• Determine your Explore site and before/after school care options here.  
  • Click on the provider's name for enrollment and other information for before/after school care.
    • Boys & Girls Club
    • YMCA
    • SPARC
• View boundary map for Explore locations.
• Elementary schools will begin at 8:50 a.m. and end at 3:20 p.m. except for Hickory Hills and Pershing, which will begin at 8 a.m. and end at 2:30 p.m.
• Middle schools will begin at 8 a.m. and end at 2:30 p.m.
• Free breakfast and lunch, where allowable by federal guidelines, at most Explore sites, including special programs.
• Free bus transportation will be available to eligible elementary and middle school students to their designated Explore site. 

Students in grades 1-8 who need extra support in literacy and/or mathematics will receive a letter from ELP. Follow the steps outlined in the letter to register your child for the appropriate courses.

Courses are offered for grades K-12 to support reading, writing, listening and speaking skills in English. Qualifying students will receive a letter with more information. 

• ELL students in grades K-5 should register for the appropriate grade-level class offered at their school.
• ELL students in grades 6-8 should register for the ESOL class offered at their school, plus one additional class.
• ELL students in grades 9-12 will register for ESOL 1550 offered at Central High School, plus one additional class.
• For transportation for ELL students, view high school bus eligibility map here.    

For more information contact the ELL office at (417) 523-1135.

All elementary and secondary courses are available to students with disabilities. If you have questions regarding your child’s eligibility for ESY, please contact your child’s special education teacher. 

• Parents should consult with their child’s teacher prior to enrolling.
• Special Education Extended School Year Services (ESY) will be provided for SPS students as determined by the student’s IEP team. 

Will you ride the bus, walk or arrive by automobile? Transportation will be available to eligible elementary and middle school students to their designated Explore! site. 

If you are eligible, when you register online you will be offered the option of signing up to ride the bus.  Eligible, students must live within the designated attendance area and their residence be 1.5 miles or more from their designated Explore site. 

Register by April 15 to guarantee bus transportation on the first day of classes for session 1 and by May 1 for session 2. If you have questions, call (417) 523-0500, (417) 523-4747 

• Elementary school bus eligibility map
• Middle school bus eligibility map
• High school ELL student bus eligibility map

View site specific Explore site transportation eligibility maps by clicking on the school name below.

Take advantage of breakfast and lunch served at Explore sites and special programs. 

• Where allowable by federal guidelines, meals will be provided free.

Eligible students will receive information on how to enroll in gifted education classes offered at Phelps Center.  

Attendance

• Regular attendance is expected, and high school students taking classes for credit must receive a passing grade in order to receive credit. 

Withdrawing from Explore

• Prior to Explore beginning, contact the Explore office at 523-4747.
• After Explore begins, high school students must drop the class before it meets 15 hours and will receive an NGN-no grade/no credit. High school students will receive a failing grade if they withdraw after the 15 hour deadline.

Behavior

• Any student who exhibits inappropriate behavior may be dropped from Explore. All SPS board policies apply to students attending Explore.

Textbooks and materials

• Textbooks will be provided by the school district. Secondary students will be expected to bring textbooks, paper and pencils to class every day. Elementary students will need to bring their basic supplies from the regular school year.
• Explorers will regularly use technology as a tool during their summer learning. Chromebooks or iPad minis, in combination with passionate, innovative teachers, will engage students throughout the journey.

Class offerings

• Class offerings are subject to change based on enrollment. If a class is no longer available, we will attempt to contact you.

Special Education students

• All elementary and secondary courses are available to students with disabilities. Parents should consult with their student's teacher prior to registration. Reasonable accommodations will be available, if required, to assist in regular Explore classes.
• Special Education Extended School Year (ESY) Services will be provided for SPS students as determined by the student's IEP team. The student must have been enrolled in SPS the preceding year and determined eligible for such services. The provision of ESY services for non-resident students is the responsibility of the domicile district.
• ESY service students may receive transportation if it determined to be a related service by the IEP team.

English Language Learners

• Services available for qualified students. Contact the ELL office at 523-1136 for information and placement.

Health and Wellness

• Students enrolled in Explore must be compliant with the immunization requirements.  View 2019-2020 requirements here. 
• A completed Student Health Inventory Form to inform the school nurse of chronic health conditions that may need to be addressed during the school day must be submitted. 
• Appropriate orders for specialized healthcare procedures (diabetes care, emergency medication, etc.) required as part of the care for your child during the school day must be submitted prior to the child attending classes during the summer.  The physician order(s) or care plan must be submitted by May 1, 2019.

Methods to submit immunization records, student health inventory forms and orders for specialized healthcare procedures include:

• In person or my mail to the Records Department or Health Service Department at the Roseanne Bentley Administrative Center, 1610 E. Sunshine.
• Fax to (417) 523-1695.
• Email to immunizations@spsmail.org.

Notice of Non-Discrimination

Applicants for admission and employment, students, parents, employees, sources of referral of applicants for admission and employment, and all employee groups, associations or organizations who meet and confer with representatives of the Springfield R-12 School District are hereby notified that this institution does not discriminate on the basis of of race, color, religion (belief or non-belief), ancestry, national origin, sex, age or handicap in admission or access to, or treatment or employment in its programs and activities. Any person having inquiries concerning the Springfield R-12 School District's compliance with the regulations implementing Title VI, Title IX, ADA, or Section 504 is directed to contact Human Resources (523-0052) involving staff concerns; Diann Barth (523-4647) involving student programs or building accessibility. These offices have been designed by the Springfield R-12 School District to coordinate the District's efforts to comply with the regulations implementing Title VI, Title IX, ADA and Section 504.