CALIFORNIA LAWMAKERS, STUDENTS RALLY AT STATE CAPITOL IN SUPPORT OF SUMMER LEARNING FOR NATIONAL SUMMER LEARNING DAY
State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson, California Legislators, School District Leaders, Students and Civic Leaders Rally for Expanded Access to High Quality Summer Learning Programs at “Reading Rocks! National Summer Learning Day Read-In @ the California State Capitol”
Media & VIP Event
WHAT: Hundreds of California students, educators, parents and school district and civic leaders will take to the steps of the California State Capitol together with state lawmakers to call for expanding access to high quality summer learning opportunities for all California students as part of “Reading Rocks! National Summer Learning Day Read-In @ the California State Capitol”.
This flagship Summer Learning Day event is being spearheaded by “Summer Matters” – the statewide campaign chaired by State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson working to combat “summer learning loss” and expand access to high quality summer learning opportunities for all California students.
WHEN: Thursday, June 20 – 10am – 12pm
WHERE: California State Capitol North Steps – 1100 L Street
WHO: More than 400 California students, State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson, state legislators, school superintendents, educators, mayors, Give Something Back CEO Sean Marx and leading literacy organizations including Youth Speaks Sacramento.
Media & Interview Opportunities include:
10:30am – 11am
Kick-Off Rally & “Read-In” at the Capitol, led by State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson and state legislators with special student performances. State Capitol North Steps.
11am – 12pm
Reading Rocks! Summer Learning Literacy Fair – More than 400 students take part in engaging and educational literacy-themed activities in Capitol Park.
12pm – 1pm
“Lunch with Your Legislator” – Students discuss their favorite summertime books with California lawmakers over picnic lunch.
“Give Something Back – Summer Matters Video Booth” – Legislators, school district leaders, students and civic leaders go “on the record” about why summer learning matters more than ever at interview station courtesy of Give Something Back Office Supplies.
“Rethink Your Drink” – Healthy beverage booth, courtesy of Kaiser Permanente.
Participating Lawmakers & Other Speakers Include:
State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson
State Senator Kevin de León
State Senator Mark DeSaulnier
Assemblymember Susan Bonilla
Assemblymember Richard Pan
Assemblymember Henry Perea
Sacramento City Unified School District Superintendent Jonathan Raymond California
Give Something Back CEO Sean Marx
KCRA3 News Producer & Summer Matters summer learning program alumn America Arias
Acting State Librarian, Gerald Maginnity
Sacramento Library Director, Rivkah Sass
Spoken Word Performance by award-winning Sacramento Area Youth Speaks
A vast body of research shows that a lack of summer learning and enrichment opportunities leads to “summer learning loss” – a loss in students’ academic skills and knowledge during the summer months that sets students behind academically and leads to increased drop-out rates and unhealthy weight gain.
Findings in a new California study – Summer Matters: How Summer Learning Strengthens Students’ Success – show that students taking part in high quality summer learning programssubstantially increased their academic and socials skills and improved their work habits and confidence in their abilities as learners.
Learn more about Summer Matters at: www.summermatters2you.net
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ABOUT SUMMER MATTERS
Summer Matters is the first-ever statewide campaign focused on creating and expanding access to summer learning opportunities for all California students. A diverse coalition of education leaders, elected officials, parents, and business, civic and philanthropic leaders, the Summer Matters campaign is raising public awareness about the devastating effects of summer learning loss and the beneficial impact of summer learning programs. Summer Matters is also working to increase the number of students served by summer learning programs and providing thought leadership, expertise and hands-on support to help schools, cities and community-based organizations deliver high quality summer learning programs that are changing students’ lives. Learn more about Summer Matters at www.summermatters2you.net.