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Objective Analysis. Effective Solutions.

This report was superseded by a revised, updated edition in late 2018.

Research shows low-income students suffer disproportionate learning loss over the summer and because those losses accumulate over time, they contribute substantially to the achievement gap between low- and higher-income children. The Wallace Foundation is funding a five-year demonstration project to examine whether summer learning programs can reduce summer learning loss and promote achievement gains. This report, the first in a series, draws on emerging lessons from six school districts in the study — Boston, Cincinnati, Dallas, Duval County (Florida), Pittsburgh, and Rochester (New York) — that offer full-day programs for five to six weeks free of charge to large numbers of elementary students. The report synthesizes the key lessons learned about how to establish and sustain effective programs. The most emphatic recommendation is to start planning early, no later than January, and include both district and summer site leaders in the process. Many problems identified by the researchers — from weak teacher training to ineffective transportation — could be traced to a rushed planning process. Other guidance includes adopting a commercially available curriculum, establishing enrollment deadlines, ensuring sufficient time on academics, and selecting enrichment providers with qualified staff experienced in behavior management. To manage costs, the authors suggest designing the program with costs in mind — by hiring staff based on projected daily attendance rather than number of enrollees, for example, and by restricting the number of sites to control administrative costs.

• Chapter One

  Introduction

• Chapter Two

  Planning

• Chapter Three

  Curriculum and Instruction

• Chapter Four

  Teacher Selection and Training

• Chapter Five

  Enrichment Activities

• Chapter Six

  Attendance

• Chapter Seven

  Academic Time on Task

• Chapter Eight

  Program Cost and Funding

• Chapter Nine

  In Conclusion

• Appendix A

  Surveys and Observations

• Appendix B

  Cost Analyses Methods and Limitations