Student enrollment now open at 50+ free or low-cost Indy Summer Learning Lab sites
(April 7, 2025) – Student enrollment opened today for Indy Summer Learning Labs (ISLL), a five-week, free or low-cost academic and enrichment program to boost learning over summer break. The all-day program provides high-quality academic instruction and fun activities in a safe environment for Marion County students who will enter first through ninth grade in the fall. The program is operated by The Mind Trust in partnership with local schools, districts, and community organizations. Since 2021, the program has consistently delivered double-digit learning gains in both math and reading for participating students.
“The Mind Trust is excited to offer Indy Summer Learning Labs for a fifth consecutive year, providing students with high-quality summer learning experiences that keep them engaged and on track,” said Brandon Brown, CEO of The Mind Trust. “We are grateful to our school and community partners for their dedication to student success, and we look forward to another impactful summer of learning, growth, and opportunity.”
2025 program enrollment is now open
ISLL will serve students for a fifth summer from June 16 through July 18. This year’s program can serve 5,500 students at 50+ sites, including community centers, churches, and schools. Site enrollment is either free or low-cost, with the majority of sites being free. All sites will serve breakfast and lunch; some locations will provide before- and after-school care, as well as transportation.
Students who participate receive in-person math and reading instruction each day from licensed teachers. Sites also provide fun enrichment activities, such as field trips, arts, STEM activities, and more. A full list of locations and information about individual site hours, enrollment, and other details can be found at indysummerlearninglabs.com/enroll. Families are encouraged to claim their spots in the enrollment portal as soon as possible, as each site has a seating limit.
“Indy Summer Learning Labs continues to be a game-changer for students and families across Indianapolis. Over the past five years, Indy Summer Learning Labs has helped thousands of students grow academically, build confidence, and develop a love for learning. Each summer, we see firsthand the incredible progress students make when they have access to high-quality instruction and enrichment. As enrollment opens, we’re excited to continue this momentum and provide even more students with the support they need to thrive,” said Jazmin Sanders, Director of School Support and Out-of-School Programs.
How to enroll your student at an Indy Summer Learning Labs site
This year, ISLL is partnering with Enroll Indy to deliver an easy online enrollment experience for families. To enroll:
- Visit indysummerlearninglabs.com/enroll to find ISLL locations, grade levels served, hours, fees, and other details to choose the site that works best for your family.
- Once you have chosen your site preference, complete the online form found at indysummerlearninglabs.com/enroll.
- Once you fill out the form, you will receive a confirmation email and instructions with any additional registration steps that need to be completed.
Families can get enrollment portal assistance by contacting Enroll Indy at 317-426-3234 or by email at enrollment@indysummerlearninglabs.com. For more information on individual sites’ programming, families can contact sites at the information listed on indysummerlearninglabs.com/enroll.
About Indy Summer Learning Labs
The Mind Trust and United Way of Central Indiana launched ISLL in 2021 to address learning loss caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Since then, ISLL has focused on serving students who stand to gain the most from expanded access to high-quality summer academic programming. Last year, in 2024, ISLL served over 5,500 Marion County students at more than 45 schools and community learning centers. Of the 5,500 students, 52% of ISLL students identified as Black, and 15% identified as Latino. Fifty-four percent of ISLL students qualified for the federal free or reduced-price lunch program.
Each year, participating students have achieved double-digit learning gains in math and english language arts (ELA) as measured by an assessment taken at the start and end of the program. Notable program results from 2024 include:
- A 26 percentage point increase in basic and proficient scores for ELA
- A 24 percentage point increase in basic and proficient scores for math
- 91% of families felt that Indy Summer Learning Labs offered an excellent or good experience for their child.
Due to the success of ISLL, the program was replicated to other regions in Indiana in 2024 and served close to 9,000 students. Statewide math and english language arts (ELA) gains were similar to those for ISLL, showing the model’s effectiveness. To learn more about the Indianapolis program, visit indysummerlearninglabs.com. To learn more about Summer Learning Labs statewide, visit thesummerlearninglabs.com.
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About Indy Summer Learning Labs
Indy Summer Learning Labs (ISLL) is a collaborative effort between The Mind Trust, schools, and community-based organizations serving students across Indianapolis with continued summer instruction and enrichment activities to drive increased academic achievement. ISLL offers five weeks of fun, high-quality academic opportunities for students during the summer break at dozens of locations across Marion County. Learn more at indysummerlearninglabs.com.
About The Mind Trust
The Mind Trust is an education nonprofit that works to build a system of schools that gives every student, no exceptions, access to a high-quality education in Indianapolis and beyond. The Mind Trust does this by building a supportive environment for schools through policy and community engagement, empowering talented educators to launch new schools, and providing existing schools with the support they need to hire world-class talent and achieve excellence. Currently, our team supports schools, leaders, and students in Indianapolis, across Indiana, and in Connecticut.
Media Contact
Kateri Whitley
kwhitley@themindtrust.org, 317-801-9682 (c)