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After Backlash, CPS Offers Some Gale Students Free Summer Camp

By Linze Rice | June 26, 2015 5:17pm | Updated on June 29, 2015 8:32am
 Up to 30 students at Gale Elementary will be able to register for a summer program again after CPS said it was able to work out a deal with Gale's administrators.
Up to 30 students at Gale Elementary will be able to register for a summer program again after CPS said it was able to work out a deal with Gale's administrators.
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DNAinfo/Benjamin Woodard

ROGERS PARK — After backlash from school officials, parents and state representatives, Chicago Public Schools now says they have secured funds to offer students relying on free summer programming at Gale Elementary to proceed with their camp.

"After hearing the concerns of the Gale Elementary community, we are pleased that we were able to work with the school’s administration to find a solution that will allow the school to offer enrichment programming for students this summer at no additional cost to CPS,” said Lauren Huffman, deputy press secretary for CPS, in an emailed statement to DNAinfo Chicago Friday afternoon.

On Wednesday, the program was killed when Gov. Bruce Rauner signed off on an education budget bill that did not include funding for the program.

One hundred Gale students originally enrolled in the program, and CPS said 30 seats are available in a "summer enrichment" program starting July 6 from 9-11:30 a.m. Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. The program will run through the end of the month of July.

During the day, students will be working on online math, science, Spanish and reading programs, which also will be accessible from their home computer, CPS said.

Sign-up for the program will start on Monday, June 29 at 11 a.m. and will run until 1 p.m. on a first-come, first-served basis, according to CPS officials.

CPS said they have already begun reaching out to the 100 families with students who were recruited by Gale's principal, Cassandra Washington, to help them with registration.

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