Summer Learning Loss & the Achievement Gap

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Oct.21, 2012

by Rob Spackey, product marketing manager, Hobsons

One topic that has garnered a lot of attention recently is the effect of “summer learning loss,” the slide backward in learning that occurs after students are away for the summer. But more concerning is that studies have shown that summer learning loss has a disproportionate affect on low-income students.

Low-income students are less likely to be involved in a summer enrichment program, which often means an idle summer and a loss in learning from the previous year, while their middle- and high-income peers are enrolled in enrichment programs that may actually help them advance. A 2011 RAND Corporation study found this to be true and concludes that, “summer learning loss disproportionately affects low-income students. Low-income students lose substantial ground in reading during the summer, while their higher-income peers often gain.”   

The study goes on to note that summer learning loss is cumulative, so that over time learning and proficiency gaps widen between low-income students and their higher-income peers. A 2007 Johns Hopkins study found that two thirds of the achievement gap in 9th grade between low-income and other students can be attributed to summer learning loss. Even the first lady is lending her support for summer learning and enrichment programs.  

Naviance is pleased to announce a new partnership with TeenLife that provides a central, up-to-date repository of summer, school year, and post-graduation enrichment programs all from within Naviance. Schools can encourage students to explore the database on their own for programs that interest them. This may be particularly beneficial for schools with limited staff to guide students to these enrichment opportunities.    

Naviance’s partnership with TeenLife provides:

• More than 1,000 enrichment and service program listings (and growing)
• Frequent updates to the database (four times per year)
• Expanded program types including post-graduate year, community service, and local and residential summer programs
• Ability for school staff to search program offerings

Students can find programs in the area or search by category such as acting, creative writing or entrepreneurship. School staff and parents can also search the database for relevant programs. 

To activate TeenLife enrichment programs in Naviance, go to Colleges > Enrichment Programs > Settings > Include TeenLife Programs. Once the TeenLife enrichment programs are active, you can make the database available to students by going to Connections > Family Connection > Select and Update Optional Features > scroll down to Enrichment Programs and check the box(es) for the class year or years you want to view enrichment programs. Students and parents can access enrichment programs by clicking the Colleges tab in Family Connection.

 

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