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“Reducing Summer Learning Loss: Implementing Successful Programs”
A joint webinar presented by The Wallace Foundation and the National League of Cities
November 4, 2009
AGENDA
Welcome – Dara Rose, The Wallace Foundation
Introduction – Bela Shah Spooner, National League of Cities
Research Presentation: Summer Learning Loss
Ron Fairchild, National Summer Learning Association Solutions to learning loss; features of effective summer learning programs
Mary Terzian, Child Trends Policy & financing landscape - Ron Fairchild
The City Context/Experience: Sabrina Sutton, Special Assistant to the Mayor for Youth and
Education, Baltimore, MDMaxine Quintana, Director of Student Programs, Mayor’s Office for Education and Children, Denver, CO
Q&A/Comments – Audience
Closing – Bela Shah Spooner
Expanding Access to Quality Summer Learning Programs
Ron Fairchild, CEO
What typically happens to young people during the summer months?
39 studies confirm academic losses documented nutritional setbacks
Summer Learning & the Achievement Gap
Av
era
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Re
adin
g A
ch
iev
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t L
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Sum
mer
1st 2nd 3rd 4th
Summer ReadingAchievement Trajectories
Low-Income Students
Middle-Income Students
Sum
mer
Sum
mer
Sum
mer
Sum
mer
Summer Learning Programs Summer Learning Programs and Practices: Reviewing the and Practices: Reviewing the
EvidenceEvidence
November 4, 2009Child Trends, Inc.
Mary Terzian, Ph.D., M.S.W., Research ScientistKristin Moore, Ph.D., Senior Scholar Katie Hamilton, M.A., Research Analyst
7
They seek to maintain and increase students’ academic knowledge and skills. Also, they are:
Recreational Relational
Voluntary Take place over a full day
Include students of varied skill levels
Recreational Enriching Relational
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Replicated Experimental
Experimental
Quasi-experimental
Evidenced-informed, non-experimental
Summer Learning Programs: What Does the Evidence Look Like?
The Level of Evidence
Depends on the Rigor of
the Evaluation Study.
Educational outcomes
1.Reading achievement gains are possible
2.Math achievement gains are also possible
3.Impacts on high school completion look less
promising
Career Development Outcomes
1.Impacts on employment are similarly lacking
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Summer Learning Programs: What Does the Best Available Evidence Tell Us?
Educational
1. Engagement in post-secondary education
2. College enrollment
Career Development
1. Career decision-making skills
2. Work-related attitudes
3. Welfare Receipt
Youth Development
1. Social skills, self concept/self efficacy
2. Reproductive health
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Outcomes with Insufficient Evidence
Intervention Strategy
1.Complement group learning with individual support.
2.Make activities interesting and enjoyable.
3.Ground lessons or concepts in a real-world context.
4.Integrate hands-on activities.
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Summer Learning Programs: Promising Practices
Intervention Content
1. Teach content that complements curricular standards.
Staffing and Class Size
1. Hire experienced, trained teachers to deliver the academic lessons.2. Limit class sizes to 15 or fewer students, with 2-4 teachers per
classroom.12
Summer Learning Programs: Promising Practices
1. Affordable and Accessible Offer parents free child care during parent events
Provide food and transportation to participants
2. Involve the Community As funders
As volunteers
As recruiters
3. Involve Parents In planning activities and in
special events
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Additional Program Improvement Strategies
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In conclusion….Summer learning programs hold the potential to impact the educational outcomes of disadvantaged children and youth.
http://www.childtrends.org/Files//Child_Trends-2009_09_01_FS_WWSummerLearning.pdf
When asked “Can states and districts use Recovery Act funds to create and then expand summer learning opportunities for students?”
Secretary Duncan replied: “Not only can states and districts use recovery money to do this, we are asking them to think very, very seriously about doing this. We think this is one of the best investments they could make.”
