Nationally Recognized Summer Advantage USA Increases the Academic Achievement of 4,000 Students

    QUINCY, MA, December 16, 2011 /24-7PressRelease/ -- In partnership with the Indiana Department of Education and The Mind Trust, Summer Advantage USA shared the results of its 2011 program. After their participation in the Summer Advantage program, 4,000 scholars in grades K through 8 in 15 districts throughout Indiana gained:

- 3 months growth in mathematics, and

- 2 months growth in language arts.

National education reformer and Summer Advantage USA Founder, Earl Martin Phalen, noted, "Summer Advantage primarily serves children who are vulnerable of falling behind during the summer months and never catching up. Each year, this achievement gap only gets wider. The work of Summer Advantage helps to reverse the effects of summer learning loss and ensures that our children come back to school ready to learn."

Recognized by TIME Magazine, MSNBC, and the White House initiative United We Serve, Summer Advantage USA is one of the nation's few evidence-based summer learning programs. During the 5-week program, Summer Advantage scholars engage in rigorous academic instruction and a variety of enrichment activities.

Noted David Harris, Founder and CEO of Indianapolis-based The Mind Trust, "Summer Advantage was incubated in Indianapolis as part of The Mind Trust's Fellowship program. This organization has focused our attention on the importance of summer learning, and has been able to very effectively expand its reach every year. I would love to see every child in Indianapolis and throughout the state have access to a high quality summer learning program like Summer Advantage."

This summer, Summer Advantage served nearly 2,000 scholars in IPS and Decatur, Pike, and Lawrence Townships.

Dr. Tony Bennett, State Superintendent of Public Instruction, said, "The Indiana DOE is proud to support the growth of such an innovative program. Summer learning is an important part of an overall education reform agenda, as expanded learning time is a key to student success."

Increasing student performance throughout the state of Indiana, Summer Advantage USA has attracted the attention of Superintendents and school districts across the nation.

Recognized by TIME, Parents Magazine, MSNBC, and the White House initiative United We Serve, Summer Advantage USA is one of the nation's few research based summer learning programs that works with school districts and students to increase academic performance. Over the past three years, Summer Advantage USA has engaged over 10,000 students in summer learning. For more information visit www.summeradvantage.org.

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