Cutting Summer Learning is Bad Policy
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
By: Kathleen Manzo

Summer Programs Are Missing Ingredient In Education Reform

Contact:  Kathleen Kennedy Manzo, 301-656-0348, Kathleen@thehatchergroup.com

School districts nationwide are cutting summer school to deal with shrinking budgets. Yet, a growing number of forward-thinking districts are bucking that trend and are instead investing in comprehensive, innovative summer learning programs as a way to extend student learning and enrichment and get more kids on track for the next academic year.

Cutting summer programs will mean risks and setbacks for many children in high-poverty communities, where summer vacation rarely brings exciting, fun-filled days or memorable experiences. Too often, it's a precarious time with few opportunities for physical activity, academic and cultural enrichment, creative exploration, or even proper nutrition.

But students in Cincinnati, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Minneapolis, and other communities will have access to a new kind of summer learning program, thanks to creative partnerships between school districts and community organizations, and an infusion of public and private funding, particularly from the federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. Despite tight budgets and pressing mandates, officials in those districts are investing in summer learning as a way to boost student achievement and engagement.

"For many districts, summer school is an easy, first cut," says Ron Fairchild, chief executive officer of the National Summer Learning Association. "Instead, by re-thinking summer school, those same districts can use summer programming as a path to close the achievement gap, pilot innovative education reform strategies, and offer enrichment opportunities for students who need it most."

The Association, which works with thousands of summer learning program providers and school districts across the country, is urging school leaders to move away from the traditional view of summer school as a remedial and punitive measure for failing students. Instead, the Association urges adoption of a new vision of summer school, one that promotes comprehensive learning programs that blend engaging academic lessons and high-interest enrichment activities.

The Association, with generous support from The Atlantic Philanthropies, recently launched a three-year campaign to increase public investment in summer learning programs by $50 million, and make them an essential component of school reform. The campaign is already more than halfway toward that goal thanks to several high-profile initiatives. NASA's new Summer of Innovation pilot program, for example, intends to award up to $5.6 million to consortia in Idaho, Massachusetts, New Mexico, and Wyoming for programs that expand learning opportunities for students in the STEM fields: science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

The Association has been working to move summer learning from the periphery to the center of school reform strategies. Reaching that goal will depend on strong partnerships between schools and community organizations to leverage existing resources to ensure a range of activities and programs that promote healthy development.

The effort to keep kids learning during summer is based on research that shows that without effective summer learning opportunities:

Most students fall more than two months behind in math over the summer.
Low-income children fall behind two to three months in reading each summer, while their middle and upper-income peers make slight gains.
By the end of fifth grade, lower-income children can be nearly three years behind their higher-income peers in reading.

Further, the Food Research and Action Center reports that fewer than one in six children who receives free- or reduced-price meals during the school year gets them in summer.

A 2007 Johns Hopkins study found that two-thirds of the achievement gap in reading between poor and more advantaged ninth-graders is due to unequal summer learning experiences during the elementary school years. That gap makes a difference in whether students decide to drop out or go on to college.

There is growing recognition among policymakers that schools and communities should combat summer learning loss. President Obama has expressed his support for innovative summer learning programs as a strategy for improving student achievement. U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan has encouraged districts to use federal ARRA funding for summer learning, calling it "one of the best investments they can make." Additionally, federal policy has called for expanded learning time as a key strategy for helping to turn around the nation's lowest performing schools. Given the research on summer and the achievement gap, the Association believes summer learning programs must be an essential component of any school turnaround efforts.

While many states are cutting summer programs and education due to budget deficits, several states are taking a fresh look at the importance of summer learning. Both California and Rhode Island have created legislative task forces to focus on the issue and make policy recommendations. Other states, such as Wyoming, have invested significant state funding into innovative summer school programs that look different than the traditional school day. The Association is also pleased that many states included summer learning programs as a component of their Race to the Top applications, providing another way to expand summer programs during difficult times.

On National Summer Learning Day -- Monday, June 21 -- programs around the country will host activities and events to raise awareness of the importance of high-quality summer learning opportunities. Last year, more than 500 events took place in 49 states.

An analysis of survey data released today by the Afterschool Alliance confirms that parents strongly support summer learning programs. Few families have access to programs, but many more would participate if programs were available. The survey of 30,000 households found:

3 out of 4 of America's schoolchildren do not participate in a summer learning programs.
56 percent of kids (an estimated 24 million kids) who are not participating in summer learning programs would likely enroll in a program, based on parent interest.
83 percent of parents support public funding for summer learning programs.
Nearly half of the children likely to participate in a summer program are eligible for free- and reduced-price lunch.

Summer Spells Success: Tips for Parents
The National Summer Learning Association offers the following tips for parents to ensure their children get the most out of the summer break and are prepared for the challenges of the next school year:

Set goals and issue a challenge
Understand your child's interests
Communicate with teachers and caregivers
Create intentional learning experiences
Engage kids with creative, low-cost activities
Sustain structure and routine
Set limits and communicate expectations

Locate a summer program that fits your budget. Programs offered by schools, recreation centers, universities, and community-based organizations often have an educational or enrichment focus.

Head to the library. It's a great, free resource. Check out books that interest your child. Participate in free library summer programs and make time to read every day.

Focus on communication. Encourage your child to discuss or write about the books he or she is reading, or keep a journal of favorite events and activities during the summer.

Take advantage of local amenities. Take free or low-cost educational trips to parks, museums, zoos and nature centers.

Explore and learn. If you are taking a day trip by car, choose a place with an educational theme. Camping is a low-cost way to get outside and learn about nature.

Give math meaning. Measure items around the house or yard. Track daily temperatures. Add and subtract at the grocery store. Learn fractions while cooking.

Play outside. Power down the TV and electronic games and, instead, seek out or organize physical activities that contribute to healthy development.

Do a community service project. Teach your child how to volunteer in your community. Activities such as cleaning up a local park or collecting supplies for an animal shelter build compassion for others as well as community pride.

Keep a schedule. Continue daily routines during the summer with structure and limits. The key is providing a balance and keeping kids engaged.
Prepare for fall. Find out what your child will be learning during the next school year by talking with teachers at that grade level. Many schools prepare summer packets of activities highlighting math and reading skills for the next grade level. Preview concepts and materials over the summer.
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The mission of the National Summer Learning Association is to connect and equip schools and community organizations to deliver quality summer learning programs to our nation's youth to help close the achievement gap. The organization serves as a network hub for thousands of summer learning program providers and stakeholders across the country, providing tools, resources, and expertise to improve program quality, generate support, and increase youth access and participation. For more information, visit http://www.summerlearning.org