As children and teens are returning to school, some may have experienced a phenomenon known as the “summer slide.” The “summer slide” refers to the decline in academic knowledge and skills students have learned during the academic year before summer break. Reports show that, on average, most children lose 20 percent of their reading comprehension skills and 27 percent of their math knowledge each year, according to a study from NWEA Research. 

The summer months are a crucial time for students at every level, with many spending time without formal education as they await the new school year. In recent years, the time spent while young ones swap their seat in a classroom for sun-soaked days, void of practice worksheets, has been dubbed the “Summer Slide” — the loss of academic skills that typically occur between school years.

The world of franchising offers a unique blend of entrepreneurship and established business models. However, navigating the franchise landscape can be daunting, especially for those embarking on this journey for the first time. There are lessons to be learned, pitfalls to avoid, and success stories to be inspired by.

Education is often defined by what happens inside the classroom, but some of the most meaningful moments in a child’s development take place outside of it, before the school day begins and after it ends. Those hours hold real potential to shape confidence, relationships, and a child’s sense of what’s possible.

Walk into almost any classroom today, and you’ll see it right away: Screens are everywhere—laptops, tablets, smartboards, learning platforms, and other adaptive tools. The rapid expansion of educational technology has transformed how students access information and how educators instruct.

Walk into almost any classroom today, and you’ll see it right away: Screens are everywhere—laptops, tablets, smartboards, learning platforms, and other adaptive tools. The rapid expansion of educational technology has transformed how students access information and how educators instruct.

The signs of educator burnout can be subtle. They show up in small ways: a once-enthusiastic whether their growth has plateaued, or a talented staff member considering a different career path.

When parents think about before- and after-school programs, the first priority is often practical: Is my child safe? Are they supervised? Will someone make sure homework gets done?

As headlines continue to spotlight academic recovery gaps and student disengagement, Ronald Robinson is asking a different question: What if the most transformative hours of a child’s day happen outside the regular classroom?

The Expanded Learning Academy (ELA), founded in 2016 by Ronald Robinson, is an educational organization that specializes in fortifying enrichment for youth within the Pre-K to 12th grade, in after-school programs across the nation.