This month we will be kicking off our SL3: Summer Libraries, Summer Learning and Summer Lunch program with a Faces & Place guest post by National Summer Learning Association Founder Matthew Boulay. In this article Matthew explores the research behind our SL3 project, and builds the case for simple solutions like increasing access to books over the summer! Here are a few highlights from Matthew's article:

• Summer Learning Loss Adds Up: Studies claim that the income-based differential in early grades' summer learning leads to disparities in school achievement at the end of elementary school that persist at least until the start of ninth grade: the "summer shortfall over the five years of elementary school accounts for more than half the difference" of the achievement gap between high and low SES at the start of ninth grade.
• Reading Counts: One study revealed a strong relationship between learning and the amount children read; whether measured by the number of books read or the amount of time spent reading, the amount children read was the single activity found consistently influenced achievement independent of socioeconomic class or race. Other studies reveal similar findings, and report that first-graders who read more than thirty minutes a day during the summer months gained .18 standard deviations more in reading comprehension than children who read less.
• Parents & Families Matter: Research shows that summer learning loss varies by subject area, with students experiencing greater losses, on average, in quantitative skills (i.e. math) than in reading and literacy related skills. Yet, there is more variance by socioeconomic status in students' summer learning loss in reading and literacy related skills, due in some part to parent and family involvement throughout the summer.

Summer learning programs:

• Maintain and advance participants' academic and developmental growth
• Support working families
• Keep children safe and healthy
• Send young people back to school ready to learn

Summer Learning Day is supported by elected officials and policymakers, public agencies, nonprofit organizations, schools, universities, museums, libraries, and summer camps across the country. Whether you're a community, summer program, school, or parent, there are many ways to celebrate Summer Learning Day!

Summer Learning Day events are recognized June 21, but can be held at any time during the summer and can be found on an interactive map at  summerlearningdaymap.org.    

The Oregon Department of Education (ODE) and the Oregon State Library are partnering to encourage school-age programs to engage youth in high-quality summer literacy programs and to encourage needy families to locate free meals in the summer. 

Throughout Oregon, the Summer Food Service Program helps feed children in low-income areas, regardless of household income, during the summer when school is not in session.

Meals children receive at school during the school year have a huge impact on their overall health. During the summer months when school is not in session, children often miss out on these important meals.

Over the summer youth can lose up to three months of reading skills if they are not engaged in enrichment programs. To help students maintain reading skills programs can partner with their public library to provide access to reading materials, help student select reading materials that are both interesting to them and at their reading level, and engage students in conversations about what they are reading.

To locate a summer meal site, after June 1, 2013, Link to the Summer Meals website (http://www.summerfoodoregon.org/map), or call 1-800- SAFENET.

Please visit the Oregon Library Directory online (http://libdir.osl.state.or.us/) to identify and contact your local library.

Here are some ideas for finding summer meal programs and partnering with libraries and summer food sites:

• Distribute Summer Food Service Program bookmarks.
• Link to the Summer Meals website from your library website.
• If a food site is near your program, coordinate your activities around their meal time so youth can walk between your program and the food site.
• Become a summer food site-learn more at
  http://www.summerfoodoregon.org/support 
• Find out where your nearest public library is and be prepared to provide directions to youth and families or create a map to the library and post it at your program.
• Contact your local library, ask to speak with the person responsible for summer reading, and ask that person if they want to partner to:
  • Distribute library event calendars, fliers, and other promotional material to youth in your program.
  • Distribute books to youth in your program at least once during the summer.
  • If the library is near your program, coordinate your activities with their summer reading activities so youth can walk between your program and the library.
  • Visit your program at the beginning of summer to promote the summer reading program and at the end of summer to distribute Oregon summer reading certificates and prizes.
  • Provide regularly scheduled summer reading activities at your program.

The Oregon Community Foundation will award grants ranging from $40,000 to $120,000 per year for three years to Out-of-School Time programs that promote academic success and serve low-income students, students of color and rural students.

OCF seeks proposals from Out-of-School Time programs that meet one or both of the following criteria:  Utilize quality practices and wish to expand the number of youth they reach and /or wish to deepen the effectiveness of their programming by adopting and integrating evidence-based, culturally specific or culturally adapted best-practice programming.

Additional information, requirements and application details can be found at:  http://www.oregoncf.org/grants-scholarships/grants/k12-student-success.  

Deadline to apply is August 1, 2013 for a funding decision in November 2013.