{"id":22772,"date":"2019-04-08T14:53:13","date_gmt":"2019-04-08T18:53:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/michiganvirtual.site.strattic.io\/blog\/"},"modified":"2019-08-20T16:01:39","modified_gmt":"2019-08-20T20:01:39","slug":"summer-learning-faqs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/michiganvirtual.org\/blog\/summer-learning-faqs\/","title":{"rendered":"Summer Learning FAQs (with advice from Michigan districts who are doing it well!)"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>In math and reading, these predictions are even more drastic, with an estimated two months of learning loss in some studies.<\/p>\n<p>This atrophy wastes valuable time in school at the beginning of the next Fall when students have to relearn much of what was lost over the summer. Some estimates suggest that <a href=\"https:\/\/michiganvirtual.org\/blog\/how-to-avoid-the-summer-slide-without-giving-up-your-hard-earned-break\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">teachers spend up to <i>six weeks <\/i>each Fall re-teaching old material<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><strong>The worst part?<\/strong> Research shows that the summer slide has its greatest impact on students of low socioeconomic status, whose parents are not able to provide the same summer learning opportunities as wealthier parents \u2014 from summer camps to educational trips to museums, zoos, etc. to books and other school supplies.<\/p>\n<p>In fact, some even claim that summer learning explains <a href=\"https:\/\/michiganvirtual.org\/blog\/how-to-avoid-the-summer-slide-without-giving-up-your-hard-earned-break\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">up to two-thirds of the income-based achievement gap<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Together, these statistics ought to inspire us to act.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p class=\"lead\"><strong>When it comes to summer learning, most school administrators would love to provide families in their districts with options.<\/strong> But they often have logistical questions, such as:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"#2\">What types of summer learning programs should I offer?<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#3\">What type of students typically take summer courses?<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#4\">What indicators of success should I look for?<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#5\">What kind of support systems should I implement?<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#6\">What are common challenges that schools face when setting up summer learning programs?<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#7\">Who pays for summer learning programs?<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#8\">How do I inform students and parents about their options?<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#9\">What advice can you offer me?<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>This guide was created with advice given in a recent <a href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/R9r7jm7p8VA\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\">webinar<\/a> by educational leaders from two Michigan school districts \u2014 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.northvilleschools.org\/apps\/pages\/summer\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\">Northville Public Schools<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.brightonk12.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\">Brighton Area Schools<\/a> \u2014 on how they\u2019ve found success with summer learning.<\/p>\n<p class=\"lead\"><b><i>If you\u2019re interested in setting up an online summer learning program specifically, we also encourage you to check out our <\/i><\/b><a href=\"https:\/\/michiganvirtual.org\/blog\/step-by-step-guide-for-setting-up-your-online-summer-school\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><b><i>step-by-step guide<\/i><\/b><\/a><b><i> on this subject.<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/michiganvirtual.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/process-mapping.svg\"><img decoding=\"async\" id=\"2\" class=\"size-full wp-image-22863 aligncenter lazyload\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-src=\"https:\/\/michiganvirtual.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/process-mapping.svg\" alt=\"illustration of person mapping out a process\" \/><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" id=\"2\" class=\"size-full wp-image-22863 aligncenter lazyload\" src=\"https:\/\/michiganvirtual.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/process-mapping.svg\" alt=\"illustration of person mapping out a process\" \/><\/noscript><\/a><\/p>\n<h2><b>What types of summer learning programs should I offer?<\/b><\/h2>\n<p>For many, \u201csummer school\u201d brings to mind a slew of preconceived notions and misconceptions. In popular media, for example, summer school is often presented in a punitive light, something students are forced to complete as a form of remedial education.