Summer Learning Loss Prevention

Summer Learning Loss Prevention

One of the greatest concerns for educators and parents as the school year comes to a close is how much information will their children retain by the time school resumes in the fall. It is critical that school students get engaged in educational activities throughout the summer months so as not lose the edge when they return to class in the fall. Research has indicated that student scores on standardized tests tend to fall by the end of summer vacation. These losses have been as much as two months of grade level equivalency in mathematics. The losses seemed to center around factual as well as procedural knowledge. They appear to be more significant in lower income children than in the scores of their middle class peers.

In a related issue, these same children have fewer nutritious free meals in the summer months than they do during the school year which has impacted their growth and has led to an increase in child obesity .This also has a residual effect on school performance

A number of school districts around the United States have tried to mitigate these losses with summertime intervention programs. Some of these programs include:

1)      A Remedial Summer School for students who did not successfully complete the grade. This can be a 4-6 week morning program where students in small classes can review essential parts of the curriculum that they did not master during the school year.

2)      Extend the academic year.  Many schools have  come to the realization that 180 days is not a magic number nor is it an adequate number of class days to cover today’s extensive and demanding curriculum.

3)      Modify the school calendar. A number of years ago school districts around the country experimented with the   45-15 program where students were in class for 45 days and then had 15 days of vacation. Under this concept the school would be open all year and the students would not miss 10 or 12 continuous weeks of instruction as many students do today. Of course in parts of the US, having air conditioned classrooms would be a necessity in this scenario.

4)      Summer Literacy Camps. Students feel less intimidated by going to camp than to summer school. Many students can learn better in a less formal environment. However, organizations like the KIPP Academies have had much success with more formal summer programs.

For more information about summer learning loss and to continue the dialogue contact the Johns Hopkins University Center for Summer Learning.

You can also obtain information about summer reading a program from Reading is Fundamental at www. rif.org.

Also see the National Summer Learning Association web site www.summerlearning.org

Remember, children need constructive things to do  during the summer to make it a happy and productive one.

C.2013 J. Margolis