LUM Summer Students Show Strong Gains

LUM 5th Quarter Addressed the “Summer Slide”

This summer, the LUM 5th Quarter Summer Learning Program helped 74 students in Pre-K through 7th grade avoid summer learning loss—also known as the “summer slide.” The program combined academics in reading, math, and science with hands-on enrichment, recreation, and field trips.

A certified Reading Specialist used the CORE Phonics Survey to assess literacy skills. Of the 74 students, 46 were tested in the first week. Twenty-eight met or exceeded grade-level benchmarks. The remaining 18 received targeted instruction in skills like blends, CVC words, R-controlled vowels, and multisyllabic decoding. Each child received 30 minutes of daily small-group support, totaling up to 12 hours of phonics instruction. Sixteen students completed both pre- and post-assessments, some improving in more than one category, with outstanding results:

• 12 students advanced from red (intensive) to yellow (strategic)
• 13 students moved from yellow (strategic) to green (benchmark)
• 3 students progressed from red (intensive) directly to green (benchmark)

Together, collectively they gained 31 “steps of growth.” LUM 5th Quarter Summer Learning Program will expand early assessment in 2026 to deepen impact. The program’s success reflects the dedication of skilled educators and targeted instruction preparing students for a confident return to school this week. Yesterday, some of them returned to the LUM After School Program.