The Effects of Summer School on School Readiness Skills of Children From Low-Income Families

• In Event: 70.067 - Poster Session 15
  In Poster Session: 70.067-2 - Literacy: Cognitive and Affective Factors

Abstract

The purpose of the current study was to examine the immediate and long term effects of an intensive summer school program provided to preschoolers before they transitioned to kindergarten through a federally funded early literacy project. All participating children were from low-income families. The intervention was a 6-week summer transition program with 4 full school days each week. This program was developed following scientifically based early literacy practices as part of a larger funded project. Pre- and post-tests showed that participating children’s early literacy skills were improved as shown in Upper-case Letter Recognition, Print and Word Awareness, and Name Writing. Participating children also performed better than their peers who did not participate in the summer program in similar literacy areas.

Authors

• Yaoying Xu, Virginia Commonwealth University

• Serra De Arment, Virginia Commonwealth University

• Mary Ellen Huennekens, Virginia Commonwealth University