Summer Opportunity Sessions (SOS) demonstrate that intervention at an early age is the most effective way to guide students through to graduation.

Mrs. Kansao with two young students.

More than 1,400 Houston schoolchildren have been introduced to the enriching aspects of education in a specially focused, four-week summer program. SOS was created in response to Princeton research studies. The research showed that children are at risk of losing educational ground during the summer months. Research also indicated that early intervention is most effective at producing educational achievement later.

During the summer program, students acquire academic skills in math and science in enriching and even entertaining experiences. The program continues for them in following summers, increasing the effectiveness of the learning. SOS instills good study habits while stopping the “summer learning slide” that may later lead to dropping out of school.

In the summer of 2009, each of the five regions of the school district participated.  Principals, teachers, parents, and students have felt the results. Student scores have increased in math and science each year.

See also: 2008 Summer Opportunity Sessions.pdf

This program is a pilot of The Brookings Institution’s Hamilton Project conducted by Princeton University’s Molly E. Fifer and Alan B. Krueger.