| Students’ reading skills are closely linked to academic success; however, several students fall behind, especially during the summer months when no academic expectations are present. The summer months are also a time when the achievement gap increases between students from lower income and middle to upper income households. Researchers examined the effect a three-week summer reading program had on elementary students’ oral reading fluency scores. There was a statistically significant increase in students’ scores from the first day of the program to the last day, measured through administration of curriculum-based measurements. Researchers also investigated participants’ perceptions of reading and found a majority of summer reading program participants had a prior enjoyment of reading. Findings suggest that supplemental reading programs in the summer do increase literacy skills, thus decreasing the decline and equalizing opportunities for students from all backgrounds to succeed. |
