Aim High: Closing the Achievement and Opportunity Gaps Through Summer Learning

Aim High is a summer learning program designed to prevent summer academic slide by providing middle school students from low-income families a summer program that blends academics and enriching activities such as sports, art, and drama. A second goal of Aim High is to build a pipeline for young people of color to enter the field of education. In 2014, Aim High engaged the Gardner Center to conduct a study to examine students’ and teachers’ experiences with the program and to identify key program elements and implementation conditions that bring about desired program outcomes. Findings include: 1) Aim High’s organizational design reflects educational and youth development philosophy that supports fostering relationships and providing ample time for learning to occur; 2) Aim High’s culture promotes a network of youth who participate as students and return as alumni staff and teachers; 3) Aim High’s curriculum and pedagogy builds the skills of students and improves their academics with habits of mind that bolster performance throughout the school year; 4)  Aim High provides teachers with opportunities for formal and informal training, for developing strong relationships with students, and for innovation in the classroom.