The Federal Policy Landscape
Primary Areas: Education, Child Care, Nutrition, Youth Employment & Service Learning
Limitations: No federal funding dedicated to summer learning Overly broad or extremely narrow Poor tracking & reporting requirements
The State Policy Landscape:
State & Local resources more significant than Federal
35 states have summer education policies Policies vary widely, but emphasis on
remediation and/or gifted and talented programs Poor alignment across agencies Lack of basic data
The Local Policy Landscape
Trends across local areas: Schools are largest single provider Parks & recreation offer most coverage Child care vouchers provide modest support Options for older youth are few, focus on summer jobs Spending per youth varies widely Partnership models offer best opportunity for leveraging
of funds
Strategic Opportunities
1. Use philanthropic investments to leverage public dollars
2. Direct stimulus funds for summer learning
3. Explore summer learning within the reauthorization of ESEA
4. Support new and innovative federal and state policies
5. Invest in data collection
6. Create a New Vision for Summer School
Baltimore CitySummer Learning
Sabrina Sutton Special Assistant to the Mayor for Youth and
Education, Baltimore, MD
Reducing Summer Learning Loss:Implementing Successful Programs
Denver’s Story
Maxine QuintanaMayor’s Office for Education & Children
The Wallace Foundation/National League of Cities Webinar
Denver’s Approach
Leverage partnerships to deliver a variety of QUALITY programs throughout the City
and create ACCESS for low-income families.
City Led Initiatives
• Parks & Recreation– Summer in the Parks/sports programs – fee based– Swimming pools are free to all youth– Summer Scholars – Provide enrichment for 6 week program in
partnership with CBO focused on advancing literacy -- evaluation results demonstrate a positive impact on reading achievement
• Denver Public Library – Summer Reading program• Workforce Development – Summer Youth Employment• Mayor’s Office for Education & Children
– The 5 By 5 Project – provides Head Start families with free year-round access and educational opportunities to 12 of Denver’s cultural venues to support parents as first teachers
• Youth Link/GIS Mapping– City-wide afterschool/summer directory for families
District Led Initiatives
• English Language Acquisition Academy– 4 week program, serving 1,600+ English language learners in 3rd
and 4th grade – Focus on building language development, includes literacy and
math instruction and daily enrichment activities– 60% growth in linguistic levels
• 6th & 9th Grade Academies– 2 week program, serving 3,000+ students– Focus on transition and building literacy, math, and resiliency
skills– Evaluation data indicates participation is positively impacting
engagement, attendance and grades throughout the school year
• Denver CAMP (Collaboration Among Many Partners)– Innovative collaboration with over 30 community-
based partners from DQUAC contributing in-kind program services
– Joint management with the City, School District, and CBOs
– Focused on providing academic enrichment programs, physical fitness, arts, technology, life skills and more
– Expanded to two sites, serving 400 low-income students with free quality programming
– Replicated in two other Colorado counties
CBO Led Initiative
Q&A SESSION
Dara RoseSenior Program OfficerThe Wallace Foundation212-251-9818drose@wallacefoundation.orgwww.wallacefoundation.org
Bela Shah SpoonerPrincipal Associate, Afterschool InitiativesInstitute for Youth, Education, and FamiliesNational League of [email protected]
Maxine QuintanaDirector of Student Programs Mayor’s Office for Education and Children – [email protected]/education
Sabrina Sutton Special Assistant for Youth/Education Office of Mayor Sheila Dixon – Baltimore443-984-3587sabrina.sutton@baltimorecity.govwww.baltimorecity.gov/mayor/
Mary A. Terzian, Ph.D., M.S.W.Research ScientistChild [email protected] www.childtrends.org
Ron FairchildChief Executive Officer National Summer Learning Association [email protected] www.summerlearning.org
CONTACT INFORMATION
Thinking About Summer Learning: Three Perspectives tackles how to improve and expand summer learning programs for low-income kids – and includes reports by two of the webinar speakers.
Investments in Building Citywide Out-of-School-Time Systems: A Six-City Study looks at investments six major cities have made to provide quality after-school opportunities to more kids.
Thank you for joining us. To hear about future webinars register for email alerts at www.wallacefoundation.org.
Also, Visit the our website for two new publications on related subjects:
