Combating the Summer Slide: Effective Practices in Summer Programming for Students

Summer is a time for relaxation, exploration, and play. But for many elementary and middle school students, it's also a period when academic skills can slip—a phenomenon known as the "summer slide." Past research has demonstrated that students can lose up to two months of reading and math knowledge over the summer if they’re not engaged in educational activities (Cooper et al., 1996). Effective summer programming can not only prevent this loss but even help students make academic gains.

We've compiled a list of effective practices in summer programming to support your planning as a teacher and/or parent.

1. Focused Academic Enrichment

Successful summer programs integrate structured academic learning with fun, hands-on activities. Programs that include daily reading and math lessons, especially those personalized to student ability levels, show the strongest results. For example, small-group instruction in literacy, where students engage in guided reading and vocabulary-building games, can dramatically maintain or improve reading proficiency (Kim & Quinn, 2013).

2. Hands-On, Project-Based Learning

Project-based learning (PBL) fosters creativity and critical thinking. Whether students are building a solar oven or writing and staging their own play, hands-on activities deepen engagement and retention. Summer STEM camps that incorporate robotics, coding, or environmental science are particularly effective in keeping students curious and cognitively active.

3. Strong Teacher-Student Relationships

Programs staffed by trained educators who build strong, supportive relationships with students tend to be more effective. When students feel valued and understood, they are more motivated to learn. A low student-to-teacher ratio allows for individualized support, enhancing both academic outcomes and emotional development.

4. Fun and Flexibility

Balance is key. The best programs mix academics with outdoor recreation, field trips, and arts-based activities. When learning is fun, students are more likely to return AND to retain what they’ve learned.

5. Parent and Community Involvement

Parental support and community partnerships expand program resources and encourage consistent participation. Programs that include regular communication with families—such as sending home books or tips for summer learning—are more likely to reinforce academic habits beyond the classroom.

Summer doesn’t have to be a time of academic backsliding. With the right blend of engaging instruction, enrichment, and community support, summer programs can boost student confidence and keep the learning momentum going strong into the new school year.

References:

• Cooper, H., Nye, B., Charlton, K., Lindsay, J., & Greathouse, S. (1996). The effects of summer vacation on achievement test scores: A narrative and meta-analytic review. Review of Educational Research, 66(3), 227–268.

• Kim, J.S., & Quinn, D.M. (2013). The effects of summer reading on low-income children's literacy achievement from kindergarten to grade 8: A meta-analysis of classroom and home interventions. Review of Educational Research, 83(3), 386–431.

The Important Role of Evaluation in Research: Exploring, Documenting, and Improving the Process of Scientific Investigation

Everyday, based on our search history, algorithms push snippets of the latest findings of scientific studies about topics that are important to us. What these snippets rarely highlight are the important, sometimes “behind the scenes,” evaluation activities that are central to successful research endeavors. Many of us don’t consider (may not even have known about) the important role of evaluation within (as part of) research studies. So just what role do evaluators play in research? Let’s explore this a bit here - 

We all know that researchers aim to produce knowledge by answering research questions through formal processes of scientific inquiry (experimental designs, quasi-experimental designs, etc.), using structured protocols that engage a specified set of investigators who implement specific interventions. Evaluators, on the other hand, come from outside the set of study investigators, providing independent “feedback” to researchers, and at times their advisory boards, on study implementation, impacts, and outcomes.

Evaluators help researchers learn more about their intervention processes than just the impact on the study subject(s). Evaluators embedded in research projects assist researchers in understanding the fidelity and effectiveness study intervention components using formal evaluation practices including:

• evaluations of fidelity (to what extent have the study interventions been implemented as designed?);

• formative evaluations (to what extent has the study achieved its intended outputs? What successes has it achieved and which component of the study is considered to be most closely associated with this success? What challenges has the study faced and what actions did the investigators take in response?); and

• summative evaluation (to what extent has the study met its intended outcomes?).

Together, these three evaluation practices produce findings that help study investigators know if their interventions are being conducted as originally described in study protocols, whether modifications may be needed, what components may be resulting in the strongest impact, which outcomes are being achieved (or not) and how, among other nuanced findings that could have important implications on scientific findings.

In addition to measuring fidelity and impact, evaluators are skilled in helping researchers understand dissemination opportunities and practices. Funders of studies often require scientists to focus on, and share, outcomes that inform the scientific field and the broader community potentially affected by the research question(s). Evaluators are uniquely positioned, through their technical training, to assist researchers in identifying stakeholders for dissemination of results. Evaluators also are skilled in creating actionable knowledge that is applicable and appropriate for eliciting the strongest impact upon dissemination.

