New York City Mayor Eric Adams and former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg announced the launch of ‘Summer Boost NYC’ on Monday — a new Bloomberg Philanthropies program that will support summer learning at public charter schools in New York City for approximately 25,000 K-8 students who have fallen behind and face significant learning gaps that have been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic.
For two years, in-person learning disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic and the accompanying social- and health-related effects have resulted in significant learning loss, particularly for students of color from low-income families.
“Whether at a district school or a charter school, every young person should be invested in, and this $50 million investment will do just that,” said Adams. “Many of our sons and daughters had disrupted learning during the past two years because of the pandemic and deserve an opportunity to learn during the summer. This investment will give young New Yorkers in the program the chance to grow, to learn, and to explore their talents and imagination.”
The program was crated by Bloomberg and Bloomberg Philanthropies. Bloomberg said students across the U.S. have suffered with learning loss over the past two year’s due to the COVID-19 pandemic that could have an impact on the future.
“The harm has fallen heaviest on the children who were already too far behind, especially low-income Black and Latino students,” he said. “That could have devastating effects on their chances for graduating high school and going to college or beginning a career. Mayor Adams and Chancellor Banks deserve credit for recognizing the crisis and taking immediate action by expanding Summer Rising across the city.”
A private study from McKinsey found that the pandemic fed the ongoing educational crisis already facing many students of color from low-income families in New York City. Recently, the city expanded its Summer Rising program for 2022 and now serves 110,000 students in grades K-8 — up more than 10% from last year. Summer Boost NYC builds on the city’s Summer Rising initiative by aiming to support students at charter schools — which 14% of New York City public school students attend — expanding much-needed summer school programs to more than 135,000 students.
“It is essential that every child in New York City has a safe and supportive place to grow this summer,” said New York City Department of Education Chancellor David C. Banks. “I thank Mayor Bloomberg and Bloomberg Philanthropies for their generosity and for helping to lift up our youngest New Yorkers.”