“Smart Start is just the beginning. Our students need and deserve to participate in the best enrichment and academic summer programming available,” said EAA Chancellor Veronica Conforme. “This program will keep them motivated, engaged and accelerate their learning through out the year.”
As part of the extended school year model, Smart Start students will participate in:
- Grow Detroit’s Young Talent (paid summer jobs for students 16 and up)
- The Cranbrook Educational Community: Summer Camps
- Detroit Area Pre-College Engineering Program (DAPCEP)
- Camp Enterprise
- Pingree Farms
- Eco-Works
- Michigan State University
- University of Michigan
- Wayne State University
- Lawrence Technological University
- Marygrove College
- Wayne County Community College
“This is an important partnership because it lays a strong foundation for Detroit students to pursue high quality, in-demand STEM careers,” said DAPCEP Executive Director Jason Lee. “DAPCEP instructors are looking forward to welcoming Smart Start students to our program and developing Detroit’s future leaders.”
Smart Start will not only provide students with opportunities to strengthen their math and reading skills but also to visit college campuses, participate in a workplace environment, engage in a variety of STEM careers, partake in additional SAT preparation and interact with their peers across the state. These programs will also expose students to entrepreneurship training, game design, architecture composition, environmental sustainability work and graphic design.
Detroit Parent Network will be connecting with parents of students in the program to keep them up to date on the program, its benefits and transportation logistics.
“Smart Start will encourage the participating students to stay mentally engaged throughout the summer and thus more ready to learn come the fall,” said Yolanda Eddins, Senior Director of Detroit Parent Network. “Detroit students need access to summer programs to ensure they stay active and safe.”