Summer learning programs have become one of the most popular recovery strategies for school districts in response to massive academic disruptions brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. During summer 2022, an estimated 90% of school districts offered summer learning programs and many are planning them for summer 2023. Major reasons for the popularity of district-run summer learning programs include (a) increased instructional time without needing to change the school calendar, (b) blending academics and other enrichment activities to help students avoid the “summer slide” and (c) providing affordable childcare opportunities for families.
In this article, I describe current evidence on the effects of summer learning programs on student achievement,[1] key research-backed considerations for designing successful programs, and the common challenges that arise with district-led summer programs.
Effectiveness of summer learning programs
Research reviews show that summer learning programs have positive but modest effects on student achievement. An analysis that combined the results of 37 studies of summer math programs found an average effect size of .10 standard deviations[2] (SD) for math achievement and .09 for social-emotional learning and behavioral outcomes. A review of 41 classroom- and home-based summer reading interventions indicated a similar effect size (.10 SD) for reading achievement. Additionally, a large randomized evaluation of voluntary summer learning programs in six school districts found that students with high attendance (at least 20 days of the summer program) scored better on math (but not reading) assessments through the following spring. Outside of high-dosage tutoring programs, summer learning programs are one of the most effective instructional interventions, even if their effects are modest.
Key factors for success
Research conducted prior to the pandemic has demonstrated that summer learning programs can raise test scores. However, there are a number of considerations that districts should take into account when designing a summer learning program. First, a study by the RAND Corporation suggests that scheduling programs for a minimum of five to six weeks with 60–90 minutes of instruction per day is needed to improve achievement. Second, much like a typical school year, students need to attend summer programs at high ratesto benefit. Encouraging regular attendance for voluntary tutoring or summer programs was already a problem before the pandemic and is likely to be even more challenging now, so districts will need to develop a strategy to ensure consistent attendance. Finally, for summer programs to have an impact on student achievement, it matters who is leading them. Recruiting the district’s most effective teachers and providing them with sufficient professional development are important for program success.
Challenges for summer programs
In addition to the considerations listed above, there are several issues that districts face when providing voluntary summer learning programs. For instance, a majority of parents report that they were not interested in sending their children to summer school or tutoring programs during summer 2022. Making voluntary programs enticing for parents by offering a combination of academic and extracurricular activities may help to increase participation rates. Furthermore, districts must remove barriers to attendance, such as a lack of transportation, parents’ beliefs that their children are doing well academically and do not need additional instructional time, potential stigmas around summer school, and supporting enough high-quality teachers to teach in summer programs given record levels of teacher burnout. Operating summer learning programs successfully means promoting strong attendance, using the district’s most effective teachers, and providing substantial instructional time.
Addressing these challenges will not be easy or cheap. While districts and states have received a significant influx of federal funds to spend on programs to tackle learning loss (including summer enrichment programs), it will conceivably take more targeted funding to counter the academic, social, and emotional impacts of the pandemic. There are resources available to assist districts with planning and running summer programs. Examples of promising programs and resources are available at the following sites:
Author Bio
Megan Kuhfeld is Senior Research Scientist at NWEA.
Summer learning programs can have positive effects on a range of outcomes, including socioemotional development, social skills, and student engagement in school. I focus on achievement given the recent focus on academic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.
For context, an average 5th grader gains .56 SD in math during the school year, so this effect size would translate to an extra fifth of a year’s worth of learning.