Research highlights 10 critical
recommendations for achieving positive student outcomes and closing
pandemic-related achievement gaps
PORTLAND, Ore., June 18,
2024 /PRNewswire/ -- NWEA, a K-12
assessment and research organization, announced today a new report
on the effectiveness of summer programs in helping mitigate
learning loss, often called the "summer slide," and boosting
academic recovery in the wake of pandemic-related learning
disruptions. The report dives into the research on summer programs,
their implementation and design, as well as the efficacy of those
programs for literacy, math, and social-emotional learning (SEL)
outcomes.
"The impacts of the pandemic's disruption to learning are still
being felt. Our latest data estimates students would need, on
average, an additional 4.5 months of mathematics instruction and
4.1 months of reading instruction to recover in these two subjects.
Many districts have turned to summer programs as a key recovery
strategy, and these programs are promising if they are
well-designed and well-attended," said Dr. Miles Davison, Research Scientist at NWEA and
one of the authors of the new report. "Given the sunsetting of
ESSER funding, it is particularly important that school districts
have information on how to optimize the effectiveness of these
programs."
Because of the rise in usage of summer programs, NWEA
researchers evaluated the current studies and identified 10
recommendations district leaders should consider regarding their
design and implementation:
- Districts should offer summer programs for a minimum of four
weeks.
- Summer programs should include small class sizes and targeted
instruction.
- Summer instruction should be delivered by qualified
staff.
- Staff should enter summer programs prepared with familiar
curricular tools.
- Relationship building should be a key component of summer
programs.
- Summer programs should incorporate enrichment that includes
diverse resources.
- Districts should incorporate culturally relevant activities
during the summer.
- Summer programs should be free and provide transportation and
meals.
- Summer programs should prioritize family communication to
promote student participation.
- Summer program staff should communicate with families to
highlight student achievements and address challenges.
The new report also highlights the positive outcomes that have
been observed across various research, including improving
early-grade literacy for low-income students, boosting mathematics
across student characteristics and ability levels, and the
potential to improve SEL outcomes and student participation in
multiple summer sessions. By focusing on these targeted outcomes
and incorporating the key design features, summer programs can be a
powerful tool in preventing learning loss and helping students
recover from missed learning opportunities during the pandemic.
Read the full report:
https://www.nwea.org/research/publication/effective-summer-programs-practical-guidance-for-district-leaders/
About NWEA
NWEA® (a division of HMH) is a
mission-driven organization that supports students and educators in
more than 146 countries through research, assessment solutions,
policy and advocacy, and professional learning that support our
diverse educational communities. Visit NWEA.org to learn more
about how we're partnering with educators to help all kids
learn.
Contact: Simona Beattie,
Communications Director, simona.beattie@nwea.org or
971.361.9526
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SOURCE NWEA