“Reducing Summer Learning Loss: Implementing Successful Programs” A joint webinar presented by The Wallace Foundation and the National League of Cities November 4, 2009

AGENDA Welcome – Dara Rose, The Wallace Foundation Introduction – Bela Shah Spooner, National League of Cities Research Presentation:  Summer Learning Loss Ron Fairchild, National Summer Learning Association  Solutions to learning loss; features of effective summer learning programs Mary Terzian, Child Trends  Policy & financing landscape - Ron Fairchild The City Context/Experience: Sabrina Sutton, Special Assistant to the Mayor for Youth and Education, Baltimore, MD Maxine Quintana, Director of Student Programs, Mayor’s Office for Education and Children, Denver, CO Q&A/Comments – Audience Closing – Bela Shah Spooner

Expanding Access to Quality Summer Learning Programs Ron Fairchild, CEO

What typically happens to young people during the summer months?  39 studies confirm academic losses  documented nutritional setbacks

Summer Learning & the Achievement Gap Average Reading Achievement Level K Summer 1st2nd3rd4th Summer Reading Achievement Trajectories Low-Income Students Middle-Income Students Summer

Summer Learning Programs and Practices: Reviewing the Evidence November 4, 2009 Child Trends, Inc. Mary Terzian, Ph.D., M.S.W., Research Scientist Kristin Moore, Ph.D., Senior Scholar Katie Hamilton, M.A., Research Analyst

7 They seek to maintain and increase students’ academic knowledge and skills. Also, they are: Recreational Relational VoluntaryTake place over a full day Include students of varied skill levels RecreationalEnrichingRelational

8 Summer Learning Programs: What Does the Evidence Look Like? High Low The Level of Evidence Depends on the Rigor of the Evaluation Study.

Educational outcomes 1. Reading achievement gains are possible 2. Math achievement gains are also possible 3. Impacts on high school completion look less promising Career Development Outcomes 1. Impacts on employment are similarly lacking 9 Summer Learning Programs: What Does the Best Available Evidence Tell Us?

Educational 1. Engagement in post-secondary education 2. College enrollment Career Development 1. Career decision-making skills 2. Work-related attitudes 3. Welfare Receipt Youth Development 1. Social skills, self concept/self efficacy 2. Reproductive health 10 Outcomes with Insufficient Evidence

Intervention Strategy 1.Complement group learning with individual support. 2.Make activities interesting and enjoyable. 3.Ground lessons or concepts in a real-world context. 4.Integrate hands-on activities. 11 Summer Learning Programs: Promising Practices

Intervention Content 1.Teach content that complements curricular standards. Staffing and Class Size 1.Hire experienced, trained teachers to deliver the academic lessons. 2.Limit class sizes to 15 or fewer students, with 2-4 teachers per classroom. 12 Summer Learning Programs: Promising Practices

1. Affordable and Accessible  Offer parents free child care during parent events  Provide food and transportation to participants 2. Involve the Community  As funders  As volunteers  As recruiters 3. Involve Parents  In planning activities and in special events 13 Additional Program Improvement Strategies

14 In conclusion…. Summer learning programs hold the potential to impact the educational outcomes of disadvantaged children and youth.

When asked “Can states and districts use Recovery Act funds to create and then expand summer learning opportunities for students?” Secretary Duncan replied: “Not only can states and districts use recovery money to do this, we are asking them to think very, very seriously about doing this. We think this is one of the best investments they could make.”

The Federal Policy Landscape Primary Areas: Education, Child Care, Nutrition, Youth Employment & Service Learning Limitations:  No federal funding dedicated to summer learning  Overly broad or extremely narrow  Poor tracking & reporting requirements

The State Policy Landscape:  State & Local resources more significant than Federal  35 states have summer education policies  Policies vary widely, but emphasis on remediation and/or gifted and talented programs  Poor alignment across agencies  Lack of basic data

The Local Policy Landscape Trends across local areas:  Schools are largest single provider  Parks & recreation offer most coverage  Child care vouchers provide modest support  Options for older youth are few, focus on summer jobs  Spending per youth varies widely  Partnership models offer best opportunity for leveraging of funds

Strategic Opportunities 1.Use philanthropic investments to leverage public dollars 2.Direct stimulus funds for summer learning 3.Explore summer learning within the reauthorization of ESEA 4.Support new and innovative federal and state policies 5.Invest in data collection 6.Create a New Vision for Summer School

Baltimore City Summer Learning Sabrina Sutton Special Assistant to the Mayor for Youth and Education, Baltimore, MD

Reducing Summer Learning Loss: Implementing Successful Programs Denver’s Story Maxine Quintana Mayor’s Office for Education & Children The Wallace Foundation/National League of Cities Webinar

Denver’s Approach Leverage partnerships to deliver a variety of QUALITY programs throughout the City and create ACCESS for low-income families.

City Led Initiatives Parks & Recreation –Summer in the Parks/sports programs – fee based –Swimming pools are free to all youth –Summer Scholars – Provide enrichment for 6 week program in partnership with CBO focused on advancing literacy -- evaluation results demonstrate a positive impact on reading achievement Denver Public Library – Summer Reading program Workforce Development – Summer Youth Employment Mayor’s Office for Education & Children –The 5 By 5 Project – provides Head Start families with free year- round access and educational opportunities to 12 of Denver’s cultural venues to support parents as first teachers Youth Link/GIS Mapping –City-wide afterschool/summer directory for families

District Led Initiatives English Language Acquisition Academy –4 week program, serving 1,600+ English language learners in 3 rd and 4 th grade –Focus on building language development, includes literacy and math instruction and daily enrichment activities –60% growth in linguistic levels 6 th & 9 th Grade Academies –2 week program, serving 3,000+ students –Focus on transition and building literacy, math, and resiliency skills –Evaluation data indicates participation is positively impacting engagement, attendance and grades throughout the school year

Denver CAMP (Collaboration Among Many Partners) –Innovative collaboration with over 30 community- based partners from DQUAC contributing in-kind program services –Joint management with the City, School District, and CBOs –Focused on providing academic enrichment programs, physical fitness, arts, technology, life skills and more –Expanded to two sites, serving 400 low-income students with free quality programming –Replicated in two other Colorado counties CBO Led Initiative

Q&A SESSION

Dara Rose Senior Program Officer The Wallace Foundation Bela Shah Spooner Principal Associate, Afterschool Initiatives Institute for Youth, Education, and Families National League of Cities Maxine Quintana Director of Student Programs Mayor’s Office for Education and Children – Denver Sabrina Sutton Special Assistant for Youth/Education Office of Mayor Sheila Dixon – Baltimore Mary A. Terzian, Ph.D., M.S.W. Research Scientist Child Trends Ron Fairchild Chief Executive Officer National Summer Learning Association CONTACT INFORMATION

Thinking About Summer Learning: Three PerspectivesThinking About Summer Learning: Three Perspectives tackles how to improve and expand summer learning programs for low-income kids – and includes reports by two of the webinar speakers. Investments in Building Citywide Out-of- School-Time Systems: A Six-City Study looks at investments six major cities have made to provide quality after-school opportunities to more kids.Investments in Building Citywide Out-of- School-Time Systems: A Six-City Study Thank you for joining us. To hear about future webinars register for alerts at Also, Visit the our website for two new publications on related subjects: