1. Summer Learning Opportunities:
Solutions to Close Seattle’s Educational Opportunity Gap
A Proposal for Seattle Summer Learning Collective Impact
Lunch with Mayor Murray and members of the Mayor’s Office
May 18, 2015
Participating community members:
Vu Le, Executive Director, Rainier Valley Corps and Chair, Southeast Seattle Education Coalition
Gordon McHenry Jr., Executive Director, Solid Ground
Sharonne Navas, Executive Director, Equity in Education Coalition
Lynne Tucker, Public Affairs and Education Policy Consultant

2. SeattleSummer LearningCollectiveImpact
Summer Learning Loss significantly impacts Seattle’s Educational Opportunity Gap.
Each summer, Seattle students lose critical academic skills learned over the school year, known as Summer Learning Loss.
More than half of the achievement gap between lower- and higher-income students can be attributed to equity in access
to summer learning opportunities.
Summer Learning Loss costs Seattle Schools over $30 million* annually for skill loss and is a leading predictor of student drop-out.
*Based on 2013-14 enrollment, Seattle Schools had 40% (20,720) free and reduced lunch students. Using $5,552 annual cost per
pupil, Summer Learning Loss accounts for $1850 /2 months in lost skills oran estimated $38,332,000 annually.
Grade 3
• Every summer, low income students lose 2+ months in literacy skills, compared to their middle income peers
who make gains.
• Lack of access to summer learning opportunities disproportionately impacts communities of color, English-
language learners and students with disabilities.
Grade 5:
• By end of 5th grade, these disadvantaged students fall three grade levels behind their middle income peers.
• Cited barriers for participation in summer learning programs are affordability, convenience and transportation.
Grade 9:
• By 9th grade, disadvantaged students are now considered "at risk youth" and are 6.6 years equivalent behind
middle income peers, a predictor for drop-out.
• 2/3 of the the reading achievement gap is due to Summer Learning Loss.

3. SeattleSummer LearningCollectiveImpact
AT- RISK STUDENT PROFILE
grades K-8 below-grade in reading below-grade in math differing learning styles
high poverty community student of color English–language learner student with disabilities
homeless foster care immigrant & refugee adverse childhood experiences
food security family engagement cultural barriers access to quality programs

4. SeattleSummer LearningCollectiveImpact
Expanded Learning Opportunities over the Summer-
A solution to the opportunity gap
High quality afterschool and youth development programs offered by community-based partners, create unique opportunities to
build linkages with schools by aligning in-school and out of school learning. Expanded Learning Opportunities (ELOs), a type of
quality program, provide enriching experiences over the summer that complement and reinforce classroom-based instruction.
Summer ELOs offer a solution to the opportunity gap with:
 intentional academic support to individual students
 strong partnerships between school and community
 measurable successes in academic performance
 youth-centered, experiential learning with enrichment activities
 culturally relevant programs and equitable access
Summer ELOs deliver many benefits for high poverty communities.
 Provide free learning opportunities for “at-risk” students.
 Offer customizable programs to meet the needs of specific communities and diverse students.
 Create opportunities to leverage community resources through collective impact.
 Run programs for 10 weeks giving students a safe place during work hours.
 Give families and students access to summer meals, health/mental health care and other services
 Engage families in their child’s success.
 Make affordable investments targeted to high-needs communities.
ELOs provide quality, evidence-based and affordable solutions to closing Seattle’s Opportunity Gap.