KALAMAZOO (WKZO AM/FM) — It’s the last week of school fro most Kalamazoo County school districts.
For students and teachers, that means final exams and goodbyes. For school officials, it means coming up with ways to combat the “summer slide.” That’s the brain drain that takes place when students spend the summer goofing off.
Supt. Michael Rice says Kalamazoo Public Schools will open a handful of their libraries at Woodward, Lincoln, Edison, Washington and Arcadia elementary schools one day a week and use other incentives to attract kids to the books.
He said, if it works, they will expand it next summer.
Studies have shown that the “summer slide” is more pronounced among children who live in poorer areas of the community, who may not have access to educational or other experiences at home.