Summer Bridge and Summer Acceleration

CPS summer school supplements school year instruction to keep elementary school students on track to enter high school. By June 1st, schools notify parents if their student must attend Summer Bridge or Summer Acceleration, along with providing dates, site locations, and transportation details.

Students who have modified promotion criteria on their IEPs and have met the criteria are not required to attend summer school.

If you have questions about whether your student is required to attend summer school, contact your student’s school.

Summer Bridge

 June 24 to July 26, 2024

Students in grades 2nd, 5th, and 8th who do not meet the minimum promotion criteria are required to attend Summer Bridge.

The Summer Bridge program is located at select sites and provides customized, intensive instruction to meet students' individual needs in reading and mathematics using an online curriculum. At the conclusion of the program, students who successfully meet promotion criteria will advance to the next grade.

Summer Bridge is a four hour program that runs for five weeks and meets Monday through Friday.

View the CPS Calendar for specific summer school dates.

Summer Bridge Parent Appeal to Promotion Determination

 July 30 to August 9, 2024

If you wish to appeal your child’s promotion determination and have documentation demonstrating why policy requirements for your child’s academic performance and/or attendance record should be waived, contact your Home School Principal to get a Parent Appeal form.

Parents have five calendar days following the receipt of the promotion determination notice to submit an appeal in writing. To file an appeal complete the following steps:

1. Contact your school to receive a Parent Appeal of Promotion Determination form.
2. Provide any additional evidence such as the final June and Summer Bridge report cards, IEP, a doctor’s statement, parent notes, obituaries, or letters of support with documented evidence from teachers or principals that would justify waiving the requirements outlined in the Elementary School Promotion Policy.
   • Keep parent notes for excused absences on file. Notes written after July 27 and not entered in CPS system of student record (by the Summer Bridge Host school) will not be accepted.
3. Email the appeal and attachments no later than August 4 to the Summer Assistance Team, Department of Instructional Supports at summerbridge@cps.edu. Do NOT email the document(s) multiple times as this will cause a delay in processing.
4. The Appeals committee may require additional documentation to support or refute a parent appeal. Parents should have received the following documentation: 
   • The School/Parent Guide to the Elementary School Promotion Policy
   • The Promotion Notification Letter in (End of Traditional School Year)
   • The Promotion Determination Letter (End of Summer Bridge)
   • Phone log documenting attempted engagement of student(s)

Summer Acceleration

 June 26 to July 26, 2024 (dates vary by high school)

This program provides additional support to prepare students for ninth grade. Teachers and students interact daily via small groups and whole classroom instruction with specific digital programs in a structured school day to support student readiness for the next school year.

Families of students required to attend Acceleration will receive a letter from their school before the end of the school year. We advise you to confirm with your student's current enrolled school regarding their participation in the program. For additional questions, contact summerbridge@cps.edu or your students current school for enrollment.

During Summer Acceleration, students will:

• Meet school staff
• Learn graduation requirements and expectations
• Brush up on their study skills
• Learn techniques for coping with stress
• Get to know their new classmates through field trips and other activities

VIEW PARTICIPATING HIGH SCHOOLS      APPLY!