Washington

DiscoverWorks is a no-cost, full-day summer learning program that helps students build reading and math skills while enjoying hands-on activities, healthy meals, field trips, and more. 

First launched in Southeast Michigan ahead of summer 2024, DiscoverWorks, formerly called Summer Discovery, is designed for students and families in Southeast Michigan and Washington state, where many students need more access to learning and enrichment  opportunities during the summer break. All kids should have access to safe, high-quality summer programs that grow academic outcomes, offer enrichment activities that increase career exposure and interest, engage families, and deepen community support for after-school and summer programs. Every child deserves the opportunity to succeed in school and to dream big about the future.

Last year, DiscoverWorks reached more than 64,000 students across Southeast Michigan and Washington. DiscoverWorks is launching again for summer 2027.

An independent research group, MGT, evaluated the DiscoverWorks program to better understand its impact on students and families. Their research found that in both 2024 and 2025, students across site types and demographic groups saw growth in math and English language arts (ELA) skills. They also found that students, families, and educators were highly satisfied with DiscoverWorks, and students participating in the program felt more prepared for the next school year.

This year, the DiscoverWorks program team is pleased to share the following adjustments for DiscoverWorks 2027:

Expanded statewide: This year, DiscoverWorks will serve students from an eligible school in any of Washington’s nine Educational Service Districts (ESDs).

Expanded to serve students entering 10th grade: DiscoverWorks funding is available to support students entering 10th grade in the 2027–28 school year. An eight-hour day for students entering 10th grade should provide both academics and enrichment opportunities that appeal to student needs and interests. Sites are strongly encouraged to support students with work opportunities. This may look like:

• Providing students with an opportunity to work as an on-site “camp counselor” if the site hosts younger DiscoverWorks kids 
• Matching students with a paid internship
• Other activities

Note: Any use of DiscoverWorks funds to compensate students must be an allowable program expenditure and comply with the applicable grant agreement, state accounting requirements, and state and federal employment laws. Grantees should confirm allowability before using DiscoverWorks funds for student wages, stipends, or other compensation.

Optional five-hour program day for students entering 9th and 10th grades: To allow for greater flexibility, grantees may apply for a five-hour program day (instead of an eight-hour program day) for students entering 9th or 10th grade only. A minimum of three hours of instruction must be provided:

• The three hours must include both math and ELA for students entering 9th grade
• The three hours may include math, ELA, or both for students entering 10th grade 

This five-hour program is optional and has a different per-student funding amount. See the “Grant Funding Details” section of this FAQ for more details. Grantees can still operate an eight-hour program for students entering 9th and 10th grades.

Before- and After-Care: To provide flexibility for sites, the program allows optional before- and after-care. This year, to maximize academic and enrichment time, before- and after-care must be capped at one hour each.

The timeline below provides a general overview of key milestones. 

• Winter: Grantees receive an award decision and program planning tasks alongside contact information for their assigned DiscoverWorks program support lead
• Spring: Grantees recruit students, finalize enrollment and budget, recruit and onboard teachers and staff, and ensure they attend required training 
• Summer: Grantees deliver the approved summer program and complete required enrollment, attendance, assessment, and other program activities
• Post-Program: Grantees submit final program and financial reporting

Sites are responsible for enrolling students and operating a high-quality summer program. This includes having the systems and staff capacity needed to manage program operations, enrollment, and reporting requirements. Sites should identify the following leaders. Roles may be filled by separate staff members or combined, as long as all responsibilities are covered:

A strong organizational infrastructure, including systems, processes, technology, and staff capacity beyond day-to-day program delivery, is essential for successful participation.

While applicants will be required to apply for funds annually, Ballmer Group intends for this to be a multiyear program and is excited to continue DiscoverWorks into the coming years.

The DiscoverWorks grant provides $80 per student for each program day of at least eight hours, up to $2,000 per student. The table below calculates the per-student amount based on the length of the program:

Any program longer than 25 days will receive the maximum per-student rate of $2,000.

This per-student amount depends on meeting the program requirements:

• Provide at least 20 days of instruction, excluding days dedicated solely to assessment or enrichment
• Offer at least eight hours* of in-person care per day, including:
  • At least three hours per day of high-quality English language arts (ELA) and math (most grantees provide 90 minutes of ELA and 90 minutes of math, though other combinations are acceptable, as long as three-hour programming is maintained.)
  • Daily enrichment/recreation programming 
  • Up to one hour of before-care and up to one hour of after-care (optional)

As long as these requirements are met, grantees can add days or make adjustments as needed. 

*Exception: Programs serving students entering 9th and/or 10th grade may operate an optional partial day of five hours per day (including three hours of academics). See the next question for more details. 

