The effects of a summer learning program on early elementary students' reading achievement

• Main Author: Crotty, Angela M
• Format: Dissertation
• Language: English
• Published: ProQuest Dissertations & Theses 01-01-2016
• Subjects: Academic Achievement; Achievement Gap; Control Groups; Educational Change; Educational Quality; Elementary education; Elementary School Students; Experiential Learning; Federal Legislation; Grade 4; Individualized Education Programs; Individualized Instruction; Literacy; Mathematics Achievement; Mathematics Skills; Outcomes of Education; Reading Achievement; Reading Programs; Reading Skills; Reading Tests; Research Methodology; Secondary School Students; Student Participation; Summer Programs; Summer Schools; Teaching Methods; Urban Schools
• ISBN: 1339565390; 9781339565392

Over 100 years of research suggest a loss of learning occurs during the summer months, with low socioeconomic status (SES) students experiencing a more pronounced loss. In order to combat summer learning loss, increase achievement, and close the achievement gap, many schools offer summer learning programs. However, many schools are unaware of whether their local programs are effective because the programs have not been systematically and thoroughly examined using empirical evidence. The purpose of this quantitative study was to measure the effects of a single local summer learning program, in southern Cook County, Illinois, on early elementary students’ reading achievement. This study also sought to measure the effects of the program on low SES students’ reading achievement. A quasi-experimental study was conducted, using a matched pair design, to determine the effects of the summer learning program. Developmental Reading Assessment, Second Edition data was collected from before (pretest) and after (posttest) the summer learning program in 2013, 2014, and 2015. Results indicated that students who participated in the summer learning program did not outperform students who did not participate in the program. Likewise, low SES summer learning participants did not outperform their low SES peers who did not participate in the program.