SUMMER LEARNING IN EARLY CHILDHOOD - Opportunities for Investing in Equity

ACCESS TO SUMMER LEARNING MDRC, in partnership with the Boston Public Schools (BPS) Department of Early Child- hood, the University of Michigan, and the Harvard Graduate School of Education, is studying how children’s learning experiences during the summer between pre-k and kin- . [...] On average, students in the sample continued to grow in their language and math skills across the summer, and the team did not find any evidence of summer learning loss for these young children, although growth in skills during the summer was slower compared with the pre-K and kindergarten academic years. [...] During the summer of 2017 and 2018, the team also had the opportunity to observe program activities and provide technical assistance to two district-run summer learning programs for rising kindergarteners. [...] For example, in the review of existing summer learning programs, the research team found variations in the amount of time each one spent on enrichment activities such as music, Summer Learning in Early Childhood: Opportunities for Investing in Equity 5 art, drama, and sports, in addition to academic instruction. [...] Casey Foundation, Arnold Ventures, Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Foundation, The Edna McConnell Clark Foundation, Ford Foundation, The George Gund Foundation, Daniel and Corinne Goldman, The Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation, Inc., The JPB Foundation, The Joyce Foundation, The Kresge Foundation, and Sandler Foundation.