CPS Encourages Continued Learning Amid Summer Fun
Hurdlik, Carl
Chicago Public Schools Encourages Continued Learning Amid Summer Fun
From Summer Reading to STEM Fluency Games at school-based programming, students can enjoy multiple enriching options for a safe, joyful Summer Break
CHICAGO - As the 2025-26 school year comes to its close Thursday afternoon, Chicago Public Schools (CPS) is reminding students about the many summer learning programs and resources across the city. From specialty camps to programs that support credit recovery, transitions to a new grade level, or internships, there are hundreds of opportunities to keep young CPS scholars engaged and enjoying time with each other until CPS classes resume on Monday, Aug. 24.
“School doors may close Thursday afternoon, but our students’ minds must stay open to new adventures and learning opportunities this summer,” said CPS CEO Dr. Macquline King. “Fortunately, many of those same school doors will re-open soon to offer summer programming, from those that offer targeted literacy and math support to those that help students explore their interests and possible future careers. As always, we’re proud to collaborate with dedicated City, non-profit, and private partners that expand access to parks , libraries, museums, recreational facilities, and encourage summer reading, STEM activities, artistic endeavors, summer internships, job training, and more.”
SUMMER READING
Summer learning and reading provides opportunities for enrichment and academic acceleration that supports continued social, emotional, and academic growth through the summer months.
CPL is also running its annual Summer at CPL under this year’s theme, Chapters of Chicago. Programming celebrates the stories, sounds, flavors and creativity that define each neighborhood and the citywide culture. A Saturday, June 6 kick-off event from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Legler, Woodson and Sulzer Regional Libraries will launch the season. For a list of all CPL events for kids and teens, click here.
CPS students enjoy access to diverse and rich digital and physical library resources across the city through The 81 Club, a CPS-CPL partnership that means students are automatically registered and have digital access to the full resources of CPL’s 81 neighborhood libraries. Through this partnership, CPL’s locations operate as one of the most accessible out-of-school learning networks in the country. Each student gains access to a six million-item collection, online databases, digital media and free academic support.
CPS remains committed to supporting teachers and schools in providing literacy instruction to every CPS student that builds on students’ lived experiences, capitalizes on their cultural and linguistic assets and requires students to reason deeply and problem solve creatively. In collaboration with the District’s Literacy team, individual District-run schools are facilitating numerous literacy programs.
"Building upon the momentum of the 81 Club implementation and through our District-run programs, summer reading should flourish," said CPS Literacy Director Jane Fleming. "Students can explore as much of the world as they’d like to, at the library, in school, or even from the comfort of their own home. Staying immersed in joyful reading throughout the summer months helps keep students’ skills sharp for the 2026-27 school year.”
SUMMER STEM LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES
The Department of STEM ensures that students and families have access to fun, engaging and meaningful STEM experiences all summer long.
“Summer is the perfect time for STEM activities,” said CPS STEM Executive Director Corey Morrison. “STEM starts at home with everyday things you already do with your kids. Shuffle a deck of cards and play some math games. Spend time at the Shedd, Adler or Field museums investigating cool phenomena. Or sign-up for the many computer science-related camps throughout the city.”
The math team supports fun and easy, hands-on ways to engage with mathematics as a crucial way for students and families to become more comfortable with math and science concepts. The department’s mission is to develop positive math identities in students and families, which can contribute to future student success. Fluency games, such as Line of Four and Fraction Battle are wonderful ways for families to make math time fun and hands-on for their students of all ages. Most games only require a deck of cards or printing of the game boards. More than 30 fluency games have been vetted by CPS and are posted on the District’s website.
The CPS Computer Science team supports multiple opportunities to ensure continued access to computer science and career pathway opportunities in: AI, cybersecurity, robotics, engineering, and technology pathways during the summer. Collectively, these programs are engaging more than 210 CPS students this summer. Some programs include a paid CPS Robotics Internship Program and Cybersecurity Summer Camp for High School Girls.
