At-risk children have the greatest chance of lagging academically when they don’t achieve reading proficiency by grades 3 or 4—the time when they make the transition from “learning to read” to “reading to learn.” 

The Summer Literacy Initiative (SLI) is a program of the Family Services of Central Massachusetts Center for Childcare Careers. Since 2010, SLI has partnered with summer camp programs in Worcester to prevent summer learning loss, a drop in reading level during the minimum two-month period when the school year ends in June and begins again in September. To combat this, SLI’s literacy coaches implement effective literacy learning strategies in 8-10 recreational programs at 15 sites for elementary-aged children. 

75% of the SLI participants come from low-income families. At least 70% identify as children of color (black, Latinx, multiracial), 14% are on special-education-related Individualized Education Programs, 10% are English language learners, and some children are enrolled through the Department of Children and Families due to homelessness or other factors of family instability.  

Since its inception, SLI has been supported by the United Way of Central Massachusetts and the Greater Worcester Community Foundation. In 2022, the program secured additional funding from the Amelia Peabody Foundation. Through ongoing funding streams, SLI can coach upwards of 1,295 Worcester students annually. This summer, SLI prevented summer learning loss in 90% of its students. A sample of 236 children showed a gain of 8.5 words per minute by the end of the program—a clear indication they did not suffer learning loss, and instead, possibly made reading gains.

Perseverance Leads to Page-Turning Experience A very determined literacy coach at the YMCA Alden site worked with a reluctant reader for two summers. The first year, the student was “very apprehensive about literacy, and refused to participate.” He began this summer’s session in the same stubborn state of mind. In the reading group, it was a struggle just to get him to open the book, The One and Only Ivan. Yet, the coach persisted with various strategies that ultimately yielded results. By the last day, the student clearly clicked with a love of literacy! He was an enthusiastic participant and volunteered to read aloud numerous times. The coach shared the success, “I couldn’t believe he was excited and willing to participate! I was very excited and proud of him. He read beautifully!”

Participating Summer Programs:

Boys and Girls Club of Worcester     

bgcworcester.org

Boys and Girls Club of Webster-Dudley   

bgcwebsterdudley.org

Friendly House at Lakeside Housing     

friendlyhousema.org

Girls, Incorporated of Worcester       

girlsincworcester.org

Guild of St. Agnes: Granite St., Grove St., Mercy Center, Quinsigamond School.   

guildofstagnes.org

Rainbow Child Development at Camp Marshall      

rainbowcdc.com/camp

The Community Builders at Plumley Village       

plumleyvillageapts.com

Worcester Housing Authority at Great Brook Valley Camp Freedom      

worcesterha.org/frs_summerprograms

Worcester Comprehensive Education and Care at Great Brook Valley

facebook.com/worcester.comprehensive

YMCA at Alden and Camp Blanchard

ymcaofcm.org/camp-blanchard

YWCA at Camp Wind-In-The-Pines

ywcacm.org/summercamp