Mayor Muriel Bowser and DC Public Schools have launched the Summer Bridge program for rising 6th and 9th graders to support their transition to middle and high school. The program, running for a week, includes campus tours, ice-breaking activities, and preparatory sessions. According to the Office of the Mayor, “The DCPS Summer Bridge program provides the support, connections, and confidence students need to start middle and high school ready to succeed.”
DC Public Schools has launched its Summer Bridge program for rising middle and high school students following the end of the Summer Youth Employment Program last Friday. The program, part of the DCPS Strategic Plan through 2028, runs on Friday and includes activities such as team-building games, scavenger hunts, field trips, and presentations. All DC Public Schools middle and high schools are participating, with some adjusting schedules to meet community needs, as reported by the Office of the Mayor.
Eligible students in Washington, D.C., are receiving free meals and bus transportation during the Summer Bridge program, with Kids Ride Free cards available to support attendance. Families who have not yet enrolled are encouraged to visit enrolldcps.dc.gov before the first day of school on August 25. Mayor Bowser’s FY26 budget, Grow DC, includes $2.8 billion for DC Public Schools and public charter schools, $270 million for teacher pay raises, $2 billion for school modernization, and $27 million for out-of-school time grants to provide free afterschool and summer programs for more than 15,000 students, as stated by the Office of the Mayor.
