Why Oregon’s State Summer Learning Grants Create a Powerful Opportunity — and How Districts Can Bring Them to Life
Oregon’s commitment to summer learning is entering a new chapter. With the launch of the State Summer Learning Grant program, the Oregon Department of Education (ODE) is signaling a clear priority: summer learning should be intentional, equitable, and built for long-term impact.
For districts, education service districts (ESDs), and charter schools, this funding represents more than dollars, it’s an opportunity to rethink how summer programs are designed, staffed, and delivered in ways that truly serve students.
From Short-Term Programs to Sustainable Impact
Unlike one-year funding cycles, Oregon’s State Summer Learning Grants move toward a multi-year, competitive funding model, allowing grantees to plan with confidence. The focus on literacy outcomes, evidence-based practices, and meaningful instructional time raises the bar for what summer learning can be and should be.
But with that opportunity comes a real challenge:
How do districts scale high-quality summer programs quickly without overextending internal staff or sacrificing quality?
That’s where strategic partnerships matter.
Where Nexplore Fits In
At Nexplore, we work alongside districts across the country to design and deliver high-quality enrichment and academic support programs that complement core instructional goals, especially during summer.
For Oregon districts pursuing State Summer Learning Grant funding, Nexplore can support implementation by:
✅ Providing ready-to-deploy, research-aligned enrichment programs that pair naturally with literacy and academic priorities
✅ Training instructors based on the specific courses and age groups they will serve, ensuring consistency and quality across sites
✅ Offering operational support that helps districts meet required instructional hours while keeping programs engaging and student-centered
✅ Scaling programming across multiple schools or regions without adding administrative burden to district teams
Rather than asking districts to build everything from scratch, Nexplore helps turn grant plans into high-quality, on-the-ground experiences for students.
High Expectations Require the Right Partners
ODE’s summer learning framework emphasizes:
✅ Equity and access
✅ Evidence-based instruction
✅ Strong planning and execution
✅ Programs that students actually want to attend
Meeting those expectations requires more than good intentions, it requires capacity, training, and proven systems. Districts that partner with organizations experienced in expanded learning can move faster, reduce risk, and focus their energy where it matters most: student outcomes.
Planning Now for Summer 2026 and Beyond
With the State Summer Learning Grant cycle spanning multiple years, now is the time for districts to:
Identify program partners early
✅ Align enrichment offerings with literacy and instructional goals
✅ Build summer models that are sustainable, scalable, and engaging
✅ Summer learning works best when it blends academic purpose with hands-on, joyful learning experiences, and that balance is exactly where strong district-partner collaboration shines.
At Nexplore, we believe summer should be a time when learning feels exciting, relevant, and accessible for every student. As Oregon continues to invest in meaningful summer learning, we’re excited to support districts ready to turn funding into lasting impact.
If you’re exploring State Summer Learning Grants and thinking about implementation, we’d love to be part of the conversation.
We are the Champions! Hawthorne Chess Team in Chicago Captures 1st Place at the 2025 CPS Kings and Queens Tournament
We are thrilled to celebrate (again!) the outstanding success of the Hawthorne Scholastic Academy chess team, a brilliant example of what students can achieve through hard work and practice.
The team recently competed in the CPS Academic Chess’s 2025 Kings and Queens Tournament on Dec 6th, going head-to-head against CPS’s most talented. We are incredibly proud to announce that the Hawthorne Scholastic Academy chess team placed 1st among 18 teams in the highly competitive K-6 Intermediate section. Hawthorne beat out our friendly competitors, including Skinner North Elementary, Decatur, Keller Gifted Magnet School, and Edison Regional Gifted Center. Not bad for Hawthorne’s third tournament as a team!
Three of our four students, Leyee Qian, Tate Walling, and Bota Narthasilpa scored 3 out of 4 points, and one student, Kaiyee Qian, led the team by winning all 4 of his games. Thus, Hawthorne’s total score of 13 points, a full point ahead of the competition.
This remarkable accomplishment highlights the hard work, strategic thinking, and steady practice nurtured in the Nexplore/MM Chess program. Using the critical-thinking and problem-solving skills they’ve learned, these young competitors truly shone when it mattered most.
In recognition of their brilliant performance, the team won a well-deserved 1st Place Plaque! We sincerely hope they bring it to school to display and inspire the next generation of chess champions!