‘Summer Matters’: Summer learning, student wellness
CSBA partners with foundation and nonprofit to offer board resources
Published: June 1, 2013
CSBA is engaging in several efforts to assist school districts and county offices of education in providing high-quality summer programs and promoting student wellness, particularly among children from low-income families. Supported by a grant from the David and Lucile Packard Foundation, these activities are being conducted in collaboration with the Partnership for Children and Youth, a nonprofit organization that oversees the statewide Summer Matters campaign.
A special, online-only Summer Learning Series of feature articles brings greater focus to specific topics related to summer learning and wellness. Titles include:
Why Do Summer Learning and Wellness Programs Matter?
What Constitutes an Effective Summer Program?
How Can Boards Provide Leadership and Funding for Summer Programs?
Additionally, CSBA’s Policy Services has updated two sample board policies and posted them for use by all school boards: The revised and retitled “BP 6177 - Summer Learning Programs” addresses summer learning opportunities in addition to summer school; “BP 5030 - Student Wellness” now includes additional concepts related to summer wellness.
CSBA also issued a policy brief on summer learning and wellness. “School’s Out, Now What? How Summer Programs Are Improving Student Learning and Wellness”:
- Presents research findings on the negative impacts of summer break on student learning and wellness
- Examines the extent to which summer programs are currently being offered throughout California
- Describes characteristics of effective programs and possible sources of program funding
- Suggests actions that governing boards may take to promote and facilitate the provision of summer programs
Download complimentary copies of all these resources under the Summer Learning Programs section of CSBA’s Policy News and Briefs Web page: www.csba.org/PNB.aspx.