全球智库信息集成服务系统

Key Findings

• District-level decisionmakers have the greatest impact on summer learning programs. They are the ones who establish and design quality programs, seek funding, and meet student and community needs.
• The federal government offers the most summer program funding opportunities. Most of these are associated with the U.S. Department of Education's Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA).
• There are funding challenges at all levels. There are restrictions on which students can be supported by federal grant funding and steep competition for some grant programs. Also, cities face the challenge of persuading citizens to support programs through taxes and other measures.
• District-level summer program leaders may be able to promote summer learning program sustainability, scale, and quality by setting a board policy on summer programming, authorizing a central body to carry out decisionmaking; measuring and communicating the impact of summer programming to justify spending and support; cultivating relationships with district, city, state, and federal decisionmakers; and advocating for clear funding messages from state agency staff.