Hart County Charter Schools Receive Summer Bridge Program Rural Grant, Set to Host Summer Learning Camp for Gifted Students

The Hart County Charter System is excited to announce a new summer learning program for gifted and high-achieving students that will feature specific academic focus areas such as engineering and infrastructure; robotics and coding; and agriculture and hydroponics.

The Georgia Department of Education’s College Readiness and Talent Development unit recently provided schools with the opportunity to apply for a Summer Bridge Program Grant for Rural Districts.

The grant focuses on summer programs that accelerate student learning for gifted and high-achieving students (grades K-8) for the summer of 2023.

Each applicant could be awarded as much as $15,000 per school.

Assistant Superintendent, Mrs. Lydia Bennett, collaborated with school administrators, system administrators, STEAM facilitators at each respective school, and instructional coaches to write grant proposals on behalf of each elementary school in our district and Hart County Middle School.

As a district, each school was awarded the grant.

Each elementary school received $10,737.20, while Hart County Middle School received $12,958.53, for a total of $45,170.13.

The summer learning program for gifted and high-achieving students is called S.A.I.L. (Summer Academy of Innovative Learning).

“This unique opportunity addresses several needs that were vocalized by both parents
and employees. The needs were discussed last school year when we invited community
stakeholders to participate in the creation of the district’s five-year strategic plan,”
Superintendent Jennifer Carter said. “I love that our elementary students will be
allowed to pursue their passions and mingle with students from other schools. I
appreciate Mrs. Bennett’s work behind the scenes to bring this idea to life. I have no
doubt that the camp will prove to be a huge success!”

The program will offer a week-long day camp opportunity for qualifying students in rising grades 3-8.

Students will be selected using a multi-selection criteria tool that will target the top-10 percent of students in each grade level with a maximum of 20 students being served per grade level per school.

The grant and summer day camp addresses several needs that were put to the school system by both parents and employees, according to School Superintendent Jennifer Carter.

Carter said those needs were discussed last school year when by community stakeholders to participate in the creation of the district’s five-year strategic plan.

The day camp will be held from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on July 10-14, 2023, at each respective school.

Each school will have a specific focus area including engineering and infrastructure (Hartwell Elementary); robotics and coding (South Hart Elementary); and agriculture and hydroponics (North Hart Elementary). Hart County Middle School will feature a combination of those focus areas.
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Selected participants will be able to choose which program he/she is most interested in attending.

Learning activities will encompass all academic areas. Tasks will be based, and focus on real-world scenarios specific to our geographical area.

Qualifying students will be notified by school officials about the opportunity to attend the camp.