Every fall, teachers across California face the same challenge: students returning with gaps in reading skills after summer break. This “summer slide” is especially steep for students who were already below grade level.
📊 The evidence:
- Research from the National Summer Learning Association shows that students can lose up to 20% of their school-year reading gains over summer.
- For low-income students, the gap can be even wider, accumulating to nearly 3 years behind by middle school.
- Recent 2025 state reports confirm that reading scores dip most sharply between grades 2–4, just as foundational literacy is critical.
🍎 Why this fall is different:
With the new K–2 screening mandate and fresh state investments in literacy tools, districts have both the responsibility and opportunity to act early. The first weeks of school set the tone: intervention started in September can shift a child’s trajectory by mid-year.
✅ Strategies for success:
- Launch small-group or one-on-one reading intervention during ELOP hours.
- Use screening results to immediately place students into targeted support.
- Combine phonics-based instruction with bilingual options to meet diverse needs.
This fall, the choice is clear: either watch reading gaps widen—or turn back-to-school momentum into measurable growth. With Talentnook’s Reading Intervention, districts can ensure students move from summer loss to fall growth.