Yakima School District Offers Free, Full-Day Summer Program For Students In Grades 1–9 - 04/30/26
YAKIMA, WA — Yakima School District will offer a free, full-day summer learning program at elementary and middle schools this summer. DiscoverWorks combines daily reading and math lessons with hands-on activities, field trips, and meals. Families pay nothing to take part.
The program serves students who will finish kindergarten through eighth grade this school year. It will run on a full-day schedule from June 29 to July 27, 2026. Yakima School District is one of 19 school districts selected to take part across Washington.
About the Program
Each day, DiscoverWorks combines daily instruction in reading and math with hands-on enrichment, including arts and STEM, sports, and field trips. The program provides breakfast, lunch, and snacks in a safe and structured setting.
“Summer programs are powerful drivers of student success,” said Connie Ballmer, Co-Founder of Ballmer Group. “Schools want to provide more summer learning opportunities for students, but many can’t afford to. DiscoverWorks helps fill that gap. It provides a safe, engaging place for kids to learn and grow over the summer, with strong results for students and meaningful support for families."
“Washington has been our home for a long time,” Connie added. “We’re excited for students to participate in this program, which has been very popular with both kids and families. Summer is an essential time for fostering growth and sparking curiosity in learners.”
Proven Results
DiscoverWorks builds on the success of a program launched in Southeast Michigan in 2024, which grew to serve 30,000 students in 2025. Students showed measurable gains in both reading and math, with the greatest improvements among those who started the program furthest behind academically. Families and educators reported high satisfaction, noting that students felt more prepared and confident heading into the next school year.
Summer 2026 is the first time this program has been offered in Washington. Students in two educational service district (ESD) regions will take part: Puget Sound ESD in King and Pierce counties, and ESD 105 in Grant, Klickitat, Kittitas, and Yakima counties. After this pilot year, DiscoverWorks will expand to more regions across the state.
How Families Can Sign Up
Families can find registration information at ysd7.org/discover works. Enrollment closes on Friday, May 8, 2026.
Program Criteria
School districts applied to participate in the program. Eligible schools meet all of the following criteria:
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Be a traditional public school, charter school, or tribal school
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Be located within ESD 105 or Puget Sound ESD regions
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Serve a student population with at least 50% qualifying for free lunch
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Provide in-person programming for students entering grades 1 through 9 in fall 2026
Learn More
The Association of Educational Service Districts (AESD) and Ballmer Group launched DiscoverWorks to expand access to high-quality summer programming. Ballmer Group funds the program, which means families pay nothing. ESD 105 coordinates the program across 11 school districts in our region, including Yakima School District.