CONCLUSION

Summer is a special time in the life of a child. Those long daylight hours, free of the regular school-year demands, can open up opportunities for family travel, leisure, and warm-weather recreation. Learning fits into this sunny picture, of course, whether it's through informal outings, leisure reading, or time to explore special interests.

For many children, summer also offers time to pursue more formal learning opportunities. Although summer school is not for everyone, it is an increasingly popular option for several reasons. Working families need safe places for their children to be when school is not in session. Students who are struggling to meet standards during the regular academic year can benefit from summer school, especially if it's designed to take advantage of effective teaching strategies. Students with a specialized interest, such as the arts or technology, can take learning deeper during summer enrichment programs.

Many questions about the most effective use and organization of summer school are still being explored by researchers. Promising practices are emerging from recent studies, however, and can guide development of effective programs.

Funding summer programming may require creative thinking by local schools and communities. In many locales, collaboration between schools and community-based organizations is providing the means to stretch local resources so that summer is an effective, engaging season of learning.