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Poor kids can slip academically

Carrie Porter

Published July 11, 2008 at 12:05 a.m.

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Isaiah Martin, 7, left, and Cody Schier, 7, read Thursday at Whittier Elementary School in Denver. More than 900 students are taking part in a program called Summer Scholars that tries to prevent kids from falling behind academically during vacation.

Photo by Ken Papaleo / The Rocky

Isaiah Martin, 7, left, and Cody Schier, 7, read Thursday at Whittier Elementary School in Denver. More than 900 students are taking part in a program called Summer Scholars that tries to prevent kids from falling behind academically during vacation.

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Summer slides occur in more than just water.

During summer months, poor children fall behind academically more than wealthy children do.

In fact, two-thirds of the learning gap between rich and poor can be attributed to unequal summer learning activities, research shows.

Education activists call this the "summer slide" for students in Denver Public Schools.

Members of Great Education Colorado and Summer Scholars met at Whittier Elementary School to address the issue Thursday, national "Summer Learning Day."

Carol Boigon, Denver city councilwoman, and John Lange, superintendent of Adams 14 School District, spoke of the urgent need for funding for summer enrichment.

"It's not controversial," said Boigon, a longtime literacy supporter.

"We know it works, and we're not doing it enough because we need funding," she said. "If this was medicine it would be malpractice."

The speakers addressed the pending STEP UP (Summer Term Education Program for Upward Performance) Act.

Congress has authorized the act but has not provided the funds for programs such as Summer Scholars.

Summer Scholars provides a six-week summer school and recreation program for more than 900 at-risk Colorado children from 20 elementary schools.

In Classroom 121 of Whittier Elementary School, a Summer Scholars class of first-graders practiced their reading skills on Thursday.

Divided into groups according to skill level, the students worked together and played games.

The program's low student- teacher ratio and hands-on approach means that 21 percent to 36 percent of students achieve grade-level reading by the final week.

Comments

  • July 11, 2008

    6:55 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    gary writes:

    Hey, maybe it is their IQ's??
    "Unequal Summer learning activities", just what is that?

    Do the libraries shutdown or ban "poor students" from entering and using their services during the Summer?

    Those that want to learn...will...the ones that do not..will never learn!

    You can dump all the money you want at people that do not want to learn and it will do no good at all.

    Nuff Said!

  • July 11, 2008

    1:21 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    dqsp writes:

    Gary,
    Am I to assume you then fall into the latter of the two categories?
    These children are in this situation for a myriad of reasons most of which are not of their making. Why on earth would it be inadvisable to help them achieve and give them choices in their future?

    As for the program, it works because of dedicated teachers and small class size. If only DPS could see that small class size works during the other three seasons as well.

  • July 11, 2008

    1:29 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    gary writes:

    dqsp

    But do they teach it in Spanish...we must have bi-lingual education?

    You assume... therefore you do not know!

    You and others need 12 months a year tutoring or else you can not learn or retain anything.

    The libraries are open year round for those that want to learn!

    Nuff Said!

  • July 11, 2008

    1:32 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    gary writes:

    dqsp

    By the way, do you not know your name or ashamed of your real name.

    Nuff Said!

    Gary...my real name!

  • July 12, 2008

    4:40 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    solar_satellite writes:

    What's the point of making a thoughtful comment if it is simply deleted? Where is my post?

  • July 15, 2008

    11:43 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    fastnloose writes:

    Solar the politically correct police probably got you.Hope you didn't say anything about calling minority's under performing.