This brief, published by the Rand Corporation, explores the merits of using voluntary summer learning programs to stem summer learning loss among low-income students. The initial data show that the full-day programs, ranging from 5 to 6 weeks in length, have a statistically significant impact on students’ math achievement. The programs have no similar effect on reading skills, however. Although these data represent the early stages of a comprehensive report to be released later this year, researchers were able to identify five factors that contributed to positive student outcomes in math and reading: (1) consistent attendance, (2) hours of instruction, (3) teachers with grade-level experience, (4) orderliness of summer sites, and (5) instructional quality.

Read it here.