|
|
|
 |
|
Schools Out!
Know the Facts
A strong body of
evidence supports the conclusion that summer learning loss affects
nearly all young people. The types and amounts of losses vary, but
overall, the research consistently shows that summer learning loss
is real and results in long-term, life-altering consequences. For
example, new and existing research reveals that:
- Two-thirds of the achievement gap between lower- and higher-income
youth can be explained by unequal access to summer learning
opportunities. As a result, low-income youth are less likely to
graduate from high school or enter college (Alexander et al, 2007).
- Most students lose about two months of grade-level equivalency in
mathematical computation skills over the summer months. Low-income
students also lose more than two months in reading achievement,
while their middle-class peers make slight gains (Cooper, 1996).
When this pattern continues throughout the elementary school years,
lower income youth fall more than two and one-half years behind
their more affluent peers by the end of fifth grade.
- Most children – particularly children at high risk of obesity – gain
weight more rapidly when they are out of school during summer break
(Von Hippel et al, 2007).
The
Center for Summer Learning
serves as a national resource for
individuals and organizations. Drawing from our own research and the
research of others, we synthesize relevant information, make it
available to general audiences, and distribute a growing collection
of publications that cover summer learning issues.
|
|
|
|
Governor Signs SB 1612
The "Quality
Afterschool Opportunities Act to Reduce Childhood Obesity and
Improve Academic Performance" act creates the structure of a
mini-grant program within the Department of Health to assist
out-of-school programs to incorporate elements to reduce childhood
obesity.
The appropriation for
the mini-grants has not yet been made. This will be a policy
priority of OKAN in 2009.
Fact Sheets |
|
