Summer intervention programs keep school zones in effect, buses running through mid-July

CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – It might technically be summer in Clarksville, but this year, residents will still have to pay attention to school zone lights and buses that are running routes due to state-mandated intervention and learning programs for local students.

The summer programs for Clarksville-Montgomery County School System students will run from June 1 through July 15.

School zones

Because of the summer programs, the Clarksville Police Department has asked drivers to continue using caution in school zones, and remain prepared to stop for school buses that are picking up or dropping off summer students.

In school zones, the reduced speed lights will be on for increments of 30 minutes in the mornings and afternoons

For middle and high school zones, the reduced speed lights will be on in the mornings from 7:15 a.m. to 7:45 a.m. In the afternoon, the lights will be on from 1:15 p.m. to 1:45 p.m.

Elementary school zone lights are on a different schedule. In the mornings, the reduced speed lights will be on from 8:30 a.m. to 9 a.m., and in the afternoon, they will return from 2:30 p.m. to 3 p.m.

Police officers will be patrolling these areas and enforcing all traffic laws pertaining to school zones and school buses.

Summer program types

The Clarksville-Montgomery County School System has several summer school offerings for students entering 1st through 8th grades that struggled with learning loss over the last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

High schoolers who also suffered learning loss do have the option to attend summer learning. However, these programs are not mandated by the state and will be focused on credit recovery and tutoring.

Both the elementary and middle school summer programs have been legislated by the state, and have to meet certain requirements as mandated by the Learning Loss Remediation and Student Acceleration Act, which was signed by state legislators in February to help combat COVID-related learning loss.

For the elementary students enrolled in the Summer Learning Camps program, they will be in the classroom five days a week for six hours a day with dedicated time to reading math, intervention and play. This program runs for six weeks.

There’s also an hourlong, after school “mini-camp” offering available for elementary students that runs for an hour, but only four days out of the week. This program focuses on science, technology, reading engineering, arts and math – also known as “STREAM” – and also lasts six weeks.

For students entering 6th through 8th grades, CMCSS is offering the Learning Loss Bridge Camps program. Students attending this program will be in the classroom five days a week, for six hours a day. Much like the elementary camps, this program includes dedicated time to reading math, intervention and play.