Behind the Data: Why We Protect the Joy of Summer Reading

At Evergreen Crest Academy, we believe that an exceptional education starts with an honest look at the challenges children face today.

It is no secret that getting kids to pick up a book can feel like an uphill battle. But this isn't just a hurdle at the family dinner table—it is a nationwide shift. Recent data shows a steady, decade-long slide in childhood reading and writing skills, heavily driven by digital screen distractions and the annual "summer slide," where students can lose up to 34% of their hard-earned reading progress over the break.

Additionally, according to one study by Kuhfeld (2019), those who had significant gains in their MAP growth scores, have a tendency to lose ground during the fall of the following school year.

We don't share this data to cause worry; we share it to spark action. We curated the research below to provide our community with transparent, evidence-based insights into the modern literacy landscape.

By understanding the "why" behind these shifts, we can work together to tackle them head-on. At Evergreen, we design our environment to counter these trends—blending proven, phonics-based instruction with engaging, year-round habits that keep kids sharp. Explore the studies below to see the data driving our mission to build confident writers, avid readers, and critical thinkers.

“Other studies have found summer reading programs to be effective…but these programs tend to be costly and often struggle to recruit and retain students and high‑quality teachers.” This challenge is common because many summer programs rely on temporary or seasonal staff—often college students or part‑time instructors—while fully credentialed teachers are typically on break. At Evergreen Crest Academy, we take a different approach. Our summer literacy program is led exclusively by state‑certified teachers with years of classroom experience, educators who understand early reading development and know how to sustain growth even outside the traditional school year. Because ECA’s summer program is led by experienced, certified teachers—not short‑term hires—students benefit from reliable reading instruction that nurtures steady progress. This commitment to teacher quality ensures that ECA students continue to grow as readers throughout the summer instead of experiencing the typical seasonal decline.

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