<\/p>\n<p>But in reality \u2014 at least in the way many of our partner schools implement summer learning programs \u2014 this couldn\u2019t be further from the truth. The umbrella concept of summer learning has evolved far beyond credit recovery and has come to include everything from:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Traditional face-to-face classes taken over the summer<\/li>\n<li>Online summer courses<\/li>\n<li>Kindergarten readiness programs<\/li>\n<li>Events at the local community center or library<\/li>\n<li>Practice workbooks<\/li>\n<li>Reading challenges<\/li>\n<li>Apps and video games with educational content<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Part of the beauty in summer learning lies in its flexibility. You can pick and choose the options you\u2019re able to offer that fit your staffing capacity, budget, and the needs of your students at different grade levels.<\/p>\n<h6>Take Northville Public Schools as an example.<\/h6>\n<p>Over the past several years, they\u2019ve taken great strides to grow the quantity and quality of summer learning options they offer to local students. A few of the options they offer include:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><b>A face-to-face kindergarten readiness program<br \/>\n<\/b><em>Designed to help students transition into kindergarten the following year<\/em><\/li>\n<li><b>4 face-to-face courses in civics, economics, honors geometry, and PE\/Health<br \/>\n<\/b><em>Typically with 25-30 enrollments each<\/em><\/li>\n<li><b>Online courses through <i>Michigan Virtual<br \/>\n<\/i><\/b><em>With over 1,000 enrollments from both Northville students and interested students from surrounding districts<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h6>Trust your own expertise<\/h6>\n<p>When it comes to your district, you know what\u2019s best for your students. While popular subjects may have enough demand to justify a face-to-face summer section, the strict scheduling of this model can be difficult for some families\u2019 summer schedules, particularly if their students have travel plans, extracurricular camps, or will be working over the summer.<\/p>\n<p>On the other hand, some students may be too young or simply not ready for the kind of self-directed learning that the online environment necessitates and benefit from having onsite options.<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>\u201cI think that face-to-face is really important for some students who just might not be ready for online,\u201d says Dr. Sandra Brock, director of instructional programs and services at Northville. \u00a0\u201cThat being said, we have a variety of different families here. The online model really allows them to travel during the summer and be flexible and self-paced. For students who are recovering credits <i>and <\/i>students who are really trying to accelerate.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/michiganvirtual.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/checklist.svg\"><img decoding=\"async\" id=\"3\" class=\"size-full wp-image-22864 aligncenter lazyload\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-src=\"https:\/\/michiganvirtual.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/checklist.svg\" alt=\"illustration of student checking off to-do list\" \/><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" id=\"3\" class=\"size-full wp-image-22864 aligncenter lazyload\" src=\"https:\/\/michiganvirtual.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/checklist.svg\" alt=\"illustration of student checking off to-do list\" \/><\/noscript><\/a><\/p>\n<h2><b>What type of students typically take summer courses?<\/b><\/h2>\n<p>Historically, summer learning has been associated with credit recovery. This makes sense since students who fail courses during the academic school year need to make them up, and summer break provides them with ample opportunity to do so.<\/p>\n<p>But as research and awareness on the <a href=\"https:\/\/michiganvirtual.org\/blog\/how-to-avoid-the-summer-slide-without-giving-up-your-hard-earned-break\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">\u201csummer slide\u201d<\/a> grows, many have begun thinking about summer break differently, reimagining it as an opportunity for flexible and continued growth rather than a vacation from learning itself.<\/p>\n<p>Increasingly, we have found students participating in summer learning as a means of <i>credit acceleration <\/i>rather than <i>credit recovery. <\/i>In our webinar, both Northville and Brighton express witnessing a massive growth in the number of students taking online summer courses for credit acceleration.<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>\u201cWe\u2019re seeing more of our advanced students taking summer courses, and we\u2019ve had an increase in early graduates who are getting into college earlier. We\u2019ve gotten to the point where the right kids are taking the right courses,\u201d says Henry Vecchioni, principal of Brighton High School.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>\u201cThe number one reason for students to take credit ahead,\u201d he explains, \u201chas always been to open up more room in their schedules and create flexibility, since there are so many requirements now. It really has allowed them to take the courses that they want at the next level.