As School Begins, So Does the Battle Against the Summer Slide

Black children in poverty experience greater summer learning loss than others because of systemic disparities, says Xavier University's president. Bridging the gap is vital.

As an HBCU president, I witness the gifts of brilliant Black minds. I watch students matriculate through rigorous coursework and continue to grow into vital members of society, positively contributing to the world around us. I am keenly aware that the education we offer to our students is also a benefit to the larger community and the nation, and that we have a need for their precious talents.

But as we enter a new school year, I am thinking of all students who could not avail themselves of opportunities for learning growth during their summer break. I think of the budding talent I saw on the campus of Xavier University of Louisiana engaged in our summer pre-collegiate programs and wonder what we would lose if these students could not be here.

I think of the investment it takes to bring to reality their dreams of continuing their education. I think of the commitment of family, of community, to make the dream possible. And what support, if any, did they receive from people outside their networks? It not only takes a village to foster growth, but it also takes everyone in society, and we as a people cannot choose to play the international game by investing only in a fraction of our children.

What alarms me is the staggering learning loss students face during summer break. A 2017 study found that in southern states, over the summer, students in grades 2-9 lost an average of 25-30% of what they learned during the school year. This rate more significantly affects Black children as educational inequity often threatens their learning structures.

The myth that Black families do not seek summer learning opportunities for their children perpetuates a damaging narrative that undermines our children even more. A 2022 poll done by Learning Heroes & The Wallace Foundation shows that Black parents are more worried about their children’s learning opportunities than parents of other races. However, access, transportation, and availability of summer programming limit the participation of Black children.

The issue is not a lack of desire. Another study in 2021 demonstrated that nearly 7-in-10 Black families would enroll their children in summer programs if one were available. Cost was among the most significant factors impeding enrollment.

Simply put, the summer slide is a harsh reality that more gravely impacts students who are already at a deficit in quality education, whether due to financial or societal factors. In New Orleans, a city that is 60% Black with a poverty rate of 23.8%, poverty affects learning. It limits the opportunities to have enriching experiences such as going to a museum, visiting the library, or attending summer camp.

Minds respond to a rich environment—and are impoverished by poverty. There's certain stimulation that a child gets from a parent that an overworked parent may not have time to give because of the urgent need to secure financial means. Poverty affects nutrition and, thereby capacity to learn. It has cascading effects that actually affect the larger community. Affordability plays a huge role in narrowing the gap. We must recognize that some families can't afford the summer opportunities that enrich their minds and prepare our young people to shape our society. We must remember this, especially, at the start of the school year.

The U.S. education system gives the summer break but gives little thought to what happens during the summer months. Education is administered at the local and state levels but is a national concern. How can we elevate and enrich our children and ensure their continuing progress?

Society blames those who do not have, but we cannot let wealth or lack thereof determine whether talents and gifts will be nourished, whether the nation will benefit from the genius in second or third grades, or be deprived of its fruits. We as a nation have a need for that genius. We know that our schools are not all equal; let us not blame our young people for the deficits in their education.

As a people, we must invest in the education of every child. We can no longer afford to let wealth or race be determinants of quality education, for we have a need for these young minds. They are our future, and their gift is a gift to everyone.

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