As the school year ends, many families across our region will look forward to a fun-filled summer for their children. Yet, for many young people, especially those from low-income households, summer is a time when affordable childcare is scarce, and opportunity and achievement gaps are widened.
At the Princeton Area Community Foundation, we believe every child deserves to thrive year-round. That’s why, for the third consecutive year, we are investing in summer initiatives and calling on our fellow community leaders, policymakers, and funders to join us to help expand these vital programs.
This year, the Community Foundation awarded $487,500 in Summer Initiative grants to 21 outstanding local nonprofits that are creating programs to prevent summer learning loss and provide safe, enriching environments and affordable childcare for working families.
We’re able to help fund these wonderful summer programs because of generous donors in our community, and we’d like to thank everyone who contributed.
Yet, every year, we find that our nonprofit partners could serve more children if additional funding had been available. That is true again this year, leaving some of our most vulnerable families without viable options.
The need remains profound.
State data shows many of our students could benefit from summer academic support.
According to the latest available School Performance Reports from the New Jersey Department of Education, about one-third of public-school students in Mercer County are economically disadvantaged. This economic vulnerability is compounded by academic challenges.
The 2023-2024 report shows that in Mercer County’s K-12 districts, proficiency rates in English Language Arts (ELA) varied dramatically, from a low of less than 10 percent in one district to a high of 77 percent in another. Four districts had proficiency rates under 50 percent.
For third graders — who started kindergarten in September 2020, during the pandemic — the ELA proficiency rates are more concerning: in six districts, less than half of those children met expectations.
This matters deeply.
Reading proficiently by the end of third grade is a critical predictor of future academic success, including high school graduation rates. According to the National Summer Learning Association, “by fifth grade, summer learning loss can leave low-income students 2.5 to 3 years behind their peers,” with lifelong consequences.
These challenges show that students need to be supported year-round.
That’s why we’re partnering with several local school districts to transform several schools into Community Schools, an evidence-based model that provides support to students and their families, addressing not just academics, but other needs, including health and social services. Community Schools have been shown to improve attendance, academic achievement and graduate rates, according to The Learning Policy Institute.
Many of our grantee partners are providing similar wrap-around services to children and their families through their summer programs, including academic support, fun activities, transportation, meals and trauma-informed care.
Ensuring that all young people in our region have access to enriching summer programs and year-round support is our community’s collective responsibility. If we work together, we can close opportunity gaps and build a stronger future where every child has a chance to thrive.
Mathieu Nelessen is the President & CEO of the Princeton Area Community Foundation. Nelida Valentin is the Community Foundation’s Vice President of Grants and Programs.
