The Harvard Family Research Project separated from the Harvard Graduate School of Education to become the Global Family Research Project as of January 1, 2017. It is no longer affiliated with Harvard University.
Year-Round Learning: Continuity in Education Across Settings and Time Through Expanded Learning Opportunities
December 18, 2012
In this policy brief—the third in our series with the National Conference of State Legislatures—we explore four benefits of year-round learning. In particular, continuity in learning opportunities across time and settings allows:
- Shared resources among educational partners,
- Family and youth engagement in learning,
- Prevention of summer learning loss, and
- Coordinated systems to track and use data.
This brief provides examples of year-round learning programs. It also provides recommendations for policymakers who want to increase youth engagement in learning. Specifically, policymakers can look for opportunities to:
- Support flexible funding initiatives to cover year-round learning strategies as a whole, rather than funding them individually.
- Combine state money with funds from various other sources, which can help maximize use of public money for youth programs.
- Consider policies that encourage schools and parents to work with summer and afterschool programs to tailor programming to youth's interests and needs.
- Take into account the impact of summer learning loss on the achievement gap and the role summer programs can play in minimizing that loss.
- Find ways that schools, parents, agencies, and community partners can share student information in a secure manner.
Go to Year-Round Learning: Continuity in Education Across Settings and Time Through Expanded Learning Opportunities.
Learn more about our series on expanded learning opportunities.