Making the Most of Summer Time

by Jennifer Peck, Executive Director, Partnership for Children & Youth

Districts are working hard to meet the demands of multiple initiatives and new expectations … with the valid lament – “There’s not enough time to get all this done!”  But Summer TIME offers a solution.

Districts across the state are finding that 4 to 6 weeks of quality summer learning programs provide enough time for multiple wins – 1) keeping students up to speed on math and ELA, and getting them ready for new types of Common Core learning; 2) letting teachers test out new teaching strategies and content; and 3) helping teachers and after school staff share practices and support each other’s excellence.

Ready for more information?  The David and Lucile Packard Foundation and the Partnership for Children & Youth are thrilled to invite school board members and superintendents to the third annual Summer Matters Leadership Breakfast at the CSBA Conference.  Please RSVP here to join us on Monday, December 15 from 7 to 8:15 am in the California East Room of the Westin-St. Francis Hotel.

Besides a delicious free breakfast, you’ll hear from Gilroy Unified School District Superintendent Debbie Flores and Whittier City School District Superintendent Ron Carruth about the strategies they’ve found successful.  And, you’ll network with peers to share ideas and ask questions.

Here’s a sample of what you might hear:

• Every year, teachers are excited to sign up to work in Whittier’s Jump Start and Gilroy’s Super Power Summer Camps.  They love the opportunity to experiment with new lesson plans, try out different teaching strategies, and get student feedback, all critically important to their ability to adjust to Common Core expectations.  Added bonus – with the low pressure summer camp vibe, they get to know their current and future students in a whole new way that leads to better relationships and a warmer school climate all year round.
• Students are eager to be part of the summer camps.  Unlike traditional summer school, they know they’ll have opportunities to work and play with their friends, explore new ideas, build skills, and visit museums, libraries and parks in their communities.  The alternative for most of these students is long, lonely hours at home with too much TV and too little positive stimulation.
• The programs aren’t free… but they’re remarkably affordable.  This is especially true in relation to the hidden cost of re-teaching students who’ve fallen behind during the summer and need 3 to 5 weeks of re-teaching to catch up.  That costs about $800/student, compared to about $500/student for a 5 week summer program… which includes students, teachers and staff better prepared for the year ahead.

Strong wins all around!  Please join us on December 15 to learn more.

Jennifer Peck is the Executive Director of the Partnership for Youth & Children.