Summer Learning Camps

About the Program

Category: Libraries (Best in Category)

Year: 2016

Summer is a crucial time to combat learning loss. Extensive research shows that during the summer months, children can lose an average of two months of instruction— or roughly 22 percent of what they learned during the school year. Especially acute among low-income students, summer learning loss slows their progress toward third-grade reading proficiency and exacerbates the achievement gap. To address this issue, the San Mateo County (Calif.) Board of Supervisors has supported summer programs offered by the public libraries in the Peninsula Library System. Now beginning its third year, the Summer Learning Camps program - led by San Mateo County Libraries - focuses on children in communities with high numbers of students reading below grade level. Summer Learning Camps increase access to high-quality learning experiences and advance literacy by engaging youth and families in reading enrichment activities. The impact of Summer Learning Camps is clear. In 2015, 43 percent of youth improved their instructional reading level by at least one grade and 100 percent of youth either improved or retained their instructional reading level. In 2015, 58,719 children and youth participated in the Summer Learning Challenge 2015 -- 38 percent of the youth population. San Mateo County Libraries offered 1,520 high quality learning and literacy programs to children and youth in 2015.