Talking Points Summer 09

2009 SUMMER LEARNING TALKING POINTS

Summer Resource Gap Most people have a wonderful image of what summer is all about for young people. It’s a time for something different -- recreation, vacations, creative exploration & enrichment. Yet the reality is very different for many young people and their families in the U.S. who struggle to access – • High-quality educational and developmental opportunities • Healthy meals • Safe places to be with adult supervision Parents consistently cite summer as the most difficult time to ensure children have productive things to do, and as a difficult time to find high-quality child care. We are working to make high-quality summer learning opportunities a reality for more young people in this country. Working families need more choices and opportunities for children over the summer months. As a nation, we owe it to our children to send them back to school in the fall ready to learn and succeed.

Support for summer learning comes from the highest levels of government: The Obama administration strongly supports summer learning programs. President Obama was a sponsor of STEP UP as a U.S. Senator. In a speech to the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Obama encouraged innovation in when and where our children are learning. In recent interviews, Secretary of Education Arne Duncan expressed concern about students from low-income families losing ground academically during the summer, and the need for more learning time for youth.

Funding - STEP UP Despite the extensive research on the benefits of summer learning, there are no federal policies that exclusively target summer as a strategy to close the achievement gap. In August 2007 Congress passed the Summer Term Education Program for Upward Performance as part of the America Competes Act, STEP UP was sponsored by then Senator Barack Obama. However, Congress has not yet funded STEP UP. STEP UP would be a good first step in addressing the void in federal policy by creating a pilot program to provide summer learning opportunities for children attending schools in low-income communities. If funded, the pilot program would provide at least five weeks of summer programming for more than 100,000 elementary school students in high-poverty communities in five states. The National Center for Summer Learning is leading advocacy efforts urging Congress to provide up to $300 million in funding for STEP UP as part of the FY2010 budget.

2009 SUMMER LEARNING TALKING POINTS

Funding – ARRA The recent American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), passed in February, contains more than $100 billion for education. While much of the funds will be used to prevent state budget cuts and prevent layoffs, additional funds are identified specifically to encourage innovation and reform in education. While no funds explicitly target summer learning programs, several funding streams can be used for summer learning programs, and are being encouraged as such by the Obama Administration. They include: • Title I -- $13 billion • Summer Jobs for Older Youth -- $1.2 billion • Race to the Top -- $5 billion Funds from these programs can be used to transcend the usual remedial and punitive models many schools offer for students who have failed a grade; rather there is an opportunity to provide programs that are built on well-planned academic enrichment activities that engage kids, maintain and improve skills, and prepare students well for the coming school year. With this new federal funding immediately available, school superintendents, boards of education, principals and parents should carefully consider the value of making highquality summer learning programs available to all kids – not just those from families with the means to pay for them. The Title I dollars can be used to fund comprehensive summer learning programs that move beyond the traditional remedial model to offer an engaging combination of academic enrichment activities for low-income children. The Workforce Investment Act funds can used to create summer jobs and workforce training for older youth and encourage participation in academic, youth development, recreation and other enrichment activities that promote college and career readiness. The Race to the Top funds will be distributed competitively to states and districts that most aggressively pursue higher standards, quality assessments, robust data systems and teacher quality initiatives. This includes $650 million to fund school systems and nonprofits with strong track records of improving student achievement. This is an opportunity for states, districts, and nonprofits to highlight summer learning programs as an innovation that improves student achievement. Some of these funds will only be available for two years, so the Center and its partners will continue to work for a dedicated funding stream for summer. Innovative use of the ARRA funds that show results will make a compelling case for policymakers to invest in summer learning in the coming years.