To allow for greater flexibility, grantees may apply for a five-hour program day for students entering 9th or 10th grade only. A minimum of three hours of instruction must be provided:

• The three hours must include both math and ELA for students entering 9th grade
• The three hours may include math, ELA, or both for students entering 10th grade 

This five-hour program is optional (grantees can still operate an eight-hour program for students entering 9th and 10th grade if they choose) and has a different per-student funding amount than the full-day model. See below for more details. 

When applying, applicants will be asked to project the number of students participating in an eight-hour program day and the number of students participating in a five-hour program day. For five-hour programs, the DiscoverWorks grant provides $55 per student for each day of the program, up to 25 days.

Any program longer than 25 days will receive the maximum per-student rate listed above.

When calculating program length, include all funded program days, including days dedicated to academic instruction, assessments, field trips, and/or enrichment.

Programs Offering 20 Instructional Days (minimum requirement)

Programs must:

• Provide at least 20 days of instruction (and build in time for assessments)
• Offer at least eight hours* of in-person care per day, including:
  • At least three hours per day of high-quality English language arts (ELA) and math (most grantees provide 90 minutes of ELA and 90 minutes of math, though other combinations are acceptable, as long as three-hour programming is maintained.)
  • Daily enrichment/recreation programming 
  • May include up to one hour of before-care and up to one hour of after-care (optional)

*Exception: Programs serving students entering 9th and/or 10th grade may operate an optional partial day of five hours per day (including three hours of academics). 

Note: Time dedicated to assessments, field trips, or enrichment must be offset by sufficient academic instruction during the 20 or more instructional days to maintain the required average of at least three hours of ELA and math instruction.

Programs Offering More Than 20 Days

Grantees may offer up to 25 funded program days. Grantees may dedicate days beyond the required 20 instructional days solely to assessments, field trips, or enrichment.

For example, a program operating five days per week for five weeks (a total of 25 program days) may designate each Friday as a field trip day. The remaining four days each week would provide the required 20 days of academic instruction and must collectively meet the academic instructional-hour requirement.

Learn more about the funding model.

The application requires estimated student enrollment, which allows applicants to calculate the predicted funding amount. 

The estimated number of students in the application often does not match real-time summer enrollment numbers. For this reason, in the spring, grantees will be asked for a more accurate projection of how many students will attend, which will show whether the grant total (and budget) needs to be adjusted. The goal is for that adjusted enrollment to be as close to actual enrollment as possible. 

Learn more about the funding model.

Consistent attendance is key to student success. To receive full grant funding, grantees must meet two key metrics:

• Maximize access: Actual enrollment (total number of unique students who attended the program at least one full day at any point during the program) must reach at least 70% of the enrollment number in the grant agreement.
• Maximize impact: Average student attendance must be at least 70% of actual enrollment (see above).

Grantees are required to track and report enrollment and attendance throughout the summer and at the end of the program. Regional implementation leads will request enrollment and attendance updates and can support grantees/sites with strategies, if needed. 

The final 30% payment is contingent upon meeting all grant reporting requirements and all grant terms and deliverables.

Learn more about the funding model.

Grantees will receive payments from their regional ESD, generally within 30 days after the ESD approves all required documentation and the invoice. 

• Phase I (preliminary funding): DiscoverWorks WA will provide eligible grantees with early access to a portion of their anticipated summer 2027 award to help cover program planning and preparation costs before the first primary grant payment. Grantees that submit a complete application by December 31, 2026, and indicate their interest can qualify for preliminary funding based on the number of host sites included in their application. Preliminary funding is considered part of the grantee’s total summer 2027 award. It is not additional funding. The preliminary amount will be deducted from the grantee’s overall award.
• Phase II (implementation funding): Issued after approval of the updated program plan, enrollment count, Adjusted Enrollment Budget, and district invoice. This payment equals 70% of the adjusted funding amount, less any preliminary funding already received.
• Phase III (final funding): Issued after final enrollment and attendance are verified, all required program reporting is approved, and the district submits its final invoice. This payment includes the remaining eligible funding, up to 30% of the adjusted funding amount.

Learn more about the funding model.

Funds will be distributed to the grant agreement holder. Grant agreements will be with the legal entity that has the authority to enter into contracts and/or receive and administer funds on the school’s behalf.

Grant funding can support new programming or enhance existing programming. Funds can be used to support various aspects of DiscoverWorks. This may include staffing salaries, curriculum, supplies and materials, enrichment activities, facility costs, transportation, meals, technology, and any other expenses directly related to summer learning.

