DiscoverWorks Summer Learning

Thousands of Washington students in King, Pierce, Kittitas, Yakima, Klickitat, and Grant counties will offer a new free, full-day summer learning and enrichment opportunity designed to help students thrive over the summer months.

The Association of Educational Service Districts (AESD) announced that 105 schools in 19 school districts will participate in the 2026 launch of DiscoverWorks Washington, a full-day summer youth academic and enrichment initiative. The program is being piloted in the Puget Sound and Yakima areas in 2026, with the goal of expanding statewide in the future. The initiative is fully funded by Ballmer Group.

For a full list of the participating schools, check out the DiscoverWorks website.

DiscoverWorks serves students entering grades one through nine in the 2026–27 school year at participating public, charter, and tribal schools in Educational Service District 105 (Yakima area) and Puget Sound ESD 121 (Seattle area) regions. To be eligible to host the program, 50% or more of the school's population must qualify for free lunch. The program is offered at no cost to families, and includes academic instruction, enrichment activities, meals, and full-day care.

DiscoverWorks keeps students engaged and active during the summer months. The program combines daily reading and math instruction with hands-on activities such as field trips related to arts, STEM, and sports. Students learn and explore in a safe, structured, and fun environment.

“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."

A Proven Model with Strong 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.

“What we want every student in this program to take away is to remember that the adults in this community care about them, that we care enough for them that we planned this program with them in mind, that we know in the summer you don't want to go to school,” said Dr. Maria Lucero, assistant superintendent of teaching and learning for Yakima School District. “We know that you just want to have fun. And we want you to remember that you can have fun and learn in the summer.”

About the Partners

The Association of Educational Service Districts (AESD) unites Washington’s nine Educational Service Districts to strengthen learning opportunities for all students. The AESD Network connects schools with resources, coordinates statewide programs, and builds partnerships that expand what individual districts can accomplish. Learn more at www.waesd.org.

Ballmer Group is committed to improving economic mobility for children and families in the United States by investing in leaders and organizations that reshape opportunity. The organization focuses on systems that expand access to early learning, K–12 education, college and career pathways, housing, behavioral health, and criminal justice. Ballmer Group is both a national and regional funder, with deep investments in Southeast Michigan, Washington State, and Los Angeles County. Learn more at www.ballmergroup.org.