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"lead\"><b><i>Keep reading to learn more in, <\/i><\/b><a href=\"https:\/\/michiganvirtual.org\/blog\/seven-reasons-why-your-high-achieving-students-benefit-from-online-summer-school-options\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><b><i>\u201c7 reasons why your high-achieving students deserve online summer learning options.\u201d<\/i><\/b><\/a><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/michiganvirtual.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/growth.svg\"><img decoding=\"async\" id=\"4\" class=\"size-full wp-image-22865 aligncenter lazyload\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-src=\"https:\/\/michiganvirtual.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/growth.svg\" alt=\"illustration of chart indicating growth \" \/><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" id=\"4\" class=\"size-full wp-image-22865 aligncenter lazyload\" src=\"https:\/\/michiganvirtual.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/growth.svg\" alt=\"illustration of chart indicating growth \" \/><\/noscript><\/a><\/p>\n<h2><b>What indicators of success should I look for? <\/b><\/h2>\n<p>Student success rates for summer learning vary based on students\u2019 unique motivations for enrollment.<\/p>\n<p>When interviewed for our webinar, representatives from both Northville and Brighton both consistently have found high pass rates \u2014 between \u00a090-95 percent pass \u2014 among students who take online courses for <i>credit acceleration.<\/i><\/p>\n<p>This number, however, is typically more variable among <i>credit recovery<\/i> populations, due to the complexities of each student\u2019s unique situation.<\/p>\n<p>That being said, both schools emphasized another important variable of success:<\/p>\n<p><b>Growth.<\/b><\/p>\n<blockquote><p>\u201cThe best PR for this is the students themselves,\u201d says Vecchioni. \u201cIf the kids are coming back, you\u2019re doing something right.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/michiganvirtual.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/teacher.svg\"><img decoding=\"async\" id=\"5\" class=\"size-full wp-image-22866 aligncenter lazyload\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-src=\"https:\/\/michiganvirtual.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/teacher.svg\" alt=\"\" \/><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" id=\"5\" class=\"size-full wp-image-22866 aligncenter lazyload\" src=\"https:\/\/michiganvirtual.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/teacher.svg\" alt=\"\" \/><\/noscript><\/a><\/p>\n<h2><b>What kind of support systems should I implement?<\/b><\/h2>\n<p>Under the traditional summer school model, students return to their classrooms and are instructed by a teacher in a manner that\u2019s familiar to them.<\/p>\n<p><b>When it comes to online learning, however, this support system looks a little bit different.<\/b><\/p>\n<p>When reflecting upon their high student success rates for online learners, both Dr. Brock and Vecchioni were clear to signify how crucial it has been to have dedicated <i>mentors<\/i> supporting their online summer learners.<\/p>\n<p>Though we can\u2019t speak for all online learning providers, our courses at <i>Michigan Virtual <\/i>include a highly qualified, Michigan-certified teacher who is an expert in their subject matter. Because of this, the work of<i> content instruction<\/i>, <i>providing feedback, <\/i>and <i>grading student work <\/i>does not fall squarely on the mentor\u2019s shoulders.<\/p>\n<p><b>Rather, the mentor provides a unique, but critical support for the online learner by serving as: <\/b><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>A steward of the student\u2019s progress<\/li>\n<li>A caring liaison between student, teacher, and parent, and<\/li>\n<li>A face-to-face connection, if needed<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<blockquote><p>\u201cThe way that we implement our program,\u201d explains Dr. Brock, \u201cthe kids have an onsite Northville high school teacher \u2014 we call them teacher-mentors \u2014 who are available all summer at one of our schools in the computer lab. Therefore, they have a highly qualified online teacher AND a Northville High School teacher who is supporting them if they need it. I think this definitely helps with our success rates.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>We were fortunate to have Lynette Daig \u2014 who is a certified math teacher at Brighton High School and the recipient of our 2016 Mentor of the Year award \u2014 \u00a0join us for our webinar.<\/p>\n<p><b>When it comes to best practices for supporting online learners over the summer, she says:<\/b><\/p>\n<p>\u201cI try to start off the summer with a good, strong start. I give students a very detailed email outline and informational flyer about everything they need to know for the summer. I check their scores and results, and if I see that kids are struggling, I\u2019ll send them screenshots and say, \u2018This is the area you need to work on.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>\u201cYou have to keep a close eye on the students,\u201d she says, \u201cto monitor them and keep them and their parents posted about where they are and what they need to do to reach their final goal.