School district to offer revamped summer programs
The School District of Lee County has revamped its summer offerings for students.
Chief Information Officer Dr. Nathan Shaker said the district is shifting the 2026 Summer Ecosystem by building a continuum of care that spans three pillars.
Those pillars include essential remediation to fulfill state mandates, tailored care for specialized student populations and fee-based summer institutes for advanced enrichment.
The essential remediation focus is a third grade reading camp.
The Summer Lit Camp is for third-grade students who scored a level one on their FAST ELA progress monitoring test. These students are invited to attend to receive intensive assistance in reading before they attempt additional assessments for promotion to fourth grade.
The camp will be held from 8 a.m. to noon, Monday through Thursday, June 22, through July 16.
Shaker said the reading program is a paradigm shift — reimagining the third grade reading camp.
“We are moving away from sterile environments and discounted workshops,” he said, all while “disguising rigorous intervention as an inclusive, immersive summer camp experience. We are creating a camp-like atmosphere.”
The camp is powered by the science of reading with comprehension and fluency in every lesson.
The daily schedule mimics that of a camp.
Shaker said the daily schedule includes opening campfire where students set reading goals for the day, introducing target vocabulary and establishing character focus.
The second daily expedition itinerary includes reading power – foundational skill review, shared reading aloud and active fluency practice. Next is bunk time – sustained independent reading of decodables, paired reading, and one-on-one teacher comprehension checks. The final step is closing campfire – group reflection on learning and writing wrap-up.
“Students analyze strengths like friendship and courage, gathering text evidence from books,” he said. “Lit Camp is a bridge over the summer slide – it delivers what the state demands, and an experience student’s will be eager to attend.”
The success of Lit Camp is an increase in summer promotions.
The essential remediation also has a focus on middle and high school credit recovery. This is open for Sixth through 12th grade students that either need credit for promotion/graduation from eighth grade and 12th grade. The format includes both a virtual and face-to-face option that are combined at specific sites.
The delivery operates at a one to 35 ratio.
It will be held Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. to noon. June 22, through July 16.
The credit recovery is for eighth grade students who need credit recovery for promotion. Sixth and seventh grade students may also attend if there is space available. To participate students must have attended a Lee County school in the 2025-2026 school year.
The program is also available for ninth through 12th grade students in need of credit recovery for graduation, or promotion to the next grade. For this credit recovery program 12th grade students take precedence.
The credit recovery is supported in the voyage through ingenuity. Shaker said students have to hit benchmarks. If a placement test shows the mastery in a benchmark, a student may move forward through the course at a faster rate.
The tailored care has a focus on an extended school year and English for Speakers of Other Language language acquisition.
Shaker said they offer virtual self-paced ESOL support for K-4 English Language Learner students and face-to-face extended year services for Exceptional Student Education students. The duration is June 8 through July 16.
The extended school year is offered face-to-face for ESE students in PK-12 whose individualized education plan mandates summer support. It will be held from June 22, through July 16.
The summer institutes range from STEM to fine arts. The institutes are $150 with general registration continuing until May 11. Some of the courses are invitation only, while some have prerequisites.
“The fees-based summer institutes unlock pathways for advanced discovery,” Shaker said, adding it is for gifted eligibility — level four or five on ELA FAST reading and advanced content specialist lead.
The elementary level includes humanities — Once Upon A Summer Camp and Around the World both for third through fifth graders at South Fort Myers High School.
There is also STEM programs for fourth and fifth graders at Ida Baker High School as Future Tech Explorers, Ocean Explorers: Dive into STEM and Space Voyagers: Journey Through the STARLAB.
Middle school includes such camps as AI Adventure Camp and CSI: Middle School Edition, both at South Fort Myers High School, as well as physics of survival and design – Blueprint 1 Dunbar Derby, Blueprint 2 Rovers and Rockets and Blueprint 3 Zombie Outbreak, all at Ida Baker High School.
High School includes SAT Prep, CSI: High School Edition, Raider Camp and Driver Education.
For additional information about the summer programs, please visit leeschools.net.