Why do Oasis programs have such a significant impact on student achievement?
There is a solid and growing body of research suggesting that one of the main culprits responsible for the persistent underperformance of low-income children is summer break. The research suggests that children of all income levels progress at about the same pace during the nine months that school is in session, but that poor children fall behind during the summer - by as much as three months of grade-level proficiency -- because they are less likely to be engaged in stimulating activities that exercise their cognitive skills and help them retain information they have learned in the classroom. Over the course of a child's education, cumulative summer learning loss can put poor children behind by as much as two full years. This is often referred to as the "Summer Learning Gap." Oasis programs counteract summer learning loss by engaging students in enriching activities such as writing, chess, science and more, in environments that emphasize participation and fun.
In addition to taking on summer learning loss head on, Oasis programs also address "non-cognitive" abilities that have an enormous impact on children's success. Youth need positive identity, social competencies, positive values and a lifelong commitment to learning. Deficiencies in these assets lead not only to academic failure, but also to a wide range of unhealthy behaviors such as delinquency, drug use, teen pregnancy and truancy. By focusing on standardized tests, the No Child Left Behind legislation has compelled most public schools to ignore these developmental assets entirely. Through mentoring, community building and cultural and recreational programming, Oasis programs can restore much of what schools are unable to provide.
For more information on Summer Learning Loss, visit the Center for Summer Learning at Johns Hopkins University at www.summerlearning.org.