# The State of Summer Programs in Seattle: Working to Increase Access and Impact

- Canonical: https://33rdsquare.com/the-state-of-summer-programs-in-seattle-working-to-increase-access-and-impact/
- Published: 2024-03-12
- Author: Charlene Farwell
- Categories: [School](https://33rdsquare.com/category/education/school/)

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Over the past decade, summer programs have grown exponentially across the country, with an estimated 60-70% of U.S. families now enrolling their children in some type of summer program each year according to research from Johns Hopkins University. As greater attention has turned toward the impact of summer learning loss and the role of out-of-school time in supporting youth development, summer programs have emerged as an instrumental solution.

Here in Seattle, this surge in participation reflects the wealth of high-quality summer program options available to families across interests ranging from academic enrichment to sports and technology. However, socioeconomic barriers continue to limit access to affordable programs for many working-class families. As a higher education reform expert focused on issues of equity and access, I provide an overview of the current summer program landscape in Seattle along with data-driven recommendations for expanding opportunity moving forward.

## Surging Participation, Persisting Barriers

Participation rates in Seattle summer programs have risen rapidly – with one recent survey of 500 parents commissioned by the Seattle Education Alliance finding that 86% enrolled their children in a program last year, compared to just 65% five years prior.

However, enrollment continues to skew disproportionately towards middle and high-income families. The same survey found less than 50% of low-income families were able to access a summer program for their child, with the cost being the most prohibitive barrier.

Additionally, while Seattle offers summer programs catering to an incredibly diverse range of interests, areas like academic enrichment, STEM and arts programs are primarily accessible only to more affluent families. Outdoor adventure, sports camps, faith-based and municipal park programs tend to have lower barriers to access.

**Table 1. Comparison of 2023 Summer Program Participation Rates by Annual Household Income**

| Income Range | % Enrolled in Summer Program |
| --- | --- |
| <$50k | 32% |
| $50k-$100k | 63% |
| $100k+ | 93% |

There is a distinct equity issue when the students who would benefit the most from supplemental academic opportunities outside the traditional school year have the least access.

## The Impact: Why Summer Programs Matter

While all youth can benefit socially, emotionally and physically from the opportunities provided by summer camps and programs, they play an even more crucial role in preventing summer learning loss for disadvantaged students.

The scope of impact summer programs enable is far-reaching:

- Upwards of two-thirds of the 9-month academic achievement gap between higher and lower income youth can be attributed to unequal access to summer learning opportunities
- 95% of public school teachers reported students returning after summer break with academic skills slipped, especially in math and spelling
- Studies show students who attended summer programs had improved attitudes toward learning, higher graduation rates, and increased likelihood of pursuing a college education

Additionally, summer programs help youth build social-emotional skills, discover passions, and explore possible career interests – contributing to their overall development and love for learning.

**_"Summer programs empower students to have an active voice in determining and achieving their dreams."_** – Former Secretary of Education, Arne Duncan

In Seattle, nonprofits like the [Women‘s University Club](https://www.washington.edu/womenscenter/programs/university-club-summer-camp-fund/) Foundation and [Hubbard Foundation](https://www.hubbardfoundation.org/) provide scholarship funding to hundreds of low-income youth each summer. However, the scholarships available continue to pale in comparison to the need given Seattle‘s rising levels of childhood poverty.

There is a moral imperative for Seattle‘s education, government, and civic leaders to adopt an "all hands on deck" approach to confronting the summer opportunity gap.

## Recommendations for Expanding Access

As an expert focused on higher education reform and issues of equitable access, I recommend the following initiatives for Seattle:

### District & City Level

- **Earmark new funding streams** specifically for providing summer program scholarships + transportation assistance to high-need families
- **Expand supervision ratios** for municipal summer playground programs to increase number of low-income students served
- **Develop citywide summer program partnership networks** linking schools and community centers with local summer camps/programs to coordinate enrollment

### State Level

- **Launch matching grant programs** where state funding matches private sector and philanthropic summer program scholarships
- **Introduce new social impact bond programs** that direct funding to evidence-based summer learning models to scale programs demonstrating measurable effectiveness
- **Incentivize joint university-district summer programs** leveraging college students to minimally staff academic enrichment programs held at Title 1 schools

### Federal Level

- **Double funding for Americorps** to expand corps members serving as teachers/counselors in summer programs

The research on consequences of unequal access to summer learning opportunities is clear. With coordinated leadership prioritizing equitable access to summer programs as a core education policy objective in coming years, Seattle could pioneer innovative models that begin to bridge the summer opportunity divide.

By investing in our youth today through summer programs, we are ultimately investing in Seattle‘s future.

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Source: [The State of Summer Programs in Seattle: Working to Increase Access and Impact](https://33rdsquare.com/the-state-of-summer-programs-in-seattle-working-to-increase-access-and-impact/)