Summer Learning
For many students, especially students from low-income households, summer break can literally “make or break” their literacy outcomes. While reading and language skills for students from higher income households tend to grow during the summer, the literacy skills of students form low income households tend to decline, widening the achievement gap year over year. Haverhill Promise, and other grade level reading initiatives across the country are focused on expanding access to free, high quality summer learning opportunities to minimize summer learning loss, and set our students up for reading success when they head back to school in the fall.
In March of 2021, Haverhill Promise submitted a Community Solutions Action Plan to the Campaign for Grade Level Reading and received our official designation as a “grade level reading community”. The Haverhill Promise Community Solutions Action Plan (CSAP) is the result of nearly three years of research and collaboration between the Haverhill Promise steering committee, volunteer workgroups, and local leaders meeting regularly to develop innovative solutions to the problems impacting grade-level reading outcomes in Haverhill.
Below are the highlights from the Summer Learning portion of the CSAP.
CSAP (Community Solutions Action Plan) Summer Learning “at a glance”
Big Vision for Summer learning in Haverhill:
All Haverhill students retain reading progress during the summer recess.
Problems Identified in the CSAP:
Confusion surrounding various summer learning programs.
While there are ample free summer learning opportunities with a focus on ELA, summer program leaders have expressed concerns that the names, locations, eligibility requirements and other details for each program may be confusing for parents.
Too little too late?
Historically, the district and community summer learning programs have gotten a late start on recruitment and promotion of their programs by waiting until April/May to release applications and information. Many families may have already determined their summer plans by then, leaving little room to sign up for summer learning programs.
For 2023, Haverhill Public Schools has started this process earlier, along with community partners, and is coordinating opportunities in the Spring.
Goals (Year 1: 2023)
At least 50%, of students identified as “lowest performing readers" in grades K-2 enrolled in a summer learning program in 2023.
Establish a baseline for summer learning loss by comparing iReady Spring and Fall results for students who attended a summer learning program and those who did not.
Goals (Years 2-5)
By 2028, at least 75% of lowest performing readers in grades K-2 (as identified by winter assessments) will be enrolled in a summer learning program each summer.
By 2028, all youth-serving summer programs across the city would incorporate an intentional literacy development strategy into their programs.
Increase the total number of free enrichment programs for families with children ages 0-5 offered each summer in Haverhill, especially in neighborhoods with a high number of economically disadvantaged families.
Interested in learning more about the Summer Learning effort in Haverhill? Want to help implement the strategies outlined in our CSAP? Consider volunteering with the Summer Learning workgroup!