NYC Summer Rising Program: How It Works and How to Enroll Your Child
Every spring, tens of thousands of New York City families face the same question: what will my child do this summer? For families with children in kindergarten through eighth grade, Summer Rising is one of the most valuable free resources the city offers — and one of the least understood. Many parents miss the enrollment window simply because they did not know it existed or did not realize their child was eligible.
This guide covers everything you need to know about Summer Rising: what it is, what a typical day looks like, who qualifies, how enrollment works, and what to do if your child has special needs.
What Is Summer Rising?
Summer Rising is New York City’s flagship free summer program, operated through a partnership between the NYC Department of Education (DOE) and the Department of Youth and Community Development (DYCD). It combines academic instruction with enrichment activities and runs for approximately six weeks in July and August.
The program is designed to prevent summer learning loss — the well-documented phenomenon where students, particularly those from lower-income households, lose academic ground during the long summer break. Research consistently shows that high-quality summer programs narrow achievement gaps and improve outcomes in the following school year.
Summer Rising operates at school sites across all five boroughs. It is completely free for enrolled families. Extended hours, typically 8 AM to 6 PM, are designed to accommodate working parents. A daily snack and lunch are provided at no cost.
What Students Do in Summer Rising
Summer Rising is not traditional summer school. It is not remediation-focused, and students are not segregated by academic level. The program intentionally blends academic enrichment with hands-on activities, arts, sports, and STEM projects.
A typical day in Summer Rising includes structured literacy and math instruction in the morning, followed by enrichment activities in the afternoon. Enrichment varies by site and can include visual arts, performing arts, sports, science experiments, field trips, and project-based learning. The goal is to keep students engaged and growing without the feel of a punishing academic program.
Many sites also offer family engagement activities and workshops for parents during the program period.
Who Is Eligible?
Summer Rising is open to NYC public school students in grades kindergarten through eight. However, the program does not have unlimited seats, and priority is given to specific student populations.
Priority enrollment is given to students with Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) or students who receive special education services, English Language Learners, students who have been held back a grade or are at significant academic risk, students experiencing homelessness, and students in foster care.
Students who do not fall into a priority category can still apply and enroll if seats are available. In practice, popular program sites fill quickly, so applying as early as possible — even without a priority designation — significantly improves your chances.
How to Apply for Summer Rising
Applications for Summer Rising are submitted through the NYC DOE’s MySchools portal at myschools.nyc. You will need an active MySchools account, which you likely already have if your child is enrolled in an NYC public school.
The application window typically opens in late March and closes in late April, though dates shift slightly each year. Watch for announcements from your child’s school in late winter — schools are required to notify families about Summer Rising enrollment.
During the application, you will rank your preferred Summer Rising sites. You can list multiple sites in order of preference. The DOE’s matching algorithm considers your rankings along with your child’s priority status and seat availability at each site.
Results are typically released in May. If your child is matched, you will receive a placement notification through MySchools and from your child’s school.
What Happens If Your Child Is Waitlisted?
If your first-choice site is full, your child will be placed on a waitlist. You may also receive a placement at an alternative site. Check your MySchools account and school communications regularly for updates — waitlist movement can be significant in the weeks following initial placements as families accept or decline offers.
If your child does not receive a placement at all, contact your child’s school’s family coordinator or assistant principal immediately. Schools have some ability to advocate for students who were not matched, particularly those in priority categories.
Do not give up on finding a summer program if Summer Rising does not work out. The city offers many other free options — see our guide to Free Summer Programs in NYC for a complete list.
Summer Rising for Children With IEPs
Children who receive special education services have specific rights within Summer Rising. If your child’s IEP includes Extended School Year (ESY) services — meaning the IEP team has determined that your child would significantly regress without continued services over the summer — those services must be provided regardless of Summer Rising placement.
ESY services can be delivered within a Summer Rising program or separately. Contact your child’s special education coordinator or CSE in the spring to confirm what your child’s summer services plan is, and whether it will be implemented through Summer Rising or through a separate ESY placement.
If you believe your child needs ESY services and they are not currently included in the IEP, raise this at the next CSE meeting. Do not wait until June — ESY planning happens during the regular IEP review cycle.
Transportation to Summer Rising
Transportation is available for students who qualify based on the distance between their home and the Summer Rising site. Students who receive transportation during the regular school year typically continue to qualify for summer transportation.
Contact your school’s transportation coordinator or call the NYC DOE’s transportation office to confirm your child’s eligibility and to arrange service before the program begins. Transportation arrangements can take time to process, so request early.
Tips for Making the Most of Summer Rising
Visit your preferred sites during the spring if possible — some sites hold open houses or allow tours before the program begins. Ask about the enrichment activities offered, the ratio of staff to students, and whether there are any special programming options relevant to your child’s interests.
Prepare your child for the transition before the program starts. Talk about what the program will be like, who they might meet, and what a typical day will look like. For children who experience anxiety around transitions or new environments, a preview visit can reduce first-day stress significantly.
Keep in contact with program staff throughout the summer, especially if your child has a disability or is navigating a difficult social situation. Summer Rising staff are typically accessible to parents in a way that mirrors the regular school year.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Summer Rising the same as summer school for students who failed a grade? No. Summer Rising is a separate program from mandatory summer school for students who did not meet promotion standards. Students required to attend summer school for academic promotion will receive a separate notification from their school. Summer Rising is voluntary and open to all eligible students.
Can my child attend Summer Rising even if they are switching schools in September? Yes. Summer Rising placement is based on your child’s current grade and enrollment status, not the school they will attend in the fall.
What should my child bring to Summer Rising each day? Each site has specific guidelines, but generally students should bring a backpack, any required medications (with proper authorization forms submitted to the program), comfortable clothing for physical activity, and any items specified in the program’s welcome packet.