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><b>The truth is that \u2014 for online learners \u2014 a diligent mentor can have a big impact on student success. <\/b><\/p>\n<p>\u201cSometimes, online communication sans a face-to-face conversation can be challenging\u201d says Dr. Brock. \u201cOur mentors are really good at communicating with students, but now we\u2019ve been CC-ing the parents, just so everyone\u2019s on the same page.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>For both schools, dedicating the time and resources necessary to implement these supports has been reflected in their high student success rates.<\/p>\n<p class=\"lead\"><b><i>Check out our <\/i><\/b><a href=\"http:\/\/mvlri.org\/guides\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\"><b><i>free guides to online learning<\/i><\/b><\/a><b><i> to learn more about research-based, best practices for supporting online learners. If you find these resources helpful, considering linking them out to students, parents, mentors, and staff at your school. <\/i><\/b><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/michiganvirtual.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/breaking-barriers.svg\"><img decoding=\"async\" id=\"6\" class=\"size-full wp-image-22867 aligncenter lazyload\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-src=\"https:\/\/michiganvirtual.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/breaking-barriers.svg\" alt=\"illustration of woman breaking down barriers\" \/><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" id=\"6\" class=\"size-full wp-image-22867 aligncenter lazyload\" src=\"https:\/\/michiganvirtual.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/breaking-barriers.svg\" alt=\"illustration of woman breaking down barriers\" \/><\/noscript><\/a><\/p>\n<h2><b>What are common challenges that schools face when setting up summer learning programs?<\/b><\/h2>\n<p>When it comes to traditional, face-to-face programming, both Northville and Brighton express that it\u2019s difficult for many students to work class times into their busy schedules.<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>\u201cWe have too many students who cannot follow a traditional schedule,\u201d says Vecchioni, \u201cwhich is why we have been really embracing the online model.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><b>With online learning, a different set of challenges arise. <\/b><\/p>\n<p>For some students, the temptation to procrastinate is strong.<\/p>\n<p>At Northville, \u2014 where students are required to come take their final exam proctored by a mentor \u2014 school computer labs become busy spaces in August, right before the school year starts.<\/p>\n<p>This is another reason that mentors play such an important role in keeping students on track throughout the summer, so they are not rushing to complete at the end of the term.<\/p>\n<p><b>Another challenge:<\/b><\/p>\n<blockquote><p>\u201cAcademic honesty can be an issue, and we do have to follow our Board Policy,\u201d says Dr. Brock. \u201cWe\u2019re very clear about our expectations up front. . . But we also have students come to the school and take their final onsite, which helps with that academic integrity and honesty piece.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>In our online courses, we take academic honesty very seriously, and our Michigan-certified online teachers are trained to use tools which detect plagiarism to help mitigate any potential issues as well. The online teacher, mentor, student, and parent work as a team to make sure every student is supported and thriving.<\/p>\n<p><b>Despite the challenges, however, both schools are clear in echoing that the pros outweigh the cons. <\/b><\/p>\n<p>At the end of the summer, it\u2019s worth it to have students who are able to make room in their schedule for AP courses or dual enrollment, recover credits, and move forward toward their goals.<\/p>\n<p>Students and parents in their districts express immense gratitude for having these opportunities.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/michiganvirtual.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/payment-2.svg\"><img decoding=\"async\" id=\"7\" class=\"size-full wp-image-22873 aligncenter lazyload\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-src=\"https:\/\/michiganvirtual.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/payment-2.svg\" alt=\"illustration of people holding up a credit card\" \/><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" id=\"7\" class=\"size-full wp-image-22873 aligncenter lazyload\" src=\"https:\/\/michiganvirtual.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/payment-2.svg\" alt=\"illustration of people holding up a credit card\" \/><\/noscript><\/a><\/p>\n<h2><b>Who pays for summer learning programs?<\/b><\/h2>\n<p>Though pay models for summer learning vary from district to district, both Northville and Brighton structure their programs so that parents are responsible for course costs.<\/p>\n<p>This cost is critical for providing the support systems that students need to succeed. For both of these programs, the cost of courses is used to pay mentors a stipend and keep a lab space open during the summer.