Student success depends on much more than what happens in the classroom. With summer learning loss responsible for two-thirds of the achievement gap by the end of fifth grade, opportunities for youth (especially those at-risk) to stay engaged during the summer months matter tremendously to schools and families. And the strong evidence base proving positive effects for youth makes summer learning a natural complement to the school year.
State plans for implementing the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) reveal many strategies for schools to combine federal and state investments and help drive student success with targeted summer activities. These include places where summer is explicitly named as a programmatic strategy or allowable use of funds, as well as provisions within ESSA that are a natural fit for summer opportunities.
see allCOVID-19 has illuminated the nation’s inequities in our school systems and communities like never before,... read more
PURPOSE OF THIS GUIDE Since COVID-19 has forced an abrupt end to traditional learning for... read more
This report offers information on public policies that support, or constrain, summer learning efforts—and guidance... read more