BPS program brings students into schools during vacation week

While most Boston Public School students are enjoying their annual vacation week, more than 1,700 of their peers are continuing to head to class, but it may not be the “punishment” it seems to be.

The students are taking part in BPS’ Acceleration Academics program, which gives struggling students the chance to catch up to their peers through 30 hours of additional course time.

The program is taking place in 20 schools around the city and according to Superintendent Carol Johnson, the program has been shown to provide measurable benefits.

“This is a program that works and it’s easy to see why,” said Johnson. “Giving students more time with great teachers, and using that time strategically, is a proven model of success.”

According to the superintendent, student who have participated in the program previously have shows gains of up to 20 points on state standardized testing.

The program involves the participation of “high-quality” teachers and includes enrichment activities such as tennis, dance and African drumming. The cost of conducting the vacation week program is approximately $650,000, which comes from federal dollars.

In addition, the number of students participating in the program has rise each year. in 2010, school officials said, 1,200 students took part in the Acceleration Academies program.

The 20 school participating in the program include: Blackstone Elementary (South End); Channing Elementary (Hyde Park); Chittick Elementary (Mattapan); Condon Elementary (South Boston); Dearborn Middle School (Roxbury); E. Greenwood Leadership Academy (Hyde Park); S. Greenwood K-8 (Dorchester); Hennigan Elementary (Jamaica Plain); Holland Elementary (Dorchester) Irving Middle School (Roslindale); John F. Kennedy Elementary (Jamaica Plain); Marshall Elementary (Dorchester); Mattahunt Elementary (Mattapan); Dever/McCormack K-8 (Dorchester); Mendell Elementary (Roxbury); Orchard Gardens K-8 (Roxbury); Perkins Elementary (South Boston); Tynan Elementary (South Boston); Winship Elementary (Brighton); Young Achievers (Mattapan).

Seven more schools are facilitating their own vacation week academic programs.