The Progress of Education Reform: Summer Learning - Moving from the Periphery to the Core PDF - For a long time, the issue of summer learning has waited in the wings, like a fully prepared understudy, ready to jump in and take the stage should the star need a back-up. Recently, though, summer learning has moved into the spotlight — and at the same time, the script is changing. Instead of memorizing and mimicking the star’s lines, summer learning is writing its own script. Transcending the punitive and remedial model of summer school, summer learning’s new form is an artful blend of core academic learning, hands-on activities, 21st Century skills, arts, sports and meaningful relationships. ...

Maximizing Education Reform in the Stimulus Bill: Enhancing Summer Learning Programs MS Word PDF - A joint paper from the Education Commission of the States and the National Center for Summer Learning at Johns Hopkins University identifies how states can use summer learning programs to maximize new federal funds while also increasing their chances of receiving additional federal funding through the Race to the Top awards program. (Jeff Smink and Mike Griffith, Education Commission of the States and National Center for Summer Learning at Johns Hopkins University, April 2009)...

Summer Learning Opportunities in High-poverty Schools - Extended learning opportunities (ELO) programs provide an increasingly important link between the needs of low-income students and the demands of standards-based educational reforms, as they support the academic and social development of students during nontraditional school hours. This report profiles five summer ELO programs that have contributed to improved student achievement in high-poverty schools. (Council of Chief State School Officers, January 2005)...

Summer School: Research-based Recommendations for Policymakers - This paper begins with an overview listing future trends predicting an increase in summer school enrollment by American students, including the changing structure of the American family, the pressures of remaining globally competitive and the increasing emphasis on higher academic standards. The author discusses the historical roots of the current nine-month school calendar and the problem of summer learning loss associated with it, before touching on the concept of summer school and its overall goals. The author examines the effectiveness of summer programs and discusses the ramifications these findings have for crafting effective future policies and practices. The author concludes that despite the differing levels of benefit that various summer programs hold for separate segments of the student population, overall their value is positive. (Harris Cooper, SERVE, 2001)...

Summer Learning Loss: The Problem and Some Solutions - This two-page paper, by Harris Cooper, discusses how American students suffer significant learning loss during the long summer break. Citing studies on the subject, the author details how and why knowledge retention occurs during this time, with reading skills deteriorating most among those who are disadvantaged, and loss of math skills appearing in all groups. Cooper lists three commonly advanced ideas to eliminate summer learning loss: extending the school year, noting that students in the U.S. spend less time in class than students in most other industrialized countries; expanding summer school offerings; and modifying the school calendar. The author summarizes the strengths and limitations. (Harris Cooper, ERIC Digest, May 2003)...

Making Use of Summer Time MS Word PDF - This "Stateline" article examines how state policy might support the seven features of effective summer school programs suggested by the Southern Regional Education Board in the report Summer School: Unfulfilled Promise. (Kathy Christie, Phi Delta Kappan, March 2003. Reprinted with permission.)...

Ending Social Promotion: Results from Summer Bridge - The authors examine the effects of Chicago's Summer Bridge Program on student reading and math achievement, from the program's launch in 1997 through summer 2000, and provide data on program costs and instructional practices, as well as participating student and teacher characteristics and opinions. The findings indicate that students, particularly 6th and 8th graders, made substantial test score gains during the program, but that children in low-achieving schools saw smaller increases than those in high-achieving schools. The researchers note, however, these accelerated learning rates did not continue into the regular school year. An eight-page "report highlights" brief is also available. (Melissa Roderick, Mimi Engel, Jenny Nagaoka, with Brian A. Jacob, Sophie Degener, Alex Orfei, Susan Stone and Jen Bacon, Consortium on Chicago School Research, February 2003)...

Summer School: Unfulfilled Promise - Quality summer school is the last hope for failing students to avoid repeating a grade, according to this report from the Southern Regional Education Board (SREB). Based on a survey of more than 1,000 middle schools and high schools, the report found wide variation in the funding, operation and existence of summer schools. Among other recommendations, the report suggests that states must make summer school an integral part of a year-round program at no cost to parents. It also concludes that summer school must meet clear standards for quality, program length and scheduling of classes. (David R. Denton, SREB, June 2002) ...

Bumper Summer School Crop Yields Mixed Test Results - As summer school wound down in late summer 2000, districts reported mixed results from unprecedented efforts to squeeze more instruction into the calendar. If a general trend stood out, it was the continuing growth of such programs, especially in big-city districts. (Robert Johnston, Education Week, September 6, 2000)...

Conference Proceedings of the First Annual Conference on Summer Learning and the Achievement Gap - This July 2000 conference, sponsored by Johns Hopkins University, brought together researchers, policymakers and practitioners to review the latest findings on the impact of summer school on student learning. The conference report will be available online in fall 2000. (Center for Social Organization of Schools, July 2000)...

Making the Most of Summer School: A Meta-Analytic and Narrative Review - This book synthesizes the findings of 93 evaluations of summer schools and examines the implications of these findings for future research, public policy and the implementation of summer school programs. It is not available online but can be ordered from the publisher at http://www.blackwellpublishing.com/book.asp?ref=0631221522. (Harris Cooper, Kelly Charlton, Jeff C. Valentine and Laura Muhlenbruck; Blackwell Publishers, February 2000)...

Summer School: Rx for Low Performance? MS Word - This article provides an overview of using summer school to help students who are struggling academically. (Chris Pipho article reprinted with permission from Phi Delta Kappan, September 1999) ...