There is an important distinction between remedial summer school and enrichment programs. Traditionally, summer school was seen as a way for students to catch up on failed classes through intensive instruction. However, there is growing recognition among educators, families and policymakers that high-quality summer learning programs, combining academics with enriching activities, can effectively combat summer learning loss in an enjoyable and engaging manner.
Disadvantaged students often experience greater learning setbacks during the summer, which can accumulate to a two-and-a-half to three-year gap by fifth grade when compared with their more affluent peers. Summer programs increasingly are acknowledged as safe and enriching environments for learning and personal growth. Research suggests that by addressing students’ social-emotional needs, summer programs can help mitigate learning loss. Consistent summer learning experiences can play a vital role in closing opportunity gaps, improving graduation rates and enhancing college readiness.
High-quality summer learning programs incorporate a mix of academic instruction, hands-on learning, enrichment activities and social-emotional support. They aim to prevent summer learning loss, promote academic growth, foster social-emotional development and create a positive and supportive learning environment. According to RAND’s Getting to Work on Summer Learning publication, the following are among the characteristics of a high-quality summer learning program:
- Highly qualified and specially trained staff, along with early planning that engages partners with clearly delineated roles.
- Smaller class sizes, individualized instruction and sufficient time on task (operating the program for at least five weeks, with three to four hours of academics per day).
- Family involvement and efforts to maximize student attendance with firm enrollment deadlines, clear attendance policies and electronic student records.
- Strategic use of partnerships.
- Use of evidence-based, commercially available curricula that are standardized across sites.
- Use of carefully planned, engaging enrichment activities.
According to a National Center on Afterschool and Summer Enrichment brief, the lasting impact on youth necessitates high-quality summer programs. The brief emphasizes the importance of understanding available funding and recommends the collection, analysis and sharing of compelling outcome data to showcase the successes of summer learning programs.
The National Summer Learning Project is a Wallace Foundation initiative that involves five school districts—Boston; Dallas; Duval County, Fla.; Pittsburgh; and Rochester, N.Y.—along with their local community partners. A Rand Corporation study tracking nearly 6,000 students from the end of third grade through the spring of seventh grade compared students who were selected to attend the project’s summer program with those who applied but were not chosen. The study indicates that summer learning programs offer both short- and long-term advantages, particularly for children in low-income communities. Among the students who participated in the project, those who attended frequently experienced the greatest benefits in areas such as mathematics, language arts and social-emotional skills.
Student academic, social and emotional outcomes can be enhanced by providing teachers with high-quality professional learning opportunities. However, information on the types of learning activities that teachers engage in during the summer has been limited until recently. This RAND report presents data from the first national survey of teachers to focus on their summer learning experiences. The report also includes data from a descriptive study of BellXcel Summer, an academic-focused program that offers teachers numerous professional learning opportunities. The aim is to compare the BellXcel teachers’ perceptions of their summer professional learning with those of teachers nationwide.
Research shows that high-quality summer programming extends beyond academic support. The National Academies of Sciences emphasizes the importance of addressing basic developmental needs, such as adequate nutrition and safety, for children during the summer. Research by the National Summer Learning Association reveals that many children face hunger during the summer, with only 1 in 7 eligible youth accessing summer meal programs. Summer programs offer the opportunity to reach students who rely on free or reduced-price school lunches during the academic year.
This research collectively underscores the necessity of high-quality summer programs, adequate funding and holistic support to ensure positive outcomes for youth, including academic growth, social-emotional development, and meeting basic needs during the summer months.
State Action
The following examples provide a snapshot of recent legislation:
|
Approach
|
Summary
|
|
Funding
|
States are supporting summer programs by directing funding toward specific populations, such as at-risk or older youth, as well as targeting specific issue areas like professional development. Some states have also prioritized the collection of data on the state of afterschool programs within their jurisdictions. By focusing on targeted populations and gathering relevant information, states aim to ensure effective and equitable summer programming for all students.
|
|
Literacy
|
To mitigate the effects of summer learning loss, many states have passed legislation that prioritizes summer literacy programs. These initiatives aim to help students retain essential knowledge during the summer break and prepare them for the curriculum expectations of the upcoming academic year.
|
|
Nutrition
|
During the school year, 22 million children receive free or reduced-price meals through the National School Lunch Program. Legislation focusing on summer meals aims to address the nutritional needs of children during the summer break when access to school meals may be limited.
|
|
STEM
|
Summertime STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) programs provide an engaging and hands-on learning experience that helps prevent summer learning loss. These programs target core math and literacy skills and have proved successful in engaging underrepresented student populations, such as girls and minority students, in STEM fields. Additionally, STEM programs often foster partnerships between schools, colleges, museums, science centers and businesses.
|
|
Councils/ Task Forces
|
Some states have established task forces or commissions to study summer programs and make policy recommendations. These groups consist of state agency representatives, community stakeholders and legislators; their goal is to collect information, assess existing programs and propose policy changes to enhance summer learning opportunities.
|
|
Learning Recovery
|
When the pandemic began and schools shifted from in-person to a mix of hybrid and remote learning, there was a focus on learning recovery and how to help students stay caught up. As policymakers, stakeholders and educators reimagine what learning looks like moving forward, they have focused on afterschool and summer programs.
|
Read more about enacted legislation on summer learning at NCSL’s Education Bill Tracking Database.
High-Quality Programs
Each year, the National Summer Learning Association recognizes and highlights programs that provide high-quality learning opportunities to young people in communities across the nation.
Social-Emotional Learning
ICAN in Chandler, Ariz., aims to provide youth with social-emotional support, engage them in academic activities and keep them safe during the summer.
Bridge the Summer Learning Gap
Teachers in the Parks in Exeter Township, Pa., is designed to help youth bridge the summer learning gap.
The Boys and Girls Clubs of Santa Monica in California is designed to prevent learning loss while providing enrichment over the summer.
Career Exploration
The Fresh Air Fund’s Summer Teen Academy in New York City focuses on career exposure, job readiness training, and internship and credentialing opportunities to address barriers to summer employment.