Research brief
Effective summer programs: Practical guidance for district leaders
June 2024
By: Miles Davison, Jazmin Isaacs, Sofia Postell, Michael Gaddis, PhD, Ayesha K. Hashim, Susan Kowalski, Karyn Lewis

Description
This report dives into the research on summer programs, their implementation and design, as well as the efficacy of those programs for literacy, math, and social-emotional learning (SEL) outcomes. It also provides recommendations for district leaders to use as a framework for planning and implementing effective summer programming.
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NWEAās MAP Growth National Dashboard provides timely trends and data on U.S. student academic achievement and growth for grades K-8. This free public tool supports district leaders, state and federal policymakers, and other education stakeholders in interpreting local data within a broader national and state context. It helps identify areas of strength, shine light on disparities, and ground policy conversations in evidence.
Products: MAP Growth
Topics: COVID-19 & schools, Equity, Growth


Trend Snapshots: Math Recovery Continues, Reading Remains Stalled in Spring 2025
This short research brief highlights trends seen in the latest data released in the NWEA Map Growth National Dashboard. In this first edition of Trend Snapshots, key findings from Spring 2025 data highlight a modest, incremental recovery post COVID, but stalled progress in reading achievement.
By: Karyn Lewis, Megan Kuhfeld
Products: MAP Growth
Topics: COVID-19 & schools, Growth


Technical Appendix: MAP Growth National Dashboard
This is the accompanying technical appendix to the MAP Growth National Dashboard providing more details of the data and describing more fully the sample and methods used within the dashboard.
By: Karyn Lewis, Megan Kuhfeld
Topics: Growth


User Guide and FAQ: MAP Growth National Dashboard
This user guide explains how to navigate the MAPĀ® Growth⢠National Dashboard, understand the key metrics and terms, make appropriate comparisons of data, and communicate findings responsibly. This guide also includes a robust āFrequently Asked Questionsā section that provides in-depth answers about the dashboard and its uses.
By: Karyn Lewis, Megan Kuhfeld
Products: MAP Growth
Topics: Growth


The report documents the process NWEA followed to determine and validate the cut scores for fall, winter, and spring that can be used to identify students in Grades Kā8 who have severe learning difficulties and need intensive intervention in reading and mathematics.
An added memorandum presents the updated threshold scores by grades and terms for MAP Growth Mathematics and Reading.
By: Wei He, Patrick Meyer
Products: MAP Growth
Topics: Guidance


Severe weather events are no longer isolated anomalies. They are becoming a regular part of the school year in communities across the country. This brief highlights how severe weather events can cause deep and lasting disruptions to student learning and well-being, often in ways that far exceed the immediate days schools are closed. It also makes clear that while some communities are disproportionately at risk, no school is immune.
By: Megan Kuhfeld, Jim Soland, Sofia Postell


Family engagement as a long-term strategy for continued COVID recovery
This NWEA research report emphasizes the vital role of family engagement in helping students recover academically from the disruptions of the COVID-19 pandemic. The report synthesizes current research on family engagement, examines the effectiveness of current strategies, identifies common barriers, and offers guidance for how districts can communicate more effectively with families about student progress.
By: Ayesha K. Hashim, Rebecca Johnson, Rachel Perera
Topics: COVID-19 & schools, Equity, Growth, Guidance