Summer Learning: State of the Field

@SummerLearning

We do this by: • Recognizing and disseminating “what works” • Building the capacity of programs and community systems to deliver high-

quality opportunities • Informing, equipping and convening practitioners, policymakers and

researchers

Why Summer Matters

The Faucet Theory

• During the school year, resources are

turned ON for all students because of

equal access to public education.

• Books

• Teachers/mentors

• Meals

• Enrichment and academic

support activities

• Health services

The Faucet Theory

• During the summer, the faucet is

turned OFF for low-income youth.

• A limited flow of resources in the

summer has major implications

for summer program quality.

SUMMER BY THE NUMBERS

For more information, see NSLA’s 2016 Funding Resource Guide.

SUMMER BY THE NUMBERS

For more information, see NSLA’s 2016 Funding Resource Guide.

SUMMER BY THE NUMBERS

For more information, see NSLA’s 2016 Funding Resource Guide.

The Result of Summer Literacy Gaps

The Opportunity Gap

$832 $1,264 $1,173 $1,315

$3,536

$5,650

$6,975

$8,872

$-

$2,500

$5,000

$7,500

$10,000

1972 - 1973 1983-1984 1994-1995 2005-2006

Enrichment Expenditures on Children (in 2008 dollars)

Bottom Quartile Income Top Quartile Income

Source: Duncan, G. and Murnane, R. eds. Whither Opportunity? (2011)

Summer Learning Works

Making Summer Count Literature Review and Best Practices from Summer Learning Research

Getting to Work on Summer Learning Lessons learned from Summer Learning Demonstration Project in Five School Districts

Best Practices for Program Quality

• 150 hours of programming

• School/community partnerships

• Breakfast and lunch

• Involve credentialed teachers

• Start planning early

• Individualize/personalize learning

• 1:10 ratio of staff to students

• 85% attendance rate

• Multiyear participation

Summer Makes Financial Sense

Average MA per-pupil school year spending:

$14,500

For 3 months of summer this would translate to:

$4,800

Average cost of a high quality district summer school (per pupil):

$1,680 - $3,360

Average cost of a high quality summer program (per pupil):

$500 - $2,000

Summer Makes Financial Sense

Evidence base goes beyond full-day programs: – READS or Reading is Fundamental book distribution for

$50-$100/student – Public library programs like Chicago’s

States are pioneering promising models: – Oregon’s School Library program for $7/student

0

5000

10000

15000

20000

25000

30000

35000

2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016

Num

ber o

f sto

ries

Growing media coverage of ‘summer

learning’ 2007-2016

summer learning summer learning loss summer slide

Note: 2016 figures are partial-year only.

NATIONAL SUMMER LEARNING DAY

On National Summer Learning Day: • Over 1,100 events/program

posted on the map

• #KeepKidsLearning reached over 11 million accounts with over 16 million impressions on Twitter*

• 3,500 page views on summerlearning.org

*Data was pulled using TweetReach on July 18. Information only reports back 1,500 tweets.

NATIONAL SUMMER LEARNING DAY

On National Summer Learning Day: • Clear Channel Outdoor provided 1,000 digital billboards running in 28 markets

for NSLA’s Smarter Summers = Brighter Futures Campaign

• FLOTUS PSA running across 850 iHeart Media radio stations nationwide

• Major Media include Baltimore Sun, Fortune

FEDERAL POLICY LANDSCAPE

Federal funding opportunities:

• ESSA (21st CCLC, Title I, migrant education, Title II, community schools)

• Federal funding beyond ESSA (resources for jobs, learning, support services)

• Summer Food Service Program (USDA)

• Summer youth employment and service (DOL, HUD, HHS, CNCS,

Treasury)

• Career exploration and enrichment (DOE, DOT, NASA, EPA, IMLS,

Interior)

• Supports for working families and special populations (DOE, DOL, HHS)

summerlearning.org/summeropportunities

FUNDING RESOURCES

NSLA Policy priorities:

1. Incentivize partnerships and improve partner alignment

2. Promote sustainability

3. Improve and promote flexibility of resources

4. Invest in structural supports and systems

5. Expand the knowledge base

POLICY PRIORITIES

STATE POLICY TRENDS

• In 2015 and 2016, state legislatures including Indiana, Oregon, Vermont, Hawaii, and Louisiana have created advisory boards, commissions, and task forces to study summer issues like learning and hunger, and to develop recommendations for moving these issues forward.

• Massachusetts and Nebraska are making new investments in OST

grant programs that could serve as a model for other states.

• States are also going deeper in key areas supported by summer learning, such as literacy (e.g., Iowa, New Mexico) and STEM (e.g., Maryland).

2016 STATE LEGISLATIVE ACTIVITY

NM K-5 Plus Pilot Project (expands summer reading program from K through third grade to fifth grade)

NY Establishes family literacy programs for economically disadvantaged families living in poverty areas or areas with low-performing public schools

CA Increases the ASES daily rate from $7.50 to $8.50

IN The out of school time learning advisory board is established to recommend to the department and the general assembly procedures, policies, funding levels, and eligibility criteria for out of school time programs

2016 STATE LEGISLATIVE ACTIVITY

Governors’ priorities: AL, FL, IA, NC, NJ, NM, RI

NY Establishes a summer youth employment and career development program

OR Creates Policy Advisory Council on Summer Learning

MA Establishes a grant program to support the development and expansion of high quality, comprehensive summer learning opportunities for students in districts with high concentrations of low income students

MO Requires the St. Louis City and Kansas City school districts to implement reading plans for struggling students prior to promotion to third grade

OPPORTUNITY TO IMPROVE SUMMER SCHOOL

Summer School Legislation Lacks Research-Based Best Practices

• Of 41 states with 3rd grade reading legislation, only 19 require or recommend summer

school as an intervention

• 14 states reference at least one of the 13 research-based best-practices for quality

summer programs. Most common include:

• Teacher qualifications

• Program evaluation

• Duration

• Research/evidence – based

• No states reference: early planning, coordination with schools, addition of

enrichment, small group instruction, utilization of community partners

NEW VISION FOR SUMMER SCHOOL NETWORK

Peer affinity group of 30+ school districts

Core principles:

1. Increase and enhance the scope of traditional summer school

2. Target participation by students who would benefit the most

3. Strengthen systems-level supports through community-wide partnerships and

coordination

4. Provide innovative professional development to staff

5. Embed summer learning into the district’s school year planning and operations

NOTABLE TRENDS

• Libraries: Moving from Summer Reading to Summer Learning • Badging: LRNG • Public Housing Authorities as partners • Kindergarten boost programs • Self-sustaining models

NATIONAL CONFERENCE ON AFTERSCHOOL AND SUMMER LEARNING

Contact Us!

www.summerlearning.org

Sarah Pitcock sarah@summerlearning.org

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SmarterSummers