UPPER FREEHOLD — The Upper Freehold Regional School District (UFRSD) is making plans for this summer’s extended school-year program.

Dubbed the Skill Enrichment Academy, the program runs in June and July. It offers an opportunity for students who require special services to retain what they have learned during the regular school year while being introduced to material slated for the upcoming year, according to Judy Chevalier, director of special services for UFRSD.

“The philosophy of the program really is to build community within our district among students who require special services,” she said. “The learning is taking place academically, the learning is taking place socially, and it’s taking place psychologically.”

Students in the program have individualized education plans, which, by law, allow them to take part in the extended school year, according to Chevalier.

Along with the curriculum taught, the program seeks to encourage self-awareness among the students, which in turn would teach them to be self-advocates, she said.

The Skill Enrichment Academy is offered to students at all grade levels. A program at the high school level teaches students employability skills, even giving them a chance to “work” for the school district.

“That program was new last year, but it was a huge success,” she said.

Teens obtain working papers and then are given various “jobs” in the district, which may include tasks such as working with the preschool students by reading to them for compensation, Chevalier explained.

“Not many children in the world would say, ‘Gee, let me give up my summer and go to school,’ so we try to make it a little fun as well,” she said.

One such effort consists of educational field trips taken on Thursdays.

Although district officials have yet to nail down the exact dates for this year’s program, they are soon to be determined. The program typically runs Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. The entire district closes down Fridays in the summer in an effort to be environmentally conscious, Chevalier said.

“We save thousands by closing on Fridays in the summer,” she said.