Boys play soccer during recess at a summer school program in Oakland. (Photo: LILLIAN MONGEAU)

A bill that gives funding priority to summer programs for students and sets new quality standards for all out-of-school programs has passed the legislature and is awaiting approval by the governor.

Senate Bill 1221, authored by Sen. Loni Hancock, D-Oakland, would give priority to schools that seek funds to provide year-round learning, which in most cases would be a combination of after-school and summer programs, said Jessica Gunderson, policy director forPartnership for Children and Youth, which, along with state Superintendent Tom Torlakson, is sponsoring the bill.

“The bill is promoting year-round learning by acknowledging the important role of summer in how to allocate expanded learning resources,” Gunderson said. “Year-round learning is the ideal.”

Research has shown that all students fall behind about two months in math skills during the summer break, and that low-income students also lose about two months in reading proficiency if they are not in a quality summer program. Researchers say this loss is a major contributor to the achievement gap between low-income students and their higher-income peers.

Read the full story on EdSource California.