<\/p>\n<p>To ensure equitable access, however, both Northville and Brighton offer scholarship programs for students whose families cannot afford the cost of summer learning.<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>\u201cWe have a process to support every student who asks for financial assistance,\u201d says Dr. Brock. \u201cWe try to make sure everyone has access to summer programming that wants it.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/michiganvirtual.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/chat.svg\"><img decoding=\"async\" id=\"8\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-22879 lazyload\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-src=\"https:\/\/michiganvirtual.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/chat.svg\" alt=\"illustration of chat boxes\" \/><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" id=\"8\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-22879 lazyload\" src=\"https:\/\/michiganvirtual.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/chat.svg\" alt=\"illustration of chat boxes\" \/><\/noscript><\/a><\/p>\n<h2>How do you inform students and parents about their options?<\/h2>\n<blockquote><p>\u201cUpfront communication with parents is really pivotal to our program.\u201d says Dr. Brock from Northville. \u201cHaving everything posted \u2014 especially online since we\u2019re in such a digital era \u2014 saves us from a lot of email and parent phone calls. We really try to have everything \u2014 including the pamphlet, the FAQs, the contact info \u2014 all in one spot. I probably copy-and-paste that link 300 times between now and June 16th.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>Every year, Northville Public Schools updates a few different key communications for parents and students:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><b>Parent Meeting <\/b>\u2014 An annual meeting where parents are invited to ask questions and learn about more how online learning works and what the expectations for learning will be, etc.<\/li>\n<li><b>Co-branded pamphlet \u2014 <\/b>A catalog co-created between Northville and <i>Michigan Virtual <\/i>that overviews courses offered \u2014 both online and face-to-face \u2014 as well as key contact and registration information.<\/li>\n<li><b>Summer school webpage \u2014<\/b> A webpage that provides all key information relevant to summer school, including FAQs, downloadable versions of pamphlets, and who you should contact if you have questions.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Particularly for online summer learners, she emphasizes, these communication channels are critical for helping students and parents acclimate to the world of online learning and its expectations.<\/p>\n<p class=\"lead\"><b><i>For schools who offer online courses over the summer, we\u2019ve created \u00a0a <\/i><\/b><a href=\"https:\/\/michiganvirtual.org\/summer-school-communication-kit\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><b><i>summer school communication kit<\/i><\/b><\/a><b><i> to help them spend less time writing communication materials and more time doing what they do best \u2014 helping students! Check it out!<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/michiganvirtual.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/sharing-news.svg\"><img decoding=\"async\" id=\"9\" class=\"size-full wp-image-22869 aligncenter lazyload\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-src=\"https:\/\/michiganvirtual.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/sharing-news.svg\" alt=\"illustration of man standing with megaphone sending out paper airplanes\" \/><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" id=\"9\" class=\"size-full wp-image-22869 aligncenter lazyload\" src=\"https:\/\/michiganvirtual.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/sharing-news.svg\" alt=\"illustration of man standing with megaphone sending out paper airplanes\" \/><\/noscript><\/a><\/p>\n<h2><b>What advice can you offer me?<\/b><\/h2>\n<p>We asked both Dr. Brock and Vecchioni what advice they have for other Michigan schools looking to start a summer learning program or expanding their existing programming.<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>\u201cTalk to your stakeholders first,\u201d says Dr. Brock of Northville. \u201cSee what the needs are for summer education. It\u2019s really important that courses are offered that the students want to take, and this differs from district to district. Gauge what the needs are for students in your area, and then make sure that planning and logistics are very clear. People are a little bit less connected during the summer, so the more that you can be very organized and clear with your communication the better.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><b>And from Vecchioni? <\/b><\/p>\n<blockquote><p>\u201cThe bottom line is about the people you have working for you in this. Summer learning programs are only as good as the people overseeing it. I think we\u2019re lucky in Brighton to have Lynette \u2014 and I think Sandra is lucky with the staff that she has in Northville. If you\u2019re going to start a summer learning program, <i>invest <\/i>in that staff member. Don\u2019t come up short.