Learning in the Summer

From the UCLA Center for School Mental Health:

As a recent RAND report highlights:

 "Student's skills and knowledge often deteriorate during the summer months, with low-income students facing the largest losses."

(I read about this in Malcolm Gladwell's book, The Tipping Point, as well.  It's so sad.  Low-income, middle-income and upper-income students start off at about the same level in Kinder and then the gap widens each successive year, mostly due to access to summer enrichment and tutors.  With state budget cuts leaving summer school at its most bare bones or non-existent, this seems to be a set up for failure and disparity.)

Following-up on this concern, we sent a request to folks across the country for information about:

• any examples of what communities are doing to counter summer set-backs and other problems experienced by youngster over the summer?
  
  
• any ways communities and schools have come together to create an organized and cohesive initiative that is designed to attract and benefit youngsters who are of the greatest concern?

For communities and schools that have not done much, we also asked for thoughts about who (what organization/position) is in a position to stimulate interest in developing an organized and cohesive initiative.

For anyone working, volunteering or interested in schools over the summer - any ideas?  How would you respond?