West Virginia Providing Local Grants to Expand Summer Learning Programs

West Virginia is using $33 million from its ESSER II state set-aside funds to offer Summer Student Opportunities for Learning and Engagement (Summer SOLE) grants to districts across the state. District grants will fund programs that offer summer learning experiences, with the goal of addressing students’ social-emotional and academic needs. District recipients must provide in-person summer programs that last for at least four weeks with programming on at least four days per week. Grant funding is also used to provide free transportation and meals. It is noteworthy that the state education agency also hired an extended learning coordinator to provide weekly virtual technical assistance meetings for school district grant contacts and to coordinate monitoring and data collection.

We are spotlighting this practice because it is focused on extending learning opportunities in the summer to help address pandemic-related learning loss. By offering free transportation and meals, the program can support students who otherwise could not participate.

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Reviewer Analysis

Leslie Villegas

More information is needed regarding how the state will ensure ELs are included in these summer learning experiences in linguistically and culturally appropriate ways.

EdAllies

This funding appears to strike the balance of academic and social emotional purposes to help make up for what has been lost the last few years. Providing resources to build up the infrastructure of the programming (meals/transportation, technical support) also demonstrates comprehensive planning.

New Leaders

The proposed balance between support for unfinished learning and social-emotional needs is encouraging, as well as considerations for transport and meals.

Jocelyn Pickford

I’m encouraged by the wraparound services (transportation, meals) that will broaden access. I’d like to see mention of the specific instructional materials intended for summer learning, with assurances that they are aligned to WV standards and evidence based.

The Rural Alliance

We are encouraged by the areas these grants address and that there is funding for transportation and summer meals reducing barriers for students. We are concerned that there is no mention of staff, teachers and summer educators.

The Education Trust

We are encouraged to see an extended learning program over the summer that offers additional learning opportunities and social-emotional supports. However, research suggests that the most effective extended learning programs are mandatory and offer 44 to 100 hours of programming. We encourage West Virginia to ensure this program is prioritizing students who were most impacted by the pandemic and consider making attendance mandatory.

The Bush Center

This is a smart investment in using summer learning time. The coordinator role is a particularly strong addition.

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About the Author

Chad Aldeman is a nationally recognized expert on education policy, including school finance; teacher preparation, evaluation, and compensation; and state standards, assessment, and accountability. Keep up with Chad on the EduProgess: Unpacked blog.