The Science team connects with partners across the city to provide and support many STEM related activities. Partnerships with local city museums regularly offer science and STEM related programming. Other STEM resources, including an updated list of camps, clubs, and events throughout the summer, can be found on the CPS STEM website at https://www.cpsstem.cps.edu/
ADDITIONAL PROGRAMMING & OPPORTUNITIES
Chicago Youth Works, formerly “One Summer Chicago” is providing Chicago’s students and young adults with employment this summer. Applications remain now open for youth ages 14 to 24 to fill an anticipated 29,000 jobs and internships. CPS students can explore their options and apply here.
Chicago Park District is offering summer camps, focused fitness music, and art programs as well as targeted programming for teens and family-friendly activities such as the “Night Out in the Parks,” events including special movie nights. The Park District is administering a brief Teens In The Park Survey to help plan future programs and activities.
Additionally, this summer, the YMCA of Metropolitan Chicago is helping teens stay active, healthy, and connected through its Get Summer program. From June 8 through the end of August 2026, Chicago teens ages 12–18 can access seven participating YMCA locations free of charge. Participants will have access to fitness centers, gymnasiums, swimming pools during open swim hours, athletic fields and other recreational opportunities in a safe and welcoming environment. A valid form of Chicago residency is required for registration and teens ages 12–17 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian when signing up.
To wrap up the summer, the Chicago W.O.W. (Words of Wonder) Lit Fest takes place on Saturday, July 25 at the Dr. Conrad Worrill Track & Field Center at Gately Park. This family-oriented literary festival hosted by Burst Into Books is designed to engage children and families through author talks, book signings, and interactive workshops.
ADDITIONAL CPS K-12 SUMMER OPPORTUNITIES ARE AS FOLLOWS:
In addition to supporting students who may need credit recovery courses for high school graduation and younger students who need additional support to reach grade-level benchmarks, the District also offers targeted summer programming for English language learners. The Office of Multilingual-Multicultural Education will run a number of programs to improve academic outcomes while accelerating English language development for approximately 2,200 first through 12th grade students.
About 215 CPS schools will offer academic and enrichment programming programming four days a week this summer, serving an estimated 12,000 students. Programming can include academic support to classes in dance, drama, and other fine arts, digital media, and more.
Sustainable Community Schools and Community Schools Initiatives Schools will offer optional programming, serving more than 3,300 students.
The District will host 47 Career and Technical Education (CTE) camps for sixth through eighth graders at more than 20 high schools.
About 1400 high school students are scheduled to participate in paid, career-connected learning internships with more than 250 industry partners.
More than 8,000 rising ninth graders at 80-plus schools will get an early start on postsecondary success through High School Connections.
Support for more than 15,000 recent grads/CPS alums from more than 100 high schools. The eight-week Alumni Support Initiative provides postsecondary pathway information, resources, connections and support to the Class of 2026 to reduce the roadblocks students face throughout the summer to successfully enroll in college or access their postsecondary path. The District also supports pathway persistence for the Class of 2025.
For additional information about summer programming for Pre-K-12th graders, visit the CPS Summer Programs website ( cps.edu/summerprograms)
Many schools sent students home Thursday with not only good wishes for a safe and fun summer but learning resources as well. Beulah Shoesmith Elementary School Principal Kai Murray sent students from all grade levels home with reading, math and science workbooks. The learning packets include bilingual books so young English Learners can continue to practice their reading skills.
"With a longer summer break this year, our school wanted to keep our Kindergarten through sixth grade students’ brains bright and sharp," said Principal Murray. “A few minutes of practice now means a confident start to the next school year."
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About Chicago Public Schools (CPS)
Chicago Public Schools (CPS) is dedicated to providing a high-quality education to all students, beginning with the District’s free full-day preschool programming for four-year-old scholars and continuing through neighborhood, magnet and selective-enrollment elementary schools that provide a rigorous K-12 education with schools that specialize in the fine arts, world language and culture, dual language, STEM, International Baccalaureate (IB), classical programs, and more. The rising District-wide freshmen-on-track and high school graduation rates reflect the hard work of the CPS community, including families, staff, and students across 635 schools. CPS celebrates the diversity of its students who cite 182 home languages. Learn more about CPS at www.cps.edu and connect with CPS on X, Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.