For some children, summer vacation means camp, family trips, visits to museums, parks and libraries and a variety of enriching activities. But other children find that, when schools close for the summer, healthy meals, medical care and fun and engaging activities are out of reach, as are activities that strengthen academic achievement and provide opportunities to explore new interests.  Learn more about the importance of summer programs and the need for more quality summer learning opportunities for children and youth. 

Summer: A Season When Learning is Essential (2010)

For some children, summer vacation means camp, family trips, visits to museums, parks and libraries and a variety of enriching activities. But other children find that, when schools close for the summer, healthy meals, medical care and fun and engaging learning activities are out of reach, and many children are unable to partake in additional learning in the summer that can strengthen academic achievement and provide opportunities to explore new interests. In fact, each summer in America, an estimated 43 million children in the U.S. miss out on expanded learning opportunities.

For millions of children in America, when schools close for the summer, safe and enriching learning environments are out of reach, replaced by boredom, lost opportunities and risk. New analysis of data from the America After 3PM study measures the extent of this problem, concluding that three-quarters of America's schoolchildren do not participate in summer learning programs. Yet, fifty-six percent of kids (an estimated 24 million) who are not participating in summer learning programs, would likely enroll in a program, based on parent interest.

Recent educational reform strategies have included ideas on extending the school day. However, increased classroom time alone may not be enough to improve academic outcomes without proper attention to how that time gets used. This brief examines the ways in which a quality afterschool program model could be used to inform the implementation of a quality extended day initiative.