Nonprofits Fill the Gap for Summer Education

Summer break. While adults must keep up with the hustle and bustle of their everyday lives, kids get to take time away from the classroom. But for some, this time outside of school can contribute to what’s called summer slide—i.e., the learning loss students experience during their summer vacations because they’re not in a classroom.

According to the National Summer Learning Association, nine out of 10 teachers spend at least three weeks re-teaching lessons at the start of the school year. It’s an annual concern, made even worse this year because of the pandemic. Remote school affected learning in a tremendous way, with the impacts still felt by students.

The National Summer Learning Association is a national nonprofit dedicated to reversing the “summer slide,” or the loss of reading achievement that occurs when kids are out of the classroom for several months.

It’s a fact that kids from low-wage families don’t get the same summer enrichment as other kids. And it makes a difference. Kids from low-wage families lose two months worth of reading skills over the summer. And kids from all backgrounds slide back on math as well. 

But it’s not just academic achievement that suffers. Many kids don’t get enough exercise or healthy food during the summer months. United Way and the National Summer Learning Association are shining the spotlight on this issue and potential solutions. 

The National Summer Learning Association collaborates to create summer solutions, working with partners like the YMCA, the YWCA, Salvation Army, Boys and Girls Clubs, and other organizations that run summer programs.

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