Overview of Summer Reading
Summer is an important time for critical educational development. Yet not all students have the opportunities to take advantage of these precious summer months. Research indicates that the reading achievement of low income students, as a group, typically declines during the summer months while the reading achievement of children from more economically advantaged families improves or remains the same. The reading performance of less-resourced children may decline as much as an average of three months between June and September. Therefore, smart use of summer learning time is instrumental in closing the achievement gap between privileged and less-resourced children and helps all children reach their full potential.
Today, the landscape of summer learning is shifting. Summer opportunities occur in many more places than just the traditional summer school classroom. Learning can take place through digital learning platforms, community-based programs, summer programs at community parks and recreation centers, drop-in learning adventures at the library and even resources put into the hands of families and homecare givers.
Oakland Schools encourages districts to consider promoting summer reading opportunities for all students. This webpage provides district considerations for creating, planning, and implementing effective summer learning.
District Considerations
- MDE Supporting Summer Learning
- Virtual Summer Reading Options
- Summer Reading Options
- Read by Grade 3
- Funding Sources
- Summer Reading Implementation Checklist
- Community Partnerships
Research on Summer Reading Loss
- Allington, Richard L., and Anne McGill-Franzen. “Eliminating Summer Reading Setback: How We Can Close the Rich/Poor Reading Achievement Gap.” Reading Today. Apr.-May 2013.
- Allington, R. L., & McGill-Franzen, A. (2013). Summer reading: closing the rich/poor reading achievement gap. New York: Teachers College Press.
- Cahill, C. (2013). No more summer reading loss. Portsmouth, NH: Heinemann.
- Michigan Association of Intermediate School Administrators General Education Leadership Network Early Literacy Task Force (2016). Essential instructional practices in early literacy: K to 3. Lansing, MI: Authors
- Michigan Association of Intermediate School Administrators General Education Leadership Network Early Literacy Task Force (2016). Essential school-wide and center-wide practices in literacy. Lansing, MI: Authors
- Michigan Department of Education ( 2021). Research-informed policy guidance for implementation of the
SUMMER LITERACY COMPONENTS of HB 4048 for grades K to 3 - National Summer Learning Association
Questions? Need more information? If you have questions about preventing summer reading loss please contact any of the following Early Literacy Consultants: