Bringing students back into the school building, especially in smaller, focused groups, clearly demonstrates the school’s investment in their individual success.”
Colin Cathey, Associate Principal at Topeka West, highlighted the range of subjects offered for credit and unit recovery, including speech, Algebra I and II, geometry, and English for grades 9-11. These classes ran from June 7th to July 2nd. A key innovation this year was the introduction of unit recovery, a more targeted approach than the traditional full credit recovery. Teachers identified students who had demonstrated mastery in over half of a semester’s content but needed focused support to master the remaining units. This allowed for efficient intervention and prevented students from retaking entire courses unnecessarily.
Cathey noted the positive reception from educators, stating, “I believe our teachers genuinely appreciated this approach. We certainly witnessed the benefits, effectively doubling the number of credits earned during our summer school program.” Specifically, 126 students completed credit recovery, and an additional 72 students achieved unit recovery.
Michelle Johnson, a fourth-grade teacher at McEachron Elementary School, brought her passion for science to the summer enrichment camps at Topeka High, leading the Super Science and Space Exploration camps. “The children were absolutely captivated,” she shared. “We incorporated a wealth of hands-on experiments – the kind of engaging activities that are often challenging to fit into the regular classroom schedule.” Student favorites included making slime, building rockets, and designing space capsules. Johnson recounted, “Many students were surprised and empowered by their ability to conduct these experiments successfully.” She also observed significant personal growth in her students, noting, “While some began the week shy and reserved, by midweek, they were actively participating, collaborating on experiments, and enthusiastically sharing their ideas.”
Ronda Hoss, a K-5 science teacher at Williams Science and Fine Arts Magnet School, channeled her expertise into teaching coding and robotics to third through fifth graders at the TCALC career magnet school enrichment camp. “This program was intentionally designed to be more hands-on and experiential compared to traditional summer school,” Hoss explained. “While maintaining an academic focus, it placed a greater emphasis on enrichment. Students were actively learning, often without even realizing it, as they developed crucial math skills, critical thinking abilities, and essential social skills through collaborative projects and challenges.” Echoing Johnson’s observations, Hoss witnessed remarkable transformations in her students: “Many started the camp week being quiet and withdrawn, but by the week’s end, they were fully integrated, working together seamlessly. It was truly rewarding to see them blossom, their self-esteem grow visibly. The students genuinely enjoyed the opportunity to collaborate and learn together. We are already eagerly planning for next year’s program, building on this summer’s successes.”
This summer’s initiatives within Topeka Unified School District 501 underscore the power of targeted investment in student enrichment and recovery. By leveraging ESSER funds to create engaging, hands-on programs like the Career Magnet School Coding And Robotics Summer Camp, and providing crucial credit recovery opportunities, the district has demonstrably fostered student success, reignited learning enthusiasm, and paved the way for a brighter academic future for its students.
