One of the biggest challenges for implementing high-quality summer programming is getting students to sign up for voluntary summer learning programs. According to the Wallace Foundation’s Summer Learning Recruitment Guide, several factors make an intentional recruitment effort necessary.

• Many parents and students are not accustomed to thinking of summer as a time of learning.
• Voluntary summer learning programs compete with many other programs and activities for the attention of parents
• Voluntary programs require that parents and students choose to attend
• School districts must overcome the negative perceptions of traditional summer school that many parents have.