Check Out Summer Learning

Do you know the facts about Summer Learning loss?  The National Center for Summer Learning has gathered some very interesting facts which are posted on the Children’s Aid Society website.  Here’s what they found out:

Two-thirds of the achievement gap between lower-and higher-income youth can be explained by unequal access to summer learning opportunities.  As a result, low-income youth are less likely to graduate from high school or enter college (Alexander et al, 2007).

Most students lose about two months of grade-level equivalency in mathematical computation skills over the summer months.  Low-income students also lose more than two months in reading achievement, while their middle-class peers make slight gains (Cooper, 1996).  When this pattern continues throughout the elementary school years, lower income youth fall more than two and one-half years behind their more affluent peers by the end of fifth grade. 

Most children—particularly children at high risk of obesity—gain weight more rapidly when they are out of school during summer break (Von Hippel et al, 2007).

Parents consistently cite summer as the most difficult time to ensure that their children have productive things to do (Duffer et all.  2004). To learn more, visit The National Center for Summer Learning website at www.summerlearning.org

What will you do to prevent summer learning loss?  If you are running a summer program the solution is easy, but what it you’re not?  What can you do to promote learning in the summer?  Let us know what you are planning.  We’ll be happy to share it with our readers. 

Consult 4 Kids has a long history of advocating for youth and the adults who are their positive role models and mentors.  To learn more about our work, please visit our website at www.consultforkids.com, email us at support@consultfourkids.com or call us at (661) 617-7055.