Shaffer Evaluation Group (SEG) supports a variety of research grants, including from the USDA and National Science Foundation, by providing evaluation services in support of scientific inquiry. Feel free to call on us if you have similar needs.

Navigating Educational Policy Change

​As of March 2025, the U.S. K-12 education landscape is experiencing significant shifts due to recent executive orders issued by President Donald Trump. These directives have notably impacted various federal education grant programs within the U.S. Department of Education and other agencies, influencing funding allocations and policy priorities.​

Executive Orders Affecting K-12 Education

• Executive Order 14151: "Ending Radical and Wasteful Government DEI Programs and Preferencing"

  Issued on January 20, 2025, this order terminates all Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (DEIA) initiatives across federal agencies. It mandates a comprehensive review of grant programs to ensure compliance, leading to the rescission of funding for programs that fail to align with the new policy. 

• Executive Order 14190: "Ending Radical Indoctrination in K-12 Schooling"

  Signed on January 29, 2025, this order aims to eliminate the teaching of materials considered "anti-American" or "subversive," including content related to "gender ideology" and critical race theory. It mandates the cessation of federal funding to schools that promote these ideologies and directs law enforcement to prosecute educators who unlawfully facilitate the social transition of transgender minors. ​

• Executive Order 14191: "Expanding Educational Freedom and Opportunity for Families"

  Signed on January 29, 2025, this order aims to expand school choice initiatives, including publicly funded vouchers for private schooling. It seeks to enhance parental control over education and reduce federal oversight, aligning with the administration's broader educational reform agenda. 

• Executive Order 14201: "Keeping Men Out of Women's Sports"

  Signed on February 5, 2025, this order directs the federal government to interpret Title IX regulations as prohibiting transgender girls and women from participating in female sports. It threatens to revoke federal funding from any educational institution that allows transgender girls to compete on girls' teams, citing violations of Title IX.

• Executive Order 14214: "Keeping Education Accessible and Ending COVID-19 Vaccine Mandates in Schools"

  Issued on February 15, 2025, this order prohibits K-12 schools from enforcing COVID-19 vaccine mandates, asserting the importance of keeping education accessible without medical prerequisites. It threatens to withhold federal funding from institutions that implement such mandates.

Impacted Federal K-12 Grant Programs

The enforcement of these executive orders has led to substantial changes in K-12 grant programs across federal government:​

• US Department of Education (ED)

  The Department of Education terminated $600 million in teacher training grants awarded through the Teacher Quality Partnership and Supporting Effective Educator Development programs, citing concerns over the promotion of "divisive ideologies" such as critical race theory and social justice activism. 

• National Science Foundation (NSF)

  The NSF is in the midst of a comprehensive review of its programs to ensure compliance with the executive orders. This includes scrutinizing grants that involve DEIA principles, potentially affecting funding for educational initiatives aimed at promoting diversity in STEM fields. ​

• Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA)

  HRSA has directed that grant funds may not be used for activities conflicting with the executive orders, including DEI initiatives. This impacts programs that address health education and services in K-12 schools, particularly those serving diverse populations. ​

Legal Challenges and Responses

The implementation of these executive orders has led to legal challenges:

• Lawsuits Against Funding Cuts

  Eight Democratic-led states have filed lawsuits challenging the Department of Education's decision to cut funding from federal grant programs designed for teacher training. The plaintiffs argue that these grants as essential for addressing teacher shortages, particularly in rural and underserved areas, by funding scholarships and training for aspiring educators. 

• Preliminary Injunctions

  Federal judges have issued preliminary injunctions blocking certain executive orders that attempt to terminate or alter federal grants and contracts related to DEI programs. The courts have cited concerns over vagueness and potential unconstitutionality in penalizing private organizations, including educational institutions. ​

Implications for K-12 Educators and Institutions

The recent executive orders have introduced substantial changes to federal policy and programs affecting K-12 education. The potential dissolution of the Department of Education and the shift toward state-controlled systems may lead to disparities in educational quality and resource allocation. Additionally, the emphasis on school choice and the reduction of DEI programs could impact efforts to promote inclusive and equitable learning environments. Educators and institutions must stay informed and navigate these policy changes carefully to continue providing equitable and quality education.