Communicating Summer Programs to Families in Your Principal Newsletter
Summer programs are one of the most effective interventions a school community can make for students at risk of learning loss, and one of the most consistently under-communicated. Families who would enroll their child in a district summer program simply do not find out about it in time. The newsletter is the fix.
Start communicating in March, not June
The most impactful summer programs, the district's free academic support program, arts and STEM camps with income-based scholarships, athletic programs with limited spots, close enrollment in April and May. Families who find out about them in June are too late.
A March newsletter with summer program information reaches families while they can still make registration decisions, apply for financial assistance, and arrange the transportation and childcare that make attendance possible.
Organize programs by type, not alphabetically
Families reading the summer programs section are trying to find the right option for their specific child. Help them by organizing by category:
- Free or low-cost programs. The district summer program, public library camps, city-run enrichment. These should be at the top.
- Academic support. Remediation, credit recovery, reading intervention. With a specific note about who these are for.
- Enrichment: arts, STEM, sports. Programs focused on interests and development rather than remediation.
- Programs for students with special needs. Any extended school year programs under IEPs, or enrichment programs with specific inclusion support.
Include the summer slide context
Families who understand why summer programs matter enroll their children at higher rates. Include two or three sentences about summer learning loss: 'Research consistently shows that students lose two to three months of academic progress over the summer when they are not in structured learning environments. Reading for 20 minutes per day can significantly reduce that loss. Our recommended programs go further.'
Make registration paths obvious and clickable
For every program you list, include the registration link or contact information directly in the newsletter. Families who have to search for registration information after reading the newsletter often do not follow through. The path from 'this sounds good' to 'my child is enrolled' should require no more than two clicks.
Address food and transportation barriers
Summer programs often fail to reach families who need them most because of transportation and food access barriers. If the district's summer program includes meals, say so explicitly. If transportation is provided or there is a busing option, say so. These two pieces of information are often the deciding factor for families who are otherwise interested.
Daystage makes the summer programs newsletter easy to format with organized categories, linked resources, and clear logistics. For this particular newsletter, the quality of the organization directly affects how many families take action on the information.
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Frequently asked questions
When should I start communicating about summer programs in my newsletter?
March is the ideal start. Many summer programs, especially those with income-based assistance or limited spots, have April and May registration deadlines. Families who first hear about summer programs in June miss the programs that would have helped their child most. A March newsletter gives families time to apply, arrange funding, and plan transportation.
What categories of summer programs should I include in the newsletter?
Academic support programs for students who need remediation or credit recovery, enrichment and arts programs, athletic camps, paid and free options, and programs specifically for students with IEPs or 504s if relevant. A curated list with clear descriptions is more useful than an undifferentiated dump of every program that exists.
Should I recommend specific programs or just list options?
Recommend, with context. 'The district's free summer learning program is our top recommendation for any student reading below grade level.' Specific recommendations with reasons carry more weight than a neutral list. Families trust your judgment. Use it.
How do I address the summer slide in my newsletter?
Name it plainly: students who do not read or engage in structured learning over the summer typically lose two to three months of academic progress. Then connect that fact to the specific programs you are recommending. Families who understand the research are more motivated to enroll their child than families who receive a list of programs without context.
What tool helps principals send newsletters efficiently?
Daystage makes it easy to include formatted program listings with descriptions, dates, costs, and registration links in a newsletter that arrives directly in family inboxes. Clickable links to registration pages are significantly more effective than asking families to search for programs on their own.
Adi Ackerman
Author
Adi Ackerman is a former classroom teacher and curriculum writer with 8 years in K-8 schools. She writes about school communication, parent engagement, and what actually works in real classrooms.
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