Embark on Summer Learning

This past Friday was Summer Learning Day, a national advocacy day recognized to spread awareness about the importance of summer learning for our nation’s youth in helping close the achievement gap and support healthy development in communities all across the country. At NCTL we know the importance of summer learning, and the impact of what happens to low-income students when resources aren’t readily available. More than half of the achievement gap between students from lower and higher income homes can be explained by unequal access to summer learning opportunities. As a result, poorer children are less likely to graduate from high school or have a clear path to college.

The First Lady, Michelle Obama, spoke about this on Friday at the second annual United We Serve Summer Service Initiative- recognizing the importance of summer learning, and the importance of supporting students in need. She spoke directly to students: “we’ve got to make sure you have the resources you need to reach your goals.  And as young people, your job is to make the most of your summer so that you can reach your potential and achieve every last one of your dreams.”

So what can be done to keep children engaged during the summer? The Wallace Foundation has some nice publications to help fund, strategize, and implement summer learning programs.