Every year our reading rotation is a major part of our summer programs. This was developed as we recognized that most children and youth in our area of service do not have access to high quality learning opportunities that will keep their hard-earned academic skills fresh over the summer months. All children and youth experience summer learning loss when they are not involved in positive, engaging learning experiences. 

We are doing something to stop the “summer slide” among the children and youth.

The Arkansas Out of School Network, the Arkansas Campaign for Grade Level Reading, and AETN are joining together to recognize Ms. Thelma Moton and the Choosing to Excel Program as a Summer Learning “Bright Spot”.  The Choosing to Excel program offers innovative summer learning activities and opportunities that keep kids on track during the summer and all year long. We know that students who don’t keep reading and learning over the summer can lose two to three months of reading skills and find themselves behind their peers when they return to school in the fall. The event will feature the work of the children and youth who have been participating all summer long and we will hear about the impact that programs like these have in our community and other parts of the state.