NEW YORK CITY (TIP): NYC SUMMER STEM 2015 is  a new citywide program to provide students who just completed grades 2, 7, and 10 with free, full-day, high-quality STEM instruction. SUMMER STEM will serve 1,200 students – 400 from each grade.

SUMMER STEM is open to all students in 2nd, 7th, and 10th grades who have had at least 90% attendance during this school year and are not required to attend summer school. Applications and the list of SUMMER STEM sites are available online; parents can also get more information and support, including paper applications and applications in languages other than English, by contacting their school’s parent coordinator. Applicants may rank up to two sites on their applications, and will be selected for the program by lottery. All applications must be received by June 15.

The sessions will run Mondays through Thursdays – from July 6 to July 30 for 2nd graders, and from July 6 to August 6 for 7th and 10th graders. Breakfast and lunch will be served at the program sites.

For the 2nd grade SUMMER STEM program, the DOE will use the “Engineering is Elementary” curriculum that integrates engineering and technology concepts and skills with science topics. In the 7th and 10th grade programs, students will learn robotics and “Science of Smart Cities,” a program that focuses on the engineering, technology, and science of urban development and sustainability. All SUMMER STEM curricula will involve hands-on learning. In addition, students will have arts and physical education enrichment opportunities.

SUMMER STEM 2015 was developed in coordination with Microsoft, NYU Polytechnic, the Boston Museum of Science, and the New York Hall of Science.

More information about the program and a quote on the importance of STEM and summer learning from Chancellor Fariña are available here.