At the forefront of innovative leadership are schools and school districts that are implementing school-wide summer review programs. These districts are ensuring that every student returns in the fall confident and prepared to learn. And they are getting noticed – Star International Academy in Dearborn MI, a ThinkStretch Summer Learning Program school, earned the top spot in Michigan’s top-to-bottom ranking of student achievement across comparable schools. The ranking highlighted Star Academy’s ability to add significant value beyond a students’ expected achievement based on their income level. In Michigan, schools are funded based on a per student grant monies.
Every school in Michigan competes to attract students – and every little bit counts when it comes to making sure a school stands out. Star Academy stands out by offering a culture of year round learning with the Thinkstretch Summer Learning Program.
As Star Academy demonstrates, the impact of implementing a school-wide summer review program positively touches parents, students, teachers and administrators. As a district builds a school year pattern that includes summer learning:
- Students return in the fall confident and prepared to learn
- Parents are continuously involved in student learning
- Teachers transition into school year routines with ease
- Teachers introduce new learning at a quicker rate
- Districts fulfill state requirements for parent engagement and extended learning opportunities
- Districts demonstrate leadership and innovation in achieving high levels of student achievement and proficiency
Quality instruction and leadership demands that districts stop leaving hard earned learning on the table. Students simply cannot retain their school year skills over a summer break dictated by an agrarian calendar. Summer skill review must become an accepted part of the school year calendar, led and supported by innovative districts, for our schools to move to the next level of academic achievement.
