The latest NAEP report is a somber reminder that too many of America’s students are falling behind in reading. Studies show a strong correlation between elementary school reading proficiency and high school dropout rates, including research concluding that students who are not proficient readers by third grade are four times more likely to drop out of high school.

Maryland faces these challenges like many other states, but there are reasons to be optimistic. Under the leadership of Superintendent Carey Wright, who was instrumental in the remarkable success known as the “Mississippi Miracle,” Maryland is well-positioned to improve literacy outcomes. In Mississippi, targeted Science of Reading practices and teacher training led to some of the nation’s most dramatic reading gains. Maryland now has the opportunity to replicate that success and build on its foundation.

Effective solutions to improve students’ reading skills exist, but they aren’t being implemented at a large enough scale to meaningfully impact overall performance. High-quality instruction aligned with the Science of Reading has been proven to make a difference. Like Mississippi, Louisiana is primed for promising results in reading proficiency by embracing Science of Reading-based practices and investing in teacher training. Maryland is beginning to lay the groundwork for similar progress, but scalable solutions that extend beyond the classroom will be key.

In addition to great classroom instruction, we need complementary support for students. High-dosage tutoring can be effective but is difficult to schedule during the already busy academic year. Summer learning programs, on the other hand, offer an ideal opportunity for focused instruction in a less pressured environment. When done well, summer learning can be transformative for students at risk of falling further behind.

Bloomberg Philanthropies, Ballmer Group, the state of Alabama and the Indiana Department of Education in partnership with the Mind Trust all provide outstanding summer programs with impressive results. Some common themes among these programs are high-quality instructional materials (curriculum) and teachers who are well-trained before the program begins and every week during program delivery. These programs emphasize continuous professional development for educators and carefully curated curriculum to meet the needs of participating students.

The Indiana Department of Education in partnership with the Mind Trust has sponsored Summer Learning Labs since 2021. In 2024, the program educated 9,000 students across the state and saw the percentage of students reading at the basic or proficient level rise from 31.5% to 57.6%, an 83% increase in proficiency. Katie Jenner, the Indiana secretary of education, noted in the report, “Data show that the Summer Learning Labs are increasing academic achievement, and that it is a model that is scalable for more communities across Indiana.”

Maryland would do well to take notice. There are several bright spots in the Baltimore region already working to close literacy gaps. Summer Boost by Bloomberg Philanthropies is a key example, providing students with high-quality summer learning opportunities designed to prevent learning loss and build foundational skills. In addition, Baltimore County Public Schools partnered with external organizations, including K12 Coalition, last year to offer summer programs for middle school students and will expand to include elementary students this year. These efforts show great promise and could be scaled further to reach more students across the state.

High-quality summer programs provide more than just academic catch-up; they build student confidence and help them see themselves as capable learners. For many children, the summer months — often associated with learning loss — could become a time of real academic growth if we make the right investments. Of course, none of this happens without collaboration and a commitment from state and city leaders, educators, families and community organizations. By bringing together resources and expertise, we can create programs that prevent learning loss and help students advance.

As a wealthy nation, we cannot condemn an entire generation to the challenges of low literacy. We know what works. It’s time to expand summer learning opportunities in Baltimore and across Maryland. We can help solve the problem by engaging our children in high-quality summer learning opportunities, which builds their academic confidence and helps put them on a path to success in school and beyond.

Jim Hall is CEO of the Virginia-based K12 Coalition, a collective of education organizations working to ensure school leaders, teachers and students have the resources and support to thrive.