By now you should know the facts. Studies reveal indisputable evidence of learning loss for many students during the summer, particularly for low-income youth. We call this “the summer slide.”

Not only is the summer slide characterized by setbacks in reading and math skills, but can include weight gain due to inactivity and poor nutrition at home, risky behavior due to boredom and isolation, and an overall drop in learning opportunity.

Central Valley Afterschool Foundation has been a part of what is now called California’s Summer Learning Initiative for the past three years. The project, seeded by the David & Lucile Packard Foundation, has grown to eight demonstration sites:  Fresno, Gilroy, Oakland, San Francisco, Whittier, Sacramento, Santa Ana, and Los Angeles. It is designed to create a bold, new vision for summer learning by setting a higher standard for summer enrichment and increasing access to summer learning opportunities for low-income children.

Programming goals for the sites include:  1) increased access to outdoor experiences, 2) improved physical activity, lifestyle and nutrition choices, and 3) literacy development. Each community may add goals according to their particular needs and resources. For example, the Fresno County Office of Education has included two additional goals to the demonstration project in collaboration with Central Unified School District:  1) leadership development and community engagement, and 2) STEM learning.

Innovative programming has been at the heart of the summer initiative. Students learn while having fun and experience activities that would not otherwise have been accessible to them. Here is one example of the courses that make summer learning exciting, from the 2010 Central Enrichment Summer Adventures program:

Goldberg Technology. STEM learning is fun in the summer. This class combines math, science and technology—thanks to inventor Rube Goldberg—to create giant domino effects by combining multiple devices that ultimately perform a simple task in an indirect manner. One day, for example, the apparatus might start with the drop of a ball and 16 chain reactions later a light bulb illuminates.

Another hallmark of the statewide Summer Learning Initiative is partnership building to foster program sustainability and effectiveness. The Fresno County and Central Unified project has involved partnerships with these and other organizations to implement the summer program for elementary and middle school youth:

• California Teaching Fellows Foundation
• Central Valley Afterschool Foundation
• United Black Men
• City of Fresno Parks, Afterschool, Recreation and Community Services
• City of Fresno
• San Joaquin River Parkway
• Fresno County Public Library
• Fresno County Courthouse
• Fresno Police Department
• Fresno County Sheriff’s Department

Let us know how you are planning to help your students battle the summer slide. CVAF has provided integrated program design, curriculum development, research and evaluation, communications, and partnership development services to help schools and organizations build exceptional summer enrichment programs. Contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it for more information.