A place for youth in summer months

A state-wide survey released last week by The Afterschool Alliance showed that just 30% of Massachusetts youth participate in summer learning programs.  And yet, more than 50% of parents whose children are not involved in summer programming, say they would like to see their children enrolled in such programs.

We have seen in our own initiatives that the disparity between these numbers is often due to shortage of funds or a lack in availability of quality programs. It's unfortunate, because summer programming can be pivotal for a young person's education, keeping youth engaged and reducing what experts call "summer learning loss".

What is Summer Learning Loss?

• Research shows that on average, students score lower on standardized tests at the end of summer vacation than they do on the same tests at the beginning of the summer (source).
• More than 50% of the achievement gap for ninth grader between lower and higher income youth can be explained by a level of summer learning loss that disproportionately affects low-income children. Research suggests it is a significant part of the reason that low-income youth are less likely to graduate from high school or enter college. (source)

Back to the Afterschool Alliance Report:

The Afterschool Alliance Report, which was sponsored by the Wallace Foundation and surveyed nearly 30,000 households nationally, demonstrates that demand for summer learning programs is far outpacing the supply.

“These findings are sobering, especially because we know that inequities in summer learning are a major contributor to the achievement gap between high- and low-income students,” said Afterschool Alliance Executive Director Jodi Grant. “By not creating and funding enough summer learning programs, we are missing the chance to engage and educate millions of students during the summer, and instead are leaving them unsupervised and at risk.”

Summer Experiences in Greater Lowell, a United Way initiative:

Understanding the benefit of quality summer programming, United Way is working with local businesses and community leaders in Merrimack Valley to increase the availability of free summer programs. Last year the Summer Experiences in Greater Lowell (SEGL) initiative served 2,536 youth through 14 programs including, the Boys & Girls Club, University of Massachusetts Lowell String Project, The Paul Center for Learning and Recreation, YMCA and The United Teen Equality Center. Supported by companies like Chelmsford's Kronos Inc., this year the initiative aims to provide summer programming to 3,000 local youth.

Want to help? Let us know.

Want to find a quality summer program for your children?  Call 2-1-1, United Way's free and confidential referral line.