Summer Learning
The summer break from school is a time for children to relax and have fun. For many children, this means participating in summer camps or other activities that give them the chance to learn in new ways.
For many other children, however, the summer is a time of scarcity. Studies show that, while most children lose some of what they’ve learned over the summer break, this is especially true for low-income children. In fact, low-income children lose so much of what they learned that they often return to school each fall far behind their peers. This is known as the “summer slide.” The summer slide often adds up from year to year, resulting in kids who fall farther and farther behind every summer.
Participating in summer enrichment activities is a way to prevent the summer slide. Here in Roanoke, we have some programs to help prevent the summer slide and keep kids learning year-round. Check out some of our opportunities below.
RCPS+: Every summer, the Roanoke City Public Schools offer a free six-week summer learning program called RCPS+. Visit https://rcps.info/ for more information.
Summer Reading Program: The Roanoke Public Libraries offer free summer learning activities for six weeks every summer. All Summer Reading Program events are free and open to all kids. These activities include storytimes, theater performances, science activities, petting zoos, and more! Check out the Summer Reading Program schedule at https://roanokeva.gov/892/Libraries.
For more information about summer learning, visit https://gradelevelreading.net/our-work/summer-learning-loss