Matthew Boulay is the founder of the National Summer Learning Association, a nonprofit focused on closing the achievement gap through summer learning. Boulay has a master’s degree in public policy from John Hopkins University and a doctorate in sociology from the Teacher’s College of Columbia University. His book, Summers Matter, is a guide for parents and educators on how they can support children’s education throughout the summer months.
 
What is the summer slide?
 
Summer slide is also referred to as summer learning loss, summer slippage or summer melt. The idea is that children lose learning or fall back during the summer months. Young students lose factual knowledge and academic skills, so they perform lower in September than they did in June.
 
It varies a little bit by demographic and age, but summer slowdown or summer loss is widespread across millions of students in the country. Teachers and administrators put so much work in during the school year that you hate to see it slip away in the summer.
 
Why are summer learning experiences so important for students?
 
You really want to prevent summer loss and you want to protect learning and growth from the school year. One way to think about this is by comparing it to athletes training during the off-season. Everyone has an off-season, but you certainly continue to train. If you don’t train, then your muscles atrophy. In the same way, you want students to continue to learn in the summer.
 
Summer is also a time for kids and parents to become innovative and fit things in that they can’t during the school year. So if your child loves art or science, there can be constraints during the school year that do not exist in the summer. It’s a time to encourage them to explore curiosities and interests.
 
What are some of the learning challenges summer break can cause for young students and learning?
 
Depending on family resources like budget, whether or not parents work during the summer or community resources, there are a lot of challenges and questions on how to keep kids engaged in learning when they are not in school. If students lose two to three months every summer, it’s a hugely inefficient system and a drag on academic performance. It's also economically inefficient, because millions are spent to teach during the school year, and then 10 or 20 percent of what was learned can slip away during the summer.
 
Another thing that can happen over the summer is that students can fall back in social or emotional growth. What school does is teach children how to play in groups with peers, and if they are isolated or alone for the summer at a young age it can set them back.
 
So, the question is what do you do about it. I believe that summer should be fun and summer learning should be different from the school year. It is a great time for parents and teachers to explore new interests for their children.
 
What can parents do to help their kids avoid the summer slide?
 
A good first step is to continue school year habits. If you read to your child at bedtime during the school year, then read to them at bedtime during the summer. It can be a great bonding time for parents and kids as well. If you monitor screen time, or have a bedtime routine during the school year, continue those as well.
 
The second step is to ask your child what they want to do. Really engage activities around their own curiosities and interests. Make sure kids have library cards. Most communities have summer programs with rewards. There are a huge number of good online resources, such as the Khan Academy. They offer a free coding program where children can learn to write computer codes online.
 
There are also fun activities that parents can do with their children, like following a recipe and its measurements or go shopping and have them tally up the cost of a couple items. Another thing parents can do is encourage participation in programs, such as athletic activities — especially if parents are working during the summer.
 
What types of successful summer learning programs have you been involved in?
 
In 1993, I started a summer program in Baltimore for a high school with a 75 percent dropout rate. It was in one of the poorest parts of the city of Baltimore. The eight-week summer program recruited incoming ninth-graders to do academics, recreational activities and field trips. It turned out that summer was a time to engage these students in some fascinating and fun stuff. That program turned into the National Summer Learning Association, which is focused on making summer activities available for all students.
 
The myth of America is that summer is the best time of the year. But for some that is not true. It can be a time of loneliness and boredom. There is ample evidence that kids want to be involved and engaged all year. Some summer learning is informal, such as online reading or activities with parents. Others are more formal, such as a membership at the YMCA or participation in other athletic programs. I’ve also seen schools open their library or gym for a day every week so that students have a place to engage with other students. That’s a good way to keep up involvement throughout the summer. It’s up to parents and teachers to find what is best for their kids.
 
Is there a resource you recommend for reading about the summer slide or the achievement gap?
 
Summerlearning.org has a number of guides available to teachers, parents and principals. These materials offer expertise and support for programs and communities to advocate for summer learning as a solution for equity and excellence in education.