GreatSchools.org, Learning Heroes, and National Summer Learning Association Announce New ‘Summer Togetherness’ Virtual Learning Series

All-new weekly Facebook Live series will help parents maximize this critical summer to support children’s learning and development

OAKLAND, CA (June 7, 2021) —  Educational nonprofits GreatSchools, Learning Heroes, and the National Summer Learning Association (NSLA) today announced a joint partnership to deliver a 9-week “Summer Togetherness” virtual learning series to support parents and families in fostering their child’s academic and developmental success this summer, showcasing that learning together this summer can be fun and happen anywhere.

Alongside co-hosts from GreatSchools and Learning Heroes, expert guests from within education will join to share actionable, evidence-based guidance across a range of topics including: summer enrichment programs, reading, math, social-emotional skills, physical activity, and more. The series begins on June 9 and continues every Wednesday through August 4 at 10 a.m. PT / 1 p.m. ET live on the GreatSchools and Learning Heroes Facebook pages.

“After 15 months of seemingly endless screentime, we wanted this series to offer something different — to show that learning can be fun and happen anywhere,” said Jon Deane, CEO of GreatSchools. “Alongside Learning Heroes and NSLA, we are excited to connect parents with each other and with nonprofits that believe in the power of collaboration. Together, we can take the challenges of yesterday and turn them into the opportunities of tomorrow.”

As many parents plan for uncertainties around summer learning, new research from Learning Heroes also shows that summer 2021 offers a unique partnership opportunity for parents, teachers and out-of-school time providers to support their child’s social and emotional health.

“Families have been through a lot together this past year and want their children to enjoy the summer,” said Learning Heroes Founder & President Bibb Hubbard. “Through ‘Summer Togetherness’, parents will have access to experts and advice about how learning happens in everyday spaces and places — so they don’t have to choose between polishing math skills and reuniting with friends and family after much time apart. As parents know well, kids thrive when they feel connected to who they are learning with and what they are learning.”

“Summer Togetherness” comes at a time when many parents are concerned about their child’s academic progress in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. A recent poll from Learning Heroes and the National Parent Teacher Association found that 61% of parents are worried their child is not making as much academic progress as they would in a typical year; 63% report their child is a little/quite a bit behind where they would have been in a typical year; 43% are less confident in having a clear understanding of what their child is expected to learn; and 48% are less confident their child will be prepared for success next year.

“Summer is a pivotal time to support children’s development while helping close the achievement and opportunity gaps — and this year is no exception,” said Aaron P. Dworkin, CEO of the NSLA. “As parents seek to offer an enriching and intentional summer of learning for their children following a year or more of remote learning, this series will offer easy, tangible tips to guide them every step of the way.”

The “Summer Togetherness Series” begins on Wednesday, June 9 at 10 a.m. PT / 1 p.m. ET. Parents can tune in on the GreatSchools and Learning Heroes Facebook pages. To view the full schedule and RSVP, visit: https://fb.me/e/1atOPw898.

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About GreatSchools

GreatSchools is the leading national nonprofit empowering parents with essential information to improve educational opportunities for their child. We are the only national organization that collects and analyzes data from all 51 state departments of education and the federal government to provide analysis, insights, and school quality ratings for parents, partners, researchers, and policymakers. Over 46 million users visit GreatSchools’ award-winning website annually to learn about schools in their area, explore research insights, and access thousands of free, evidence-based parenting resources to support their child’s learning and well-being. Learn more at GreatSchools.org and join us on Twitter and Facebook.

About Learning Heroes

Learning Heroes’ mission is to support parents as their child’s most effective education advocate, catalyzing equitable learning environments for all students. In deep collaboration with partners – including national and local nonprofits, state departments of education, and civil rights organizations – we conduct actionable and timely research and in response deliver powerful tools and innovative strategies that provide families with a holistic picture of progress and help build substantive, culturally responsive parent/teacher relationships. Central to this approach is our work with school systems to design solutions that emphasize the importance of placing parents at the center of their child’s education. Through research based content, we reach more than 20 million parents annually. For more information, visit BeALearningHero.org.

About the National Summer Learning Association

The National Summer Learning Association (NSLA) is the only national nonprofit exclusively focused on closing the achievement and opportunity gaps by increasing access to high-quality summer learning opportunities. NSLA recognizes and disseminates what works in summer learning, develops and delivers community capacity-building offerings and convenes and empowers key actors to embrace summer learning as a solution for equity and excellence in education.