January 14, 2014
TO
Superintendents
FROM
Philip W. Price
SUMMER READING CAMP ALLOTMENT
The following document provides information on the Allotment formula for the 2014 summer reading
camps, the method used to estimate the statewide cost, and a request for information on budgets in your
LEA to help with future funding requests. Please send any information or recommendations you have
related to funding for summer reading camps to eric.moore@dpi.nc.gov by January 27, 2014. We will
use this information to communicate to the General Assembly.
Summer Reading Camp Allotment
The State Board approved the allotment formula for third grade summer reading camps. The following
is a summary of the formula:
Each LEA and charter school shall receive:



A minimum base of $10,725
A dollar amount per allotted third grade student multiplied by the percentage of third graders
who do not demonstrate proficiency in reading (FY 2012-13)
The maximum funding is capped at $825 per ADM
The full State Board materials, including Attachment 2 – ESTIMATED Allotments, can be found here
under TCS 2.
These amounts will change due to charter school membership that is not fully accounted for in the
estimated amounts in the SBE materials.
The allotments will be posted in PRC 016.
2014 Statewide Estimate of Funding Requirement for Summer Camps
There have been several concerns about the adequacy of the funding and the methodology used to
estimate the cost of the summer camps. Below we have outlined how the funding requirement for 2014
was estimated. Session Law 2012-142 Section 7A.1 established the requirement for certain students,
who do not demonstrate proficiency on the Third Grade End-of-Grade Test in English-Language Arts,
to attend summer reading camps to improve their skill. The first camps will occur in summer of 2014.
OFFICE OF FINANCIAL, BUSINESS, AND TECHNOLOGY SERVICES
Philip W. Price, Chief Financial/Chief Information Officer | Philip.Price@dpi.nc.gov
6326 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, North Carolina 27699-6326 | (919) 807-3600 | Fax (919) 807-3604
AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY/AFFIRMATIVE ACTION EMPLOYER
Summer Reading Camp Allotment
January 14, 2014
Page 2
To estimate the cost of the summer reading camps, the General Assembly’s Fiscal Research Division
utilized the Wallace Foundation’s Out-of-School Time Cost Calculator. The Calculator utilizes the
Wallace Foundation’s research into 111 out-of-school time programs across the country. In their
research, the Wallace Foundation looked at cost variables associated with:








Participant Age – elementary, middle, high school or combinations
Program Time – operation during the summer or school year
Program Focus – academic or non-academic
Program Location – nearest metropolitan area
Program Organization – location/operation by school or community center
Program Size – how many students will be served
Program Duration – how many hours per week and weeks per year
Youth:Staff Ratio
Embedded within these variables are implicit costs that cover needs like space logistics, transportation,
nutrition, instructional content, instructor certification and orientation, parent communication, program
assessment measures, etc.
For more information about the estimator, please see The Cost of Quality Out-of-School-Time
Programs available here.
The goal of using the estimator was to provide sufficient funding to begin the annual reading camp
program. Financial and student data collected from the 2014 camps will be used to provide estimates
for camps in future years.
Information Request
The demographics of North Carolina’s LEAs vary greatly, and this affects the costs of programs.
Again, we are requesting that you provide us with any information related to summer camps to help us
communicate the needs to the General Assembly.
a) Actual data of camps
We are aware that some districts have operated summer camps for groups of students prior to
this legislation. If you are one of these districts, please provide us with details of the actual cost
of these camps, the number of students served by grade, and the funding sources used.
b) Estimates of costs of legislated camps
If your LEA has calculated an estimate for the legislated third grade reading camp, please
provide us with the detail by line item of that budget, including the estimated number of
students that will participate.
Summer Reading Camp Allotment
January 14, 2014
Page 3
Again, please send information to eric.moore@dpi.nc.gov by January 27, 2014. All information will be
very helpful as we prepare the funding request to the General Assembly for the 2014-2015 budget.
Summer Nutrition Funding
We have received information related to available federal child nutrition programs for summer camps.
If the summer camp is operating on a school site where 50% or more of students are eligible for
free/reduced price meals, then the camp will be considered an “area eligible” site for summer meals and
all students who are enrolled in (or attend the summer reading camp) will be eligible for a free meal.
Even if the summer camp is located at a non-school location, there is a program (Seamless Summer
Option) that can be awarded to cover the food cost. If you need any additional information about
available child nutrition programs and how to obtain funding, please contact your local Child Nutrition
Director. Listings of directors can be found here for LEAs and here for charter schools.
If you have questions or if you need any additional information, please contact Eric Moore (919) 8073731. Thank you for your assistance.
PWP/tm