A mission-aligned partnership that helped students thrive.
Fortune School viewed summer as a valuable opportunity to extend learning and invest in teacher growth. With a strong commitment to academic success, the organization had already implemented a longer school day and extended academic year. To build on that foundation, Fortune focused on summer as the next strategic step. Through a partnership with the National Summer School Initiative (NSSI), Fortune leveraged summer as a way to deepen student learning, improve instructional practice, and develop future school leaders.
One of the most valuable reasons to partner with NSSI was not obvious to us at first. As our site leads coached others, they grew as leaders. We were able to observe strengths we may not have seen otherwise.
Sara Williams
Director of Curriculum and Instruction, Fortune School
Why Fortune School needed a summer strategy to support student achievement
Fortune believes that more time for focused, high-quality instruction leads to stronger academic results. The school had already adjusted its calendar to give students more learning time throughout the year. Summer, however, remained underutilized.
Research shows that well-designed summer programs can add 14 to 27 hours of instruction per subject. This represents a meaningful boost when aligned to student needs and delivered by well-prepared teachers.
Fortune identified summer as a key opportunity to extend learning and build instructional momentum. The team needed a solution that would support academic progress, strengthen professional culture, and create opportunities for educators to lead.
NSSI provided the right combination of curriculum, training, and professional development to make that possible.
How summer became a platform for leadership and student-centered learning
Fortune implemented NSSI’s turnkey summer school model, which combines rigorous curriculum, practical professional learning, and leadership opportunities for educators. The curriculum aligned well with For tune’s year-round approach. It was student-centered, inquiry-driven, and grounded in authentic texts.
Instruction in grades K -2 focused on foundational reading skills and real books. In grade 3 and beyond, students engaged in novel-based instruction to build their ability to analyze and discuss literature in depth. This early introduction helped prepare them for middle school expectations.
Teachers received professional development tied directly to the lessons they would teach. NSSI’s Mentor Teachers guided educators through best practices, modeling instructional moves and helping them adapt strategies for their own classrooms.
Teachers also served in leadership roles during the summer. Site leads managed daily operations, facilitated planning sessions, and created a strong team culture.
One leader, Ms. Muses, led a program where staff attendance reached 100 percent, exceeding what the school experienced during the traditional year.
Although the initial focus was on academic outcomes, the opportunity to grow leadership from within proved to be just as valuable.
The curriculum brought fullness to the standards and met students where they were. The problem-solving and foundational skills gave every learner something to hold onto.
Reginald Kennedy, Summer Educator, Fortune School
The mentors were incredibly dedicated, and the weekly academic meetings gave us space to plan, collaborate, and solve problems. The
curriculum was well-organized and reliable, and the program fostered a truly supportive environment.
Stephany Llurag, Summer Educator, Fortune School
Being able to observe so many teachers with a lens of helping them improve their practice gave me a whole new perspective.
Mrs. Ibarra, Teacher Leader and Summer School Site Lead, Fortune School
Academic growth, stronger school culture, and a pipeline of future school leaders
Fortune’s 2024 summer program delivered strong results for both students and teachers.
- Students who attended the program began the year ahead, scoring six points higher in English Language Arts and five points higher in math on beginning-of-year assessments
- 3rd grade math scores increased from 46 percent to 76 percent, a 30-point gain
- 4th grade math scores improved by over 15 points
- 1st grade math increased by more than six points
- Kindergarten math increased by nearly five points
The program also delivered meaningful gains for staff and school culture:
Teacher leaders advanced into new roles, including assistant principal and master teacher
Staff collaboration, morale, and consistency improved through daily huddles and peer coaching
Summer became a space to refine instruction, strengthen teams, and identify future leaders
The positive effects continued into the school year, raising expectations and reinforcing school culture
Scaling summer school success to reach more students and educators
Fortune School is building on these outcomes. The team is working to increase student participation, improve summer attendance, and offer leadership opportunities to more teachers. They are focused on sustaining momentum and reaching even more students and staff in future summers.
Partnering with NSSI will help improve student growth by eliminating summer slide. But to get the most out of it, start communicating with families early so you can
register more students and boost attendance.
Sara Williams
Director of Curriculum and Instruction, Fortune School
About Fortune School
Fortune School operates tuition-free public charter schools across California, serving transitional kindergarten through 12th grade. Founded in 1989 as Project Pipeline, the organization also offers accredited preparation programs for teachers and administrators.
Its academic model emphasizes extended learning time, high expectations, and a strong culture of instructional leadership. For tune School works to create learning environments where students and educators can thrive.
Explore how summer can propel your district forward
Summer learning is one of the most underutilized opportunities in public education. NSSI transforms it into a strategic advantage that improves academic outcomes, builds educator capacity, and creates lasting momentum into the school year.
Our model includes comprehensive curriculum, job-embedded professional development, and hands-on operational support that make high-quality implementation simple and effective.
Get a free consultation and see what’s possible
Schedule a 15-minute consultation with our team. We will review your goals, capacity, and timeline, and show you how NSSI’s model compares in terms of
time, resources, and outcomes.
Leave the call with clear next steps, expert insights, and a partner who understands how to make summer learning work for your schools.
