The history of school and summer learning loss is a phenomenon that has been part of our society for quite a while. Most research points to the school calendar as the blame for summer learning loss.

To fully understand how the school calendar has impacted students, we must take a look at history. In the early 1800's,  winter and summer months were part of the typical school year to allow the students time to help their families plant during the spring and harvest during the fall. In the late 1800's, the school months became longer in order to eliminate school in the summer to enjoy this time with family. Then, in the late 1900's, the beginning of ‘summer school’ was used to enrich students in a pursuit of interpersonal interests versus core curriculum. However, this didn’t last long because by the late 1920's, summer school was remediation for students who lacked academic achievement to the next grade. Due to this change, ‘summer school’ was not created for the average student who needed help staying academically fit over the over the summer, yet for the student who needed help to get to the next level of schooling (Cooper, 1996).

According to an article in 2001, only about 10% of students who attend public school will attend summer school and the number of schools that have offered summer school programs has doubled within the past 25 years (Borman, 2001). The need for these programs are due to students who are required to make up credit hours due to failed classes. While some schools offer interpersonal enrichment programs, the majority of summer school is focused for the students who struggle academically. While aiding failing students is a priority, we must also consider the students who minimally passed their classes. This is important because these students are at risk of the “summer slide" of learning loss due to slipping through the cracks of education. Those who struggled, yet passed, may go unnoticed until the next school year begins. We also can't forget the "gifted" students who have the potential to advance even further. Every student can benefit from enriching educational opportunities over the summer.

Even though summer learning may not be on your to-do list, studies have shown it is worth it. A past study sought to test the effect of summer vacation on school achievement. Some key findings were:

1. Student showed little or no academic growth over the summer

2. An average of 1-3 months of learning were lost

3. Summer learning loss was greater in math (computation) than reading & spelling

To avoid this situation, students must stay academically fit over the summer months.. In order to guard against future students from sliding this summer, it is vital for the student to keep an active mind through learning. This is where specialized tutoring at Intellect Learning Center comes in to utilize the summer months for student improvement, enrichment, and confidence. There are a variety of programs for students to participate in at Intellect Learning Center, including small group sessions or one-to-one support. Some examples of this are:

1. Engaging in an academic program tailored to the student

2. Strengthening fundamentals of math and reading for the entering grade level

3. Focusing on test-taking strategies and study habits that encourage confidence

Summer Learning Programs at Intellect Learning Center enable the student to avoid the summer learning loss that most students suffer from. At Intellect, we “sow” knowledge into students’ lives, invest in their personalized education, and celebrate with them as they see the “harvest” of their efforts once school begins again. Through these techniques, students will excel and avoid the slippery summer ‘slide’.

Borman, G.D. (2001). Summers are for learning. Principal, 80(3), 26-29.

Cooper, B. Nye, K. Charlton, J. Lindsay and S. Greathouse, Review of Educational Research, 1996 (66, 227-268).