2009 SUMMER LEARNING TALKING POINTS

Research spanning 100 years backs up the importance of summer learning If kids aren’t engaged in ongoing learning activities, they lose ground academically. We would expect an athlete’s or a musician’s performance to suffer if they didn’t practice. The same is true for our nation’s young people. Students typically score lower on standardized tests at the end of summer than they do on the same tests at the beginning of summer (various studies) All young people are at risk of experiencing setbacks in math skills over the summer months. (Cooper: 2.6 months on average)

Achievement Gap Young people in high-poverty communities face much greater risks of experiencing losses. Low-income children fall behind an average of 2 months in reading while their middleincome peers tend to make slight gains. (Cooper, 1996) Cumulative losses in reading over the summer months during the elementary school years contribute to the persistent achievement gap between young people from lower and higher income households. 2007 Alexander study: two-thirds of the 9th grade achievement gap can be explained by unequal access to summer learning opportunities in the elementary school years. Better-off kids built their reading skills over the summer, while disadvantaged kids fell behind.

Health & Nutrition Young people face potential health and nutritional setbacks as well. Children gain weight two or three times faster during the summer months, gaining as much weight during the summer as they do during the entire school year. And the problem is more pronounced for African-American and Hispanic kids, and those who are already overweight. (Von Hippel study, 2007) In addition, less than 20% of kids who qualify for federally subsidized meals during the school year have access to them during the summer.

2009 SUMMER LEARNING TALKING POINTS Why we need a new vision for summer school Research shows that poor and minority kids are overrepresented in remedial summer school, but enriching summer programs are not equitably distributed in the U.S. High-quality summer learning programs help kids catch up, keep up, and work ahead, while exploring new talents and skills they’ll need to be competitive in the global economy. Quality programs can provide 200+ hours of focused time for hands-on, engaging learning. These programs can even be used as models for the school year.

The new vision of summer school: • • • • •

• •

Increases the duration and intensity of the traditional model to a comprehensive research-based, 6-week, full-day model. Expands youth participation to all students in school-wide Title I programs, not just those struggling academically. Changes focus from only remediation and test prep, to a blended of core subject academics and hands-on activities to foster 21st century competitiveness skills like collaboration, innovation, critical thinking, communication and data analysis. Expands and strengthens partnerships between community organizations and public agencies that provide summer activities, to leverage resources and improve quality and outcomes. Provides incentives to students that improve attendance and engagement by making enrichment activities such as arts, music, sports, and free breakfast and lunch through the federal Summer Food program an essential component of summer programs. Provides innovative professional development for educators and allows teachers to test new models of teaching and gain valuable leadership experience. Moves summer from the periphery to the center of school reform strategies through better planning, infrastructure, data collection and accountability.

What can programs do this summer to ensure SUCCESS? ƒ ƒ ƒ ƒ ƒ ƒ ƒ

Set goals Understand what youth and families want Create intentional learning experiences Communicate expectations to staff Engage kids with creative approaches Structure time efficiently Seek partnerships

2009 SUMMER LEARNING TALKING POINTS

What can parents do to keep kids learning over the summer? • • • • • • • • •

Find out what is fun for your child and will keep him or her engaged and motivated. Locate a high-quality summer program. Visit the library and join the summer reading program. Take educational trips in your hometown and to destinations such as parks, museums, science centers. Practice math daily, as part of everyday experiences and tasks. Encourage community service, do good deeds. Get outside and play, limit TV and video game time. Keep schedule/daily routines. Prepare for fall, talk to teachers about what your child will be learning next year.

What should parents look for in a high-quality summer program? -Low student to staff ratios -Positive interaction between kids and caring adults -High-interest activities -Balanced programming with daily opportunities for reading, math, enrichment, recreation -A safe, structured learning environment

About the National Center for Summer Learning The National Center for Summer Learning believes all young people should experience enriching, memorable summers. The Center engages in research, develops policy and delivers professional development, and works with a nationwide network of program providers and partners, to ensure that children and youth in high-poverty communities have access to quality summer learning programs.

SUMMER LEARNING DAY IS JULY 9, 2009. Host an event during the week of July 6 to showcase the importance of summer learning to youth and families in your community. Register your event at: www.summerlearning.org