The National Summer Learning Association (NSLA) is a national, non-profit organization focused on the powerful impact of one achievable goal: investing in summer learning to help close the achievement gap. NSLA uses the power of research, advocacy, training, and policy to transform America’s neighborhoods and communities, one child at a time. This digital press kit contains resources and research curated by NSLA from partners and experts in the field of summer learning.
Smarter Summers. Brighter Futures.
When the school year ends, children in high-poverty environments struggle not only with basic needs like healthy food and safe places to spend their days, but with losing precious time during the summer months to continue their learning. Creating opportunities for summer learning sets the stage for innovation, creativity, and leadership for young people in every community.
Summer by the Numbers Infographic
What happens to children during the summer? The “summer slide” is what often happens to disadvantaged children during the summer months. They tread water at best or even fall behind, while higher-income children build their skills steadily over the summer months.
Summer Learning Snapshot
National Summer Learning Week is a national advocacy event and celebration led by the National Summer Learning Association (NSLA). Formally known as National Summer Learning Day, this celebration highlights the importance of keeping kids learning, safe, and healthy every summer. This snapshot represents the millions of children and families touched by the power of Summer 2018.
Learning from Summer Research Brief
The Wallace Foundation is funding a multiyear study in five urban school districts to determine whether voluntary summer learning programs are effective and what factors are associated with success. This brief summarizes the outcomes of two summers of programming (2013 and 2014) on 3,192 students accepted into the programs who had completed third grade before the first summer. Future research will analyze whether program effects persist after the students complete seventh grade.
Learning Heroes Summer Stride
Summertime means longer days and sun, making it the perfect time for learning fun! Start by finding out where your child is doing well and where they may need more help. Visit bealearninghero.orgfor the Readiness Check, a new (free) digital summer learning tool, and more!
Summer Opportunities: A Research Agenda
The summer learning field is grounded in more than 100 years of research about summer learning loss. The research demonstrates the disproportionate effect on poor and minority youth, the long-term effects on achievement, and best practices for programs and policies. This research agenda is organized under three broad categories that are central to efforts to move the field of summer learning to the next level on a wide scale and help communities invest in opportunities that will best support the needs of their particular youth.
ESSA Creates New Opportunities for Summer Learning Success
State plans for implementing the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) reveal many strategies for schools to combine federal and state investments and help drive student success with targeted summer activities. These include places where summer is explicitly named as a programmatic strategy or allowable use of funds, as well as provisions within ESSA that are a natural fit for summer opportunities.
National Summer Learning Week – July 12-16, 2021
National Summer Learning Week is a celebration dedicated to raising awareness around elevating the importance of keeping kids learning, safe, and healthy every summer, ensuring they return to school in the fall ready to succeed in the year. Each day will focus on a new theme: Literacy, STEM, Arts, College & Career Readiness, and Nutrition and Wellness.
Additional resources are available in NSLA’s Knowledge Center.
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