Topic Areas > Summer Programming
Summer Programming Suggestions
Read the suggestions and resources below to familiarize yourself with key issues, terminology, and sources of support for Summer programming.
1. Developing Programming with Intentionality
Successful programs are developed and implemented by consistently focusing on expressed goals and mission and through intentional planning.
- Provide time for planning and development before the program starts. This requires planning meetings, time to train staff and begins several weeks before the program launches.
- Design activities and instruction
intentionally to improve academic skills, keeping students from dropping out of
school, helping them to be successful in life and school.
2. Build Positive Relationships with Students
Do so by engaging staff who have existing connections with youth, maintaining smaller staff-to-youth ratios and ensuring staff have sufficient information about student needs and backgrounds.
3. Recruit Highly Skilled Staff
4. Ongoing Partnership with Schools and Districts
The first step with Summer Learning programs as with after school programs is to establish or maintain a reciprocal partnership with the school. Promoting partnerships with multiple school personnel – with coaches, teachers, counselors, Title 1 teachers, etc. – can foster ownership of the program and help to ensure sustainability.
According to the Harvard Family Research Project, five principles that support sustainable partnerships include:
- A shared vision for learning and success, with explicit focus on supporting academics
- Blended staffing models that enable crossover between school and afterschool and summer staff
- School–afterschool/summer partnerships at multiple levels within the school and district
- Regular and reciprocal collection and sharing of information about student progress
- Intentional
and explicit contrast between school and afterschool environments