School will end in the next few weeks and roughly 75 percent of students will not attend summer learning programs, creating a potential brain drain that could drag down achievement when classes start in the fall, a new report says.

This widespread brain drain doesn’t affect just K-12 students. It raises an important question for the early learning community. As the federal government and states work to build quality pre-kindergarten systems, how important is it to continue these programs over the summer?

While parents have many summertime options for their pre-k kids, the Afterschool Alliance’s findings suggest many can’t or don’t rely on these programs. In Washington State, for example, only 21 percent of students attend summer learning programs, though roughly half, 49 percent, would like their kids to attend.

Despite a growing awareness that summer learning loss is a major contributor to the achievement gap between low-income and high-income youth, the number and percentage of children participating in summer enrichment programs is startlingly low. – “America After 3PM, Special Report on Summer,” Afterschool Alliance, 5/27/10.

Early learning educators and advocates work to narrow or close that achievement gap before students start kindergarten by developing top quality pre-kindergarten classrooms. But, how much of their work is lost if those students are not in enriching summer programs during that critical summer before students start kindergarten?

Now, no one appears to be suggesting summer school for pre-kindergarteners. Instead, I am guessing camps with story time and other academic activities, along with lots of time in the playground would qualify.

While many early learning programs run through the summer, pre-k is sometimes tied to the academic year, which means parents need to find other enriching programs from June until September.

What do folks think? How important are enriching pre-k summer programs and what are some of the better ideas you have seen? Add your comments here.