Grantees should prioritize the following items in their budget:

• Robust enrichment activities, which teachers and community partners may offer
• Transportation costs (i.e., travel to and from the program, travel to an enrichment partner, travel for field trips)
• Attendance incentives (e.g., weekly celebrations or activities to specifically encourage attendance)
• Food for students
• Facilities and operational costs
• Lavinia RISE costs (e.g., materials, printing, and professional development for teachers and leaders)

Site-Selected Curriculum

Grantees/sites using their own curriculum can determine program dates and a daily schedule. As long as the following requirements are met, grantees/sites are encouraged to design a schedule that best meets the needs of students and families.

Program requirements:

• Provide at least 20 days of instruction, excluding days dedicated solely to assessment or enrichment
• Offer at least eight hours* of in-person care per day, including:
  • At least three hours per day of high-quality English language arts (ELA) and math (most grantees provide 90 minutes of ELA and 90 minutes of math, though other combinations are acceptable, as long as three-hour programming is maintained)
  • Daily enrichment/recreation programming
  • May include up to one hour of before-care and up to one hour of after-care (optional)

*Exception: Programs serving students entering 9th and/or 10th grade may operate an optional five-hour day, including three hours of academic instruction. See the “Grant Funding Details” section of this FAQ for more details.

Beyond these requirements, grantees/sites have flexibility to structure programs creatively. For example, a program operating five days per week for five weeks (25 program days total) may designate each Friday as a field trip day. The remaining four days each week would provide the required 20 days of academic instruction and must collectively meet the academic instructional-hour requirement. Grantees/sites may also alternate academic instruction and enrichment activities throughout the day.

Grantees Selecting Lavinia RISE

Grantees/sites using the Lavinia RISE curriculum must meet the same program requirements outlined above. They may determine program dates and schedules that best meet the needs of students and families. Please note that the Lavinia RISE curriculum provides only 20 days of instruction. 

In addition, required leader and teacher training dates are established in advance and must be incorporated into program planning.

DiscoverWorks includes required pre- and post-assessments to support both instructional planning and program evaluation.

These assessments are designed to:

• Help educators tailor instruction during the program
• Provide program leaders with data on student growth and overall program impact

Because DiscoverWorks requires at least 20 days of instruction, the assessments focus on a targeted set of priority standards in ELA and math. This narrowed focus lets teachers engage students in deeper learning and meaningful skill development over the summer.

Assessment format and logistics:

• All students must take both the pre- and post-assessments
• Assessments include a mix of multiple-choice and open-response questions
• Assessments take approximately 40–60 minutes for ELA and 40–60 minutes for math
• Assessments are untimed
• Assessments can be taken on the assessment platform that will be provided to grantees/sites
• Assessments can also be taken on paper
  • Note: This requires the teacher or site leader to upload the graded assessments onto the platform within five days of administration
• Assessment training on administration and scoring will be offered in advance of the program

Yes. All grantees/sites must administer the required pre- and post-assessments provided by Lavinia Group, regardless of the curriculum selected.

The assessments are essential for measuring student growth and evaluating the program’s impact. They are provided at no cost to grantees/sites and are a required component of the DiscoverWorks program.

Administer both ELA and math pre-assessments within the first two to three days of the program to establish a clear baseline for student learning.

Grantees/sites may choose to:

• Administer both assessments in a single day
• Spread them over two days (e.g., ELA on one day and math on the other)

To capture the most accurate growth data, administer the post-assessments during the final week of the program. This timing allows teachers enough time to score and review the results before the program concludes.

Because attendance often drops off toward the end of the program, grantees/sites should develop a strategic communication and testing plan to ensure all students complete the post-assessments. This could include:

• Proactively informing families and students about the importance of the assessments
• Communicating with families about student exit dates to ensure assessments are completed before students leave the program
• Incentivizing attendance on assessment days, such as scheduling celebrations or field trips afterward

No. All grantees/sites must administer the required pre- and post-assessments provided by Lavinia Group, regardless of the curriculum selected.

Grantees/sites may choose to administer additional assessments to meet internal goals or district requirements, but these would not take the place of the required DiscoverWorks assessments.

Yes. Currently, the pre- and post-assessments are offered only in English. Student are exempt from the pre- and post-assessments if any of the following apply:

• The site or district has an English language learner policy that conflicts with taking an assessment in English
• The student has special education considerations around assessments
• The student is not taking ELA as part of DiscoverWorks (e.g., some dual language programs have students take Spanish language arts instead)

Training attendance is required. Grantees/sites will receive training materials (including videos and resources) on assessment implementation and scoring in the spring. Program, site, and/or technology leads should attend the assessment training. Teachers who have been selected are also encouraged to attend. The assessment platform will offer accessible, responsive customer service for any technical questions before, during, or after the assessments.