Summer programs have had a bigger-than-usual task this year. In addition to the summer slide, where some research has shown students can lose months of learning over the summer, many programs are trying to address what some experts now call “the COVID slide.” Research varies on how much learning students may have lost throughout the pandemic. However, there is consensus among education experts that generally, in-person instruction is more effective than remote learning.
Horizons Atlanta is a summer program with ten locations in the metro area. It’s been around since 1999. The program serves students from low-income households who return each summer. Executive Director Alex Wan says that consistency means students can gain academic ground instead of losing months of learning over the summer.
“We had it down in terms of a formula for every summer,” he says. “Six weeks literacy, math, swimming, field trips, I mean it was pretty formulaic up until 2019.”
Read this story for free
To continue reading, sign up for our newsletters and get unlimited access to WABE.org
We won't share your information with outside organizations Why am I seeing this?