Summer Starts Now: Planning Kick-Off Centers Data + Community
“If you want to go fast, go alone.
If you want to go far, go together.”
On Thursday, Dec. 12, dozens of individuals representing both public and private organizations—a group collectively known as the Summer Systems Table—came together for “Summer in December,” creating a shared vision for a Summer 2025 where all children in Baltimore have access to high-quality programming during these vital months.
Co-hosted by Baltimore’s Promise, the City of Baltimore, and Baltimore City Youth Data Hub, participants represented many of the city’s institutions, including Baltimore City Public Schools, city government, philanthropy, cultural spaces like Port Discovery and the National Aquarium, youth and parents, and nonprofits.
“I think Baltimore is at this inflection point where … we are really on the brink of a renaissance. And it is going to take an unprecedented level of collaboration and communication across agencies, nonprofits, philanthropy, all of us working together in order to make it happen,” said Baltimore City Council President Zeke Cohen.
This spirit of collaboration and shared purpose set the stage for the event’s focus on the potential for impactful summer opportunities.
The Power and Challenges of Summer Programming
Summer in December not only framed the importance of summer opportunities and invited participants to reflect on their own summer experiences, but also shared key data related to the correlation of those summer opportunities and student outcomes in Baltimore.
For example, young people attending quality programming during the summer lose less educational progress over the summer months, compared to those who do not attend summer programming. In fact, data shows that two-thirds of the ninth-grade reading gap in the U.S. is due to compounded summer learning loss in the students’ elementary years.
“Summer is an incredible intersection of [young people] having time to learn, play, earn, and grow,” Noell Lugay, Chief of Policy and Partnerships, Mayor’s Office of Children & Family Success. “But it is also an opportunity, with so much down time, for them to get into things we really don’t want them to.”
What has also been reflected in data is that young people are less likely to get into trouble when they are actively engaged, with summer and after-school programs being an integral piece to keeping youth safe.
“This is a city that loves its young people,” said Theresa D. Jones, Chief Achievement & Accountability Officer, Baltimore City Public Schools. “[Summer] is one of the few times where we can create experiences for young people that they may not experience throughout the regular school year. Baltimore City Public Schools recognizes the importance that education has, but it’s also about the experiences … about the exposure that they have. About the opportunity to build relationships with other young people and other caring adults who can help them navigate the day-to-day—as well as prepare for their future.”
But with the average cost of summer programming in Baltimore at $1,273 for a comprehensive program for children in K-8 and $2,159 for a comprehensive program for those in grades 9-12 (not including the cost to travel to these programs or meals during that time), attending quality programs that fight the summer slide may be out of reach for many of our young people.
That’s why it’s important not only to create these opportunities but to ensure they are accessible to students who may not otherwise be able to attend them takes year-round planning. Accessibility is especially important now, as the city prepares for an expected drop in federal funding in 2025.
“This isn’t the time to do less,” said Julia Baez, CEO of Baltimore’s Promise. “It’s the time to do more.”
Looking Ahead: Collaboration in Action
Through the reflection and discussion of experience and data, Summer in December participants left primed to continue our collaborative planning throughout the winter and spring, during which time the Summer Systems Table will meet monthly to prepare for even more free and accessible summer programming for all Baltimore youth. In addition to its core monthly meeting, the group includes three subcommittees: Data, Accessibility and Collective Bargaining, and B’More Voyages. The latter seeks to create opportunities for young people to access new experiences outside of the city.
In the short term, the event culminated with everyone in attendance committing to an action to take in the next 30 days to make summer 2025 the best summer ever.
What action can you commit to?
Are you part of an organization invested in summer programming? Reach out to info@baltimorespromise.org to find out how to get involved with the Summer Systems Table.