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/michiganvirtual.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/garden.svg\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-22870 aligncenter lazyload\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-src=\"https:\/\/michiganvirtual.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/garden.svg\" alt=\"illustration of woman watering her garden\" \/><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-22870 aligncenter lazyload\" src=\"https:\/\/michiganvirtual.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/garden.svg\" alt=\"illustration of woman watering her garden\" \/><\/noscript><\/a><\/p>\n<h2><b>Looking to set up a summer learning program? <\/b><\/h2>\n<p>If you\u2019re interested in offering students in your district online summer options, we can help you get started with <a href=\"https:\/\/michiganvirtual.org\/blog\/step-by-step-guide-for-setting-up-your-online-summer-school\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">our step-by-step guide to setting up a successful online learning program.<\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"lead\"><strong>Learn more about our summer offerings by visiting: <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/michiganvirtual.org\/summer\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><b>michiganvirtual.org\/summer<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2><b>Other resources you might find helpful:<\/b><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/michiganvirtual.org\/blog\/seven-reasons-why-your-high-achieving-students-benefit-from-online-summer-school-options\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">7 ways taking online summer course benefits your high-achieving students <\/a><b>[Blog article]<\/b><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/michiganvirtual.org\/blog\/how-to-avoid-the-summer-slide-without-giving-up-your-hard-earned-break\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">How to prevent the \u201csummer slide\u201d without giving up your hard-earned break <\/a><b>[Blog article]<\/b><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/michiganvirtual.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/10-Reasons-Students-Take-Our-Online-Summer-Courses.png\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">10 Reasons Students Take Our Online Summer Courses<\/a> <b>[Infographic]<\/b><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/michiganvirtual.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/4-types-of-online-courses-your-students-can-take-this-summer.png\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">4 Types of Online Courses Your Students Can Take This Summer<\/a> <b>[Infographic]<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Summer brain drain isn\u2019t a myth. On average, it is predicted that students lose about one month\u2019s worth of learning over the summer.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":22861,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_coblocks_attr":"","_coblocks_dimensions":"","_coblocks_responsive_height":"","_coblocks_accordion_ie_support":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[14459],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-22772","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-summer-learning"],"acf":[],"featured_image_src":"https:\/\/michiganvirtual.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/undraw_trip_dv9f-1.svg","featured_image_src_square":"https:\/\/michiganvirtual.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/undraw_trip_dv9f-1.svg","author_info":{"display_name":"Michigan Virtual","author_link":"https:\/\/michiganvirtual.org\/author\/mivuorg\/"},"publishpress_future_action":{"enabled":false,"date":"2025-06-27 09:28:39","action":"change-status","newStatus":"draft","terms":[],"taxonomy":"category"},"publishpress_future_workflow_manual_trigger":{"enabledWorkflows":[]},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/michiganvirtual.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/22772","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/michiganvirtual.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/michiganvirtual.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/michiganvirtual.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/michiganvirtual.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=22772"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/michiganvirtual.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/22772\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/michiganvirtual.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/22861"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/michiganvirtual.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=22772"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/michiganvirtual.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=22772"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/michiganvirtual.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=22772"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}