Supporting the Summer Reading of Urban Youth: An Evaluation of the Baltimore SummerREADS Program

• In Event: Reporting the Results of Reading Interventions

Abstract

This paper presents an evaluation of the first two years of implementation of the Baltimore SummerREADS program during the summers of 2011 and 2012. Baltimore SummerREADS is a book distribution program, modeled on the successful voluntary summer reading and book distribution programs implemented by James Kim at Harvard University and was implemented as a partnership between the Abell Foundation and Baltimore City Public Schools. The paper examines the efficacy of the program to support for reading achievement of low-income and low-resource elementary schools in Baltimore City. The paper also provides an analysis of implementation of the program and lessons learned that could be useful to other organizations that are interested in implementing similar programs.

Authors

• Marc L. Stein, Johns Hopkins University

• Bonnie Legro