Summer Learning

Why Summer Learning Loss Matters

 

According to the National Campaign for Grade-Level Reading Initiative, research spanning 100 years has proven that students lose ground academically when they are out of school for the summer. This problem is particularly severe among low-income students who lose an average of more than two months in reading achievement in the summer. This slows their progress toward third grade reading proficiency. In addition, it exacerbates the achievement gap with their middle-class peers. By the end of 5th grade, they are nearly three grade levels behind their peers.

The Facts:

  • In elementary years, reading as few as six books over the summer will help children maintain their reading level from that school year.
  • When children are provided with 10 to 20 self-selected children's books at the end of the regular school year, as many as 50% not only maintain their skills, but actually make reading gains.
  • By the end of fifth grade, disadvantaged children are nearly three grade equivalents behind their more affluent peers in reading.
  • Studies show 6-week summer learning programs can produce statistically significant gains in reading performance.

Our Strategies:

  • Connect parents and families to information, resources and support.
  • Get books into the hands of children.
  • Build awareness of quality summer programs in the Black Hills area.
  • Promote and strengthen supporting entities that already support summer programs such as local libraries, girl scouts, etc.

Want to know more?