National Campaign for Summer Learning. Together we can ensure that every child is safe, healthy, and engaged in learning during the summer.

In the summer of 2009, the National Summer Learning Association, with the generous support of the Atlantic Philanthropies, launched a National Campaign for Summer Learning, with the goal of increasing public investment in summer learning programs by $50 million by 2012. We are pleased to announce that we are already more than halfway to that goal less than one year into the campaign. Click here for an overview of new public investment in summer learning programs that have involved the Association.

The Champion of Summer Learning award recognizes educators and policymakers for their efforts to make summer learning opportunities accessible to low-income children. Read more to learn about the 2009 awardees.

Jeff Smink, National Summer Learning Association vice president of policy, presents Champion of Summer Learning award to U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan, for encouraging school districts and states to use American Recovery and Reinvestment Act dollars to educate children over the summer. As superintendent of Chicago’s public schools, Duncan expanded summer learning programs, notably the Keep Kids Learning initiative that provides academic, social and recreation enrichment for students in grades two to 12.

Jeanette Hopkins and her grandson Tyler Ogden presented Senator Patty Murray, D-Wash., a 2009 Champion of Summer Learning Award for introducing legislation over the last two years to create summer jobs for low-income youth. This year, Senator Murray helped to include $1.2 billion in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to create one million summer jobs for young people. She is also a co-sponsor of STEP UP. Hopkins manages a summer learning program in Coulee Dam, WA, which Ogden attends.

Rep. David Obey, D-Wisc., received a 2009 Champion of Summer Learning Award for his leadership and support of funding for Title I and 21st Century Community Learning Centers. Wausau school district principals Marla Berg and Steve Miller traveled to the nation’s capital along with program participant Gabriela Zuniga, and her mother, Claudia Antolik. Rep. Obey has been an active supporter of Wausau’s innovative summer learning program.

Read a letter and the National Summer Learning Association’s policy brief: ARRA, School Improvement, and Summer Learning - Funding Blueprint for States and Districts, sent in September 2009 to policymakers in a 50 states by the National Summer Learning Association.

Superintendent Dr. Jerry Weast received a 2009 Champion of Summer Learning Award for his leadership and support of Montgomery County, Maryland public schools' ELO-SAIL and ELO-CARE programs. These innovative programs give nearly 8,000 children in 30 Title I schools 20 extra days of learning in July. At a time when many school districts face budget cuts to summer programs, MCPS accessed $1.2 million in ARRA funding to expand the program to serve more students. The county also has been a leader in providing free nutritious summer lunches to low-income students.