Building an Effective Summer School Program

Summer learning opportunities can positively impact student achievement. What are the must-have components for this to be true in your district? This report from The 74 provides the top five elements culled from their list of 50.

1. Plan now. Dedicate time and resources now in order to create a positive climate and smooth experience for students (and staff) this summer.
2. Start developing curriculum. Because summer sessions are short, lesson plans need to be ready to go. They should be aligned to standards and include a variety of activities to meet the developmental needs of students. Ideally, teachers will receive advanced training in how to use materials and resources.
3. Set a schedule that includes 3 hours of academics a day for 5 weeks (at a minimum). Attendance is key. Recent research indicates that students who attended at least 20 days scored better on fall math assessments than did a control group, and those effects “persisted into spring.” Students who attended two subsequent summer sessions outperformed their control group peers in both math and reading. The research review of programs running 3 weeks or fewer showed no impact on achievement.
4. Infuse activities that build students’ interest and skills. Consider your audience. What types of experiences are they unlikely to have had? A zoo trip? Museum? Theater experience? Yoga in the Park? Other outdoor activities? Such opportunities can increase student attendance as well contribute to skill and knowledge acquisition.
5. Hire the best teachers.
6.  

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