Invest in local kids this summer

Summer is a time to make memories and enjoy a welcome break from the school year, but it’s also the time that students either leap ahead or fall behind.

While all children are at risk of losing some of the learning they obtained during the school year during the summer months, it’s especially true for children from low-income families. More than 80 percent of children from economically disadvantaged families lose reading skills over the summer because they lack access to books, learning resources and enrichment opportunities such as trips to the library, bookstores or museums.

Students who lose reading ability over the summer rarely catch up. Over time, this summer slide can add up to the equivalent of three years of reading loss by the end of fifth grade. If left unattended, the gap in reading achievement can widen to four years of reading loss by the end of 12th grade – for those students who have not already dropped out of school.

Luckily, we’re doing something to combat the summer slide.

Stanislaus READS! is a long-term effort developed in partnership between the Stanislaus Community Foundation, the Stanislaus County Office of Education, the Children and Families Commission and the Stanislaus County Library. One of the focus areas for Stanislaus READS! is to educate families on the importance of summer learning and to ramp up access to free or low-cost summer enrichment programs.

To counter summer learning loss, Stanislaus Community Foundation recently awarded grants to five pilot schools to design or expand summer enrichment programs. The volunteer campuses are Burbank, Chrysler and Sylvan elementary schools in Modesto; Las Palmas Elementary School in Patterson; and Moon Elementary School in Waterford.

Although each campus will have a unique program, all plan to open their libraries and offer reading incentives on-site for a portion of the summer months.

Additionally, there are many things parents can do with their children to combat summer learning loss: Simply set aside time this summer to read to younger children, or encourage older kids to read for at least 20 minutes daily. Visit the school library, keep a summer reading journal and even just spend time outdoors – all of these activities support the emerging imaginations of children.

With the support of parents and our focus on ramping up summer enrichment opportunities for all children in our community, we can help kids jump ahead in learning and preparing for the coming school year. It’s a simple yet incredibly effective way to help ensure the long-term success of local students, our kids.

To learn more about Stanislaus READS! visit www.StanReads.org.

This story was originally published May 24, 2015 at 11:02 PM with the headline "Invest in local kids this summer."