Newark Public Schools Participates in National Summer Learning Day

National Summer Learning Day highlights the importance of summer learning in keeping children involved in educational, safe and healthy activities during the summer months

[Newark, NJ - July 14, 2016] Newark Public Schools (NPS) celebrated National Summer Learning Day today with students across the district, a day that highlights the importance of keeping kids learning, safe and healthy throughout the summer. In honor of National Summer Learning Day, NPS participated in an online movement that seeks to capture the importance of summer learning in the community through the use of the hashtag #SummertimeNewark.

“It is so important that our children continue their education throughout the summer months to make sure students don’t lose valuable learning time,” said Superintendent Christopher D. Cerf with NPS. “Through our Summer Plus program, along with help from partners like Newark Thrives and the Office of Expanded Learning Time, all Newark students have access to high-quality summer learning and enrichment experiences that help prepare them for a new school year in September.”

NPS students and families have access to Summer Plus, a free district-wide initiative to curb summer learning loss and provide enrichment experiences for students that will help advance their academics. In addition to Summer Plus, families have access to a number of programs offered by community organizations in Newark and greater New Jersey. In partnership with Newark Thrives! - a non-profit organization whose mission is to improve access to high-quality, out-of-school time opportunities for Newark youth - NPS provides an online catalogue of summer opportunities for students in grades PreK - 12.

National Summer Learning Day was created by the National Summer Learning Association (NSLA), a national nonprofit focused on closing the achievement gap by increasing summer learning opportunities for young people. NSLA offers expertise and support for programs and communities and advocates for summer learning as a solution for equity and excellence in education.