As reported by my colleague Ross Brenneman recently, the push is on to ramp up summer programs that combat summer learning loss and promote healthy lifestyles, particularly for disadvantaged children. (National Summer Learning Day is coming up on June 21.)
For one, Horizons National, an award-winning, six-week summer-enrichment program for disadvantaged K-8 students is expanding this summer, as reported by the organization recently. Six more schools have opened their campuses up to host the program this summer, including a few colleges. The organization has 26 affiliates in 11 states that serve 2,500 students.
The Horizons program has been shown to help students gain two to three months of reading and math skills during the course of the program. The program combines academics, enrichment, and sports (including teaching every kid how to swim)).
Expanding to college campuses will enable college faculty and college students to get involved, and may improve the “cradle-to-career” pipeline for disadvantaged students who participate, the organization reports. Parents of some participants are actually enrolling in college courses at a few of the community college campuses where programs are being held.