The American Association of School Administrators recently released a survey involving over 400 school administrators that found more than one-third (34 percent) of respondents are considering eliminating summer school for the 2010-11 school year, a rate that has roughly doubled each year, from 8 percent in 2008-09 to 14 percent in 2009-10.
What’s happening in your local school district? We agree with the U.S. Secretary of Education who recently described this trend as the “wrong way to go”. But what if you were in the role of a serving on school board where you had to make difficult budget choices? How successful have you been in making the case for summer in an environment where resources are scarce? What are the most compelling arguments you can make?
May 25th, 2010
One of my favorite things about springtime in Baltimore City, aside from the flowering trees, is seeing my neighbors on my block more frequently. During the winter months, no one wants to hang out in the frigid weather, unless it is absolutely necessary. (Shoveling that record-busting 72” is the prime example from this past winter.) The streetscape revitalizes with the arrival of warm weather. Summer brings with it a shift in the pace of life—it’s time for beach getaways, camping, and amusement parks, and stoop-sitting in the dusk.
But of course, the most significant marker of summer is school dismissal. The research team behind the Beginning School Study likens school to a faucet. Like water flowing through a tap, resources are available to the nation’s children when school is in session. Students’ minds and bodies are engaged in learning. Research from the Beginning School Study revealed that regardless of their family’s socioeconomic status, all children acquire knowledge at the approximately the same rate during the school year, as measured by standardized tests. And at basic level, schools meet students’ needs by providing a safe place, relationships with caring adults, and healthy meals. These supports are critical for all children, but especially so for children from economically disadvantaged homes.
When school is no longer in session, the faucet of resources often turns off or slows to a trickle. Children may not have a safe place to go during the day with adequate adult supervision. And for the 16.8 million children who depend on free- or reduced-price meals, accessing healthy food during the summer is often a challenge. There are federal summer nutrition programs in place to provide children meals, but the funding is woefully under-utilized. Less than 20% of the children who access free- or reduced-price meals during the school year can obtain the same meals during the school year. That’s one in six. And the picture varies greatly from state-to-state with a high of 89% participation in Washington, DC to a low of 4.4% participation in Mississippi.
Summer programs can turn faucet of nutritional resources back on for young people by accessing federal dollars to serve nutritious meals. And from a fiscal perspective, since many summer programs already purchase meals or snacks, accessing federal food programs is wise stewardship and will free up program dollars for spending on other priorities.
Hunger should not be part of any child’s vacation experience.
To learn more about federal summer nutrition programs, visit the Summer Nutrition Guide from the Food Resource Action Center.
http://www.frac.org/afterschool/summer.html
Note: All data cited is from Hunger Doesn’t Take a Vacation: Summer Nutrition Status Report 2009 by the Food Resarch Acation Center.
One of my favorite things about springtime in Baltimore City, aside from the flowering trees, is seeing my neighbors on my block more frequently. During the winter months, no one wants to hang out in the frigid weather, unless it is absolutely necessary. (Shoveling that record-busting 72” is the prime example from this past winter.) The streetscape revitalizes with the arrival of warm weather. Summer brings with it a shift in the pace of life—stoop-sitting in the dusk, the jingle of the ice cream truck, and the arrival of an occasional arrabber.
But of course, the most significant marker of summer is school dismissal. The research team behind the Beginning School Study likens school to a faucet. Like water flowing through a tap, resources are available to the nation’s children when school is in session. Students’ minds and bodies are engaged in learning. Research from the Beginning School Study revealed that regardless of their family’s socioeconomic status, all children acquire knowledge at the approximately the same rate during the school year, as measured by standardized tests. And at basic level, schools meet students’ needs by providing a safe place, relationships with caring adults, and healthy meals. These supports are critical for all children, but especially so for children from economically disadvantaged homes.
When school is no longer in session, the faucet of resources often turns off or slows to a trickle. Children may not have a safe place to go during the day with adequate adult supervision. And for the 16.8 million children who depend on free- or reduced-price meals, accessing healthy food during the summer is often a challenge. There are federal summer nutrition programs in place to provide children meals, but the funding is woefully under-utilized. Less than 20% of the children who access free- or reduced-price meals during the school year can obtain the same meals during the summer. That’s one in six. And the picture varies greatly from state-to-state with a high of 89% participation in Washington, DC to a low of 4.4% participation in Mississippi.
Summer programs can turn faucet of nutritional resources back on for young people by accessing federal dollars to serve nutritious meals. And from a fiscal perspective, since many summer programs already purchase meals or snacks, accessing federal food programs is wise stewardship and will free up program dollars for spending on other priorities.
Hunger should not be part of any child’s vacation experience.
To learn more about federal summer nutrition programs and how to offer meals, visit the Summer Nutrition Guide from the Food Resource Action Center. For California residents, there is an informational webinar about how to provide free summer meals to kids on April 7. Be sure to register!
Note: All data cited is from Hunger Doesn’t Take a Vacation: Summer Nutrition Status Report 2009 by the Food Research Action Center. Stay tuned for the 2010 report which will come out later this year.
April 2nd, 2010
In the wake of severe budget cuts, the California Summer Practice Consortium brainstormed a list of funding sources with potential to be tapped to build and expand summer learning programs. There are so many good ideas here that we got to thinking – - imagine the list we’d have if all 50 states chimed in! So, take a look here. Surely one or two of these will spark an idea for you. Then, take a moment to let us know what should be added to the list. Let’s try to generate as many as possible.
A. Partnerships with private schools and camps
B. Allocating percentage of 21st Century Community Learning Center funding
C. School Improvement Grants for underperforming schools
D. Summer of Service grants
E. NASA and other STEM funds
F. Additional philanthropic dollars
G. Investing in Innovation funds
H. Race to the Top dollars
I. State After School Education and Safety supplemental grants
J. Link to larger expanding learning or children’s zone initiatives
K. Obesity prevention and nutrition programs
L. No Child Left Inside initiatives
M. Media literacy program perhaps linked to broadband adoption
N. A federal funding stream focused on summer learning
O. Arts institutions and funding: music, theater, dance, visual arts and fashion design
P. Corporate sponsorships; cause marketing
Q. Small business sponsorships, perhaps for sports and athletics
R. Parent fees, on a sliding scale
S. Neighborhood fundraising, including walk-a-thons, auctions, etc.
T. Links to child care system including Child Care Block grant and/or TANF funds
U. Summer employment dollars
V. Connections with higher education, especially teacher preparation programs
W. Partner with libraries, reading and community & family literacy programs
X. Reinstitute and revamp state support for summer school
Y. Parks and recreation funding
Z. Local parcel tax or mill levy initiatives
AA. Snack tax
March 16th, 2010
