The Summer Slide: What We Know and Can Do About Summer Learning Loss

This book is an authoritative examination of summer learning loss, featuring original contributions by scholars and practitioners at the forefront of the movement to understand―and stem―the “summer slide.” The contributors provide an up-to-date account of what research has to say about summer learning loss, the conditions in low-income children’s homes and communities that impede learning over the summer months, and best practices in summer programming with lessons on how to strengthen program evaluations. They also show how information on program costs can be combined with student outcome data to inform future planning and establish program cost-effectiveness. This book will help policymakers, school administrators, and teachers in their efforts to close academic achievement gaps and improve outcomes for all students.

Book Features:

• Empirical research on summer learning loss and efforts to counteract it.
• Original contributions by leading authorities.
• Practical guidance on best practices for implementing and evaluating strong summer programs.
• Recommendations for using program evaluations more effectively to inform policy.

Karl L. Alexander is director of the Thurgood Marshall Alliance in Baltimore and John Dewey professor emeritus of sociology at the Johns Hopkins University. He is coauthor of The Long Shadow which received the 2016 Grawemeyer Prize in Education. Sarah Pitcock is CEO of the National Summer Learning Association. Matthew Boulay is founder of the National Summer Learning Association.