By leaving school and home routines behind, a group of Maine elementary teachers have found grant-funded summer retreats an excellent source of renewal. Teachers have a chance to pursue chosen professional activities, participate in data- driven conversations, and spend time together with no competing concerns. (MLH)

Examines the effectiveness of Teach Baltimore, a program (using trained college student volunteers) to prevent summer learning loss, for a group of 300 low-income, public elementary students, compared with 135 control students. Except for low-achieving kindergarteners, results show consistent, if statistically insignificant, positive effects for…

Prior research has demonstrated that summer learning rooted in family and community influences widens the achievement gap across social lines, while schooling offsets those family and community influences. In this article, we examine the long-term educational consequences of summer learning differences by family socioeconomic level. Using data…

The 1994 Florida Library Youth Program is an extension of the successful and long-running Florida Summer Library Program to help librarians provide programs for school-age children, aged 6 through 12, throughout the year. The emphasis is primarily recreational. This manual for program coordinators and library users amplifies a theme called…

Describes an ecology laboratory summer school designed to help eight- to eleven-year-olds become more aware of their environment. Presents the approaches taken in examining various major questions relating man, animals and plants. (EB)

This report contains a brief summary of the evaluation of the Summer At-Home Reading Program, which was designed to improve the reading skills of low achieving elementary school children and to involve parents actively in their children's reading instruction. Among the positive findings reported for the program are that parents who participated…

A random sample of fourth and eighth grade Title I students who either did or did not attend summer school was tested to determine what effect the Title I summer school program had on student achievement and summer loss in reading and mathematics. Academic achievement was assessed by the Stanford Achievement Tests. The results indicated summer…

This report describes the results of a study of the cost and cost effectiveness of 27 summer reading programs, carried through as part of a large-scale evaluation of compensatory reading programs. Three other reports describe cost and cost-effectiveness studies of programs during the regular school year. On an instructional-hour basis, the total…

The Sports Fitness Program developed at Kansas State University offers children a way to develop or improve skills and learn physical education concepts. This summer program is an alternative to traditional sports programs since activities are not competitive and are less structured. Details of program organization are discussed. (DF)

Describes goals and objectives of a public library summer reading program for three age levels--prereaders (age three years through kindergarten), beginning readers (grades 1-2), and senior readers (grades 3-6). Reading activities at each level, progress charts, certificate of achievement, and additional incentives are highlighted. (EJS)

This study examined child care patterns during the summer months among 6- to 12-year-old children with employed parents or primary caretakers. Using interview data from the 1999 National Survey of Americas Families, the study analyzed two key aspects of summer child care: the types of arrangements for school-age children and the amount families…

Teachers, attorneys, and law educators met to evaluate 1971 workshops in law education and to plan improved learning experiences at future workshops. Coordination between substantive law sessions and teaching methodology sessions was cited as a major necessity. Teachers were encouraged to develop their own material. (JB)

Three reproducible calendars for June, July, and August, accompanied by a list of activities that reinforce skills students have developed in school are presented. There are separate activities for primary and intermediate level students as well as suggestions for expanding activities . (JM)

This study evaluated the effectiveness of Camp Invention, a hands-on creativity and science day camp run in partnership with about 400 schools nationwide. A survey of 17,526 campers, parents, and staff supported the positive impact of Camp Invention for both boys and girls, in urban and suburban settings, and on attitudes towards creativity,…

Tested the effectiveness of a community-based intervention designed to promote physical activity among rural fifth graders. Data on students who participated in after-school and summer programs and home, school, and community interventions indicated that the after-school and summer interventions were implemented as planned, but the home, school,…