In summer, students from low-income families can lose academic gains made during the previous school year at a higher rate than their peers (sometimes called summer slide). While students tend to progress at the same rate during the school year, more than 80 percent of children from economically disadvantaged families lose reading skills over the summer.1
Summer learning losses accumulate each year to impact third grade reading proficiency.2 In fact, some research suggests that summer learning loss may account for as much as 80 percent of the income-based achievement gap.3
Summer slide in the early grades is a predictor of:
- High school course placement (advanced vs. basic classes)
- High school drop-out rates
- College attendance rates4
Summer learning programs can help children gain and retain math and reading skills, if they are high-quality and sufficiently intense.5
2
(Source:
Campaign for Grade-Level Reading
)
1 in 8
9 in 10
(Source:
)
What Can We Do About It?
What supports promotion to the next grade?
- A comprehensive, aligned education system from birth through third grade
- Early identification of developmental delays and learning problems and effective intervention, including tiered, integrated student supports, supports to enable family engagement in students’ learning, and attention to summer learning loss
- Promotion of educational equity to ensure that students facing the most obstacles to success receive the most supports
Featured Resources
Report/Fact Sheet/Issue Brief
Research Basis for Pathways Measures of Success Framework
This resource provides data definitions of the Measures of Success and shares the research for each measure, demonstrating the connections between the measures and third-grade reading proficiency. A list of sources is included for each group of measures.
Toolkit
Summer Learning Toolkit
We’ve created a toolkit to make it easy for summer program providers to become Summer Learning Ambassadors.
Report/Fact Sheet/Issue Brief
What Works for Third Grade Reading: Summer Learning
This brief considers why Summer Learning matters for third grade reading proficiency, outlines its connection with other factors that impact early literacy, and highlights options that have been shown to move the needle on summer learning outcomes. It is one of 12 working papers that offer research-based policy, practice and program options to states and communities working to improve third grade reading proficiency.
Report/Fact Sheet/Issue Brief
What Works for Third Grade Reading: An Overview of the NC Pathways to Grade-Level Reading
The paper provides an introduction to a series of 12 working papers that offer research-based policy, practice and program options to states and communities working to improve third grade reading proficiency. Read this document first before delving into the papers.