The group discussed the importance of summer learning in non-COVID-effected school years along with ways to expand access to high-quality programs in the future.
The Birmingham-based Summer Adventures in Learning (SAIL) organized the governor’s visit to BSI to celebrate National Summer Learning Week – an annual demonstration of high-quality summer learning programs across the country. SAIL was founded in 2012 to build support for rigorous summer learning across the state. SAIL facilitates assessments, peer learning, and funding opportunities for summer learning programs to ensure high-quality summer learning camps thrive in Alabama. It helps educational groups, faith-based foundations, and other community organizations to invest in rigorous summer learning programs, expand access to high-quality programs, and foster a culture of collaboration and cooperation between providers.
“As a former teacher, I know firsthand how valuable the summer months can be to help students build upon their school year or, like what we are experiencing this year because of the pandemic, make up for learning loss,” said Governor Ivey. “I was proud to visit the Birmingham Summer Institute during National Summer Learning Week to see all of the partnerships and resources being pulled together to help our students. It is critical now more than ever that we put a focus on meaningful education reform.”
The Birmingham Summer Institute is a 6-week summer enrichment program for rising 3rd through 8th-grade students to combat summer learning loss. This summer is BSI’s fifth. Its curriculum focuses on reading, math, and social-emotional learning skills. During the summer of 2019, BSI students celebrated 9-months of growth in reading and 10-months of growth in math. In 2020, despite a limited program that was virtual due to the pandemic, BSI met its goal with a four-month growth in math.
Advocates for more high-quality summer learning opportunities say the academic gains made by BSI students are similar to those gained in other community-based programs located throughout Alabama. Over the last five years, on average, students enrolled in a SAIL-supported program gained 2.6 months in reading and 1.7 months in math.
“Families have shown a strong desire to enroll their children in summer learning programs this summer to help alleviate the academic challenges their children faced this school year due to COVID,” said Jim Wooten, chair of Summer Adventures in Learning. “Families should have the same opportunities to help their children every summer. Research shows that students from low-income communities lose two to three months of reading and math skills on average each summer. This summer proves that more Alabama families are interested in participating in a summer learning camp than the number of programs currently offered. We encourage state leaders to prioritize new investments in summer to meet this demand.”
Longleaf Strategies advises on communications strategy, leads media outreach, and develops messaging for SAIL.
*Photo courtesy of the Alabama Governor’s office.