Here’s How to Prevent a “Summer Slip” With Your School-Aged Kids

Students naturally feel a huge sense of relief when summer break rolls around. After all, they’re trading regular homework, ongoing projects and classroom time for months of unstructured freedom and fun. While this annual break is great for teachers and kids alike, time spent away from the classroom leads some younger kids to experience something educators call the “summer slip.” 

It’s a simple concept. Without the daily reinforcement teachers provide, students' learning skills can regress. In many ways, the summer slip is like riding a two-wheel bike. You never really forget how to do it, but if you spend too much time out of the saddle, you won’t be as dynamic when you finally return.

The Potential Consequences of the Summer Slip

The summer slip is very common, and parents and teachers often spot evidence of regression in faltering test scores between the end of one school year and the beginning of the next. And while many students quickly recover their lost skills once they return to school, those who repeatedly fall behind their peers often face a profound achievement gap throughout their learning career. 

An American Educational Research Association study showed that students who can’t read at their level by the third grade are four times less likely to graduate than students who can. The statistics are even worse for children living in poverty, who are 13 times less likely to graduate than children who are wealthier and read at their appropriate grade level.

For a host of nuanced reasons, children from under-resourced families are often more severely impacted by the summer slip, as are students with existing learning disabilities, making both groups much more likely to face educational achievement gaps. This data adds a sense of urgency for parents and educators as they search for strategies to help mitigate these issues for as many students as possible.

How ORCA Mitigates the Summer Slip

The educators at Oregon Charter Academy (ORCA) take the summer slip seriously, and we’ve implemented several programs to keep our kids engaged between school years. Because we’re a virtual school, ORCA students already have some advantages. All our kids have their own Chromebook, and we ensure every student has internet access. They’re also already accustomed to working online and more independently than brick-and-mortar students. These factors go a long way toward breaking down equity issues that under-resourced students typically face. 

Experience has shown us that elementary students are typically most impacted by the summer slip, and so we focus our efforts heavily on easing the regression for our kindergarten through fifth-graders. Our elementary teachers guide their students on accessing available guided learning programs over the summer, like i-Ready, IXL and SORA. 

Our older students who are leaving middle school and heading into high school can participate in our Summer Bridge program, which reinforces learning skills and habits that will help them be successful as they advance their education. Students in this four-week program learn how to take and organize notes, plan their days and create calendar events to stay on track. Upon completing this program, students earn a half credit for high school electives while connecting with their new teachers and peers. 

Over the years, we’ve seen how effectively Summer Bridge combats the summer slip: 90% of kids from the 2020 program are on track to graduate, and the 2021 cohort had a 93% attendance rate. For high school students who are still behind their peers, ORCA also offers summer credit recovery options to help them get back on track.

Summer Strategies for Parents

Parents also play an essential role as they help their kids stay engaged during the summer months. If their kids aren’t attending ORCA, then we recommend that parents ask their local district what learning programs are available during the summer or if they send home devices, reading material or other guided educational activities. 

Summer camps offer kids fantastic opportunities to interact with peers while honing their social and emotional skills. Many organizations provide summer science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) camps. However, many other types of camps give kids the opportunity to read and engage with their peers. Finding summer educational programs for kids who are motivated to continue learning can also help fill in the gaps.

Perhaps most importantly, parents should make it a priority to read with their children during the summer. Frequent trips to the library, playing board games and even reading restaurant menus are opportunities for parents to take significant steps toward mitigating the summer slide and closing the achievement gap. 

Creating Partnerships for Student Success

The summer slip is an issue every parent should be aware of, particularly if their kids face other learning challenges. Fortunately, with the right interventions taken at the right time, students can overcome the summer slip and continue on the path to a successful future. To accomplish this, parents must stay engaged with their children’s progress and communicate with teachers if they have any concerns. A healthy partnership between educators, students and parents will always produce the most favorable results.

If you’d like to learn more about ORCA’s summer learning programs or the benefits of attending a virtual school, plan on joining us for one of our monthly virtual info sessions. You’ll have the opportunity to preview our platform and curriculum and hear from ORCA staff. We hope to see you soon!