Dreaming Bigger: How Jasper City Schools Reimagined Summer Learning

Through planning, partnerships, and a willingness to think beyond compliance, Jasper City Schools and the Alabama State Department of Education are showing what can happen when summer learning is reimagined as an opportunity rather than an obligation.

Just a few years ago, summer learning in Jasper City Schools looked a lot like it did in many districts across Alabama.

The focus was on meeting state summer literacy and math requirements, supporting students who needed additional help, and doing the best possible work within the constraints of available resources.

Today, the conversation sounds very different. Instead of asking, “How do we meet the requirements?” Jasper City Schools is asking, “How do we create experiences that help students thrive?”

That shift in mindset has transformed the district's approach to summer learning — and it reflects a larger story unfolding across Alabama.

Over the past several years, Alabama has worked to change the conversation around summer learning, moving from a focus on remediation and compliance to emphasizing a combination of engagement, enrichment, and opportunity. Through legislation, state investments, professional learning opportunities, and the creation of the Alabama State Department of Education's Office of Extended Learning (OXL), districts have been encouraged to design programs that are engaging, meaningful, and aligned with student and family needs.

Over the past several years, Alabama has worked to change the conversation around summer learning, moving from a focus on remediation and compliance to emphasizing a combination of engagement, enrichment, and opportunity.

The journey in Jasper began in the summer of 2020. Like many school systems, Jasper launched summer programming in response to pandemic learning needs and emerging literacy requirements. “At first, we began probably like most systems in Alabama,” said Kristy Watkins, Director of Curriculum and Instruction for Jasper City Schools. “Here’s what the Alabama Literacy and Numeracy Acts say we have to do, and we’re going to do it to the best of our abilities.”

But over time, district leaders realized summer learning could be much more than a compliance exercise. The arrival of ESSER funding created opportunities to expand programming, hire teachers, provide transportation, and serve students across grade levels. More importantly, it created space to think differently about what summer learning could become.

Jasper City’s success is built on four key steps — actions districts across the country can take to reimagine summer: 

1. The district developed a clear vision for summer learning, and rather than focusing solely on academic recovery, the district began asking broader questions: What experiences do students need? What do families value? How can summer learning support the district’s overall mission? What barriers prevent students from participating? 

2. The district discovered the importance of building and listening to a team of stakeholders. Recognizing that sustainable programs cannot depend on a single individual, Jasper created a summer learning team that includes assistant principals, reading specialists, counselors, and social workers. The goal was simple: Bring multiple perspectives to the table and ensure that summer learning supports the whole child. “It's not about just academics,” Watkins explained. “It's about the well-being of all students.” Using intentional listening, Jasper surveyed students, teachers, and parents to gather feedback and guide future decisions. Leaders examined data, identified strengths, and looked for opportunities to improve. One of the most popular additions was a career exploration focus. Guest speakers, children's literature, and career-themed learning experiences introduced students to possibilities they may never have considered.

3. The district’s mindset shift led to another important realization: schools cannot do this work alone. As district leaders looked at barriers facing families, transportation quickly emerged as a challenge. A half-day academic model worked for some families, but not all. Instead of accepting those limitations, Jasper turned to community partnerships. Today, partnerships with organizations such as the Boys & Girls Club and United Way are helping extend opportunities for students beyond the academic portion of the day. These collaborations provide flexibility for families, reduce barriers to participation, and create a more comprehensive summer experience. 

   The use of transformational partnerships accelerated when Jasper joined the District Summer Learning Network (DSLN) and began working closely with the ALSDE Office of Extended Learning. Through coaching, professional learning, and collaboration with other districts, Jasper began asking deeper questions about student needs, program quality, and long-term sustainability. This partnership between district and state education entities has been critical both for success and mutually beneficial. 

4. One of the most valuable lessons from Jasper's journey is that meaningful change begins with planning. The district starts discussing summer learning in the fall, reviewing survey results, setting goals, identifying resources, and bringing stakeholders together months before students arrive. Their most recent summer theme, “Dream a Million Dreams,” captures both the student experience and the district's approach to planning for innovation. 

In many ways, Jasper's story mirrors Alabama's larger journey. Community partnerships, district leadership, state support, and a commitment to continuous improvement are helping redefine what summer learning can be. For Alabama schools, summer learning is no longer an add-on to the school year. It is an essential part of the state’s commitment to helping every student learn, grow, and imagine a brighter future.

And in Jasper, Alabama, it all started with a willingness to dream bigger.