Excerpt
GWEN IFILL (Newshour): Now: the first in a pair of stories this week on what some schools are doing to make sure students don't lose ground during the summer.
The NewsHour's special correspondent for education, John Merrow, reports about efforts in Rhode Island to reduce the academic gap between the wealthy and the poor.
JOHN MERROW: Summer is a time when some kids get to go to camp, travel with their families, explore museums.
It's also a time when social and economic inequalities are evident. Many children in low-income communities miss out on these stimulating opportunities. They spend summer break in their neighborhood, hanging out.
GIRL: I don't do a lot of math in the summer. And I don't think my skills are improving.
BOY: My friends just sit home and watch TV. Yes, they don't do much.
JOHN MERROW: This difference in summer experiences has serious consequences. Educators call it summer learning loss. Children who don't have stimulating summer experiences forget more of the math and reading skills they need to do well in school.
By the time summer ends, the achievement gap between rich and poor is actually wider than it was in June. So, is summer school the answer?
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