Commissioner details Summer Rising 2026 plans and expanded access
Escamilla-Davies reports 150,000 Summer Rising applications, 127,000 offers extended (3,500 more than last year), 300 sites including 19 additional buildings, and enhanced collaboration with NYC Public Schools for students with disabilities and enrichment.
Yet at the same time, I want to recognize that there were providers who were not awarded contracts through this process.
For some organizations, this transition may have significant financial and operational impacts, particularly for providers that have served children.
families and school communities for many years.
We do not take that lightly.
I do not take that lightly.
Those contributions, relationships, and years of service are meaningful and worthy of recognition and respect.
And yet it is also true that this was a competitive procurement process guided by clearly defined evaluation criteria, including program quality, organizational capacity, and operational readiness.
In partnership with New York City Public Schools, the process also incorporated principal input for school-based programs.
As implementation moves forward, we are committed to focus on supporting thoughtful transitions, maintaining continuity for young people and families, and working closely with schools,
outgoing providers, incoming providers, and communities to help open strong in the fall.
The second program that I want to highlight is Summer Rising.
The Summer Rising 2026 application portal opened on March 3rd and closed on March 27th, during which time more than 150,000 applications were submitted by families across New York City.
Using a data-driven understanding of enrollment, patterns, and demand, the city extended approximately 127,000 offers to families, and this is an increase of 3,500 offers compared to last summer.
Available seats will continue to be offered to families throughout the summer.
To support expanded access, New York City Public Schools opened 19 additional buildings, bringing the total of summer rising sites citywide to 300.
DYCD and New York City Public Schools continue to work closely together to strengthen and expand high-quality summer enrichment opportunities for young people.
This includes deeper collaboration between principals and community-based organization, strengthening supports for students with disability, and enhancing program opportunities such as field trips, enhanced activities, and career exploration.