2026 Summer Learning Solutions Sprint
Building Summers of Opportunity: Design and Implement Engaging Summer Learning Programs
Results for America invites teams from local governments, municipalities, and local education agencies to apply for this 5-session virtual learning opportunity — Building Summers of Opportunity: Design and Implement Engaging Summer Learning Programs. This program is designed for teams committed to advancing evidence-based summer learning in their schools, districts, and cities and counties.
This learning opportunity, offered in partnership with the Learning Agenda and grounded in research from EdResearch for Action, provides selected teams with expert guidance on how to design, fund and implement evidence-based summer learning programs. Participants will learn from local governments, leading local education agencies (LEAs), nonprofits, community partners, national experts and researchers – gaining practice insights, proven strategies, and connections with peers at every stage of program development.
Who Should Apply
This Solutions Sprint opportunity is designed for teams from local governments, municipalities, and LEAs who are interested in implementing or expanding evidence-based summer learning programs in their schools, districts, and communities.
The strongest applications will include teams that bring together a diverse group of key interest holders to maximize the opportunity and establish a foundation for long-term success.
Your team will have flexibility to continue adding additional participants after submitting the application.
Participating members of the team should include, but are not limited to, the following leaders and staff:
Required, at least two participants from:
- Local governments, municipalities, and/or local education agencies with oversight over the agency's summer learning program; AND
- Government and/or community-based organizations supporting the summer learning program.
Local government and organization examples: School districts/schools, Public charter schools/networks, Mayor's Office, Youth and Family Services Department, Department of Youth and Community Development, Parks and Recreation Department, Library systems, Juvenile Justice, Workforce Development/Economic Development, Housing Authority.
Strongly Recommended:
- Citywide coordinating agency and/or Out-of-school time (OST) intermediary organizations coordinating local summer learning systems
- Staff members who oversee federal/state/county/local funding programs and/or philanthropic partnerships
Recommended:
- District/school leaders, educators, union representatives (as appropriate)
- Youth Services Director/Manager/Coordinator
- Director of Expanded Learning (or similar)
- Teaching and Learning Directors, Curriculum Leads (or similar)
- Family/community engagement teams
- Communication leads
- School board members
- Staff members who oversee policies, practices, and content of an RFP/NOFO and/or contract (e.g. Budget Officer, Grants / Contracts Manager, etc.)
- Local philanthropy
- Community-based partners, advocacy organizations and/or enrichment providers
Key Dates
- Applications due: Wednesday, September 23, 2026
- Teams Notified of Participation: Friday, October 2, 2026
- Sprint Kickoff: Thursday, October 22, 2026 1:00 – 2:30PM ET
- Duration: 5 sessions over 5 weeks:
- Session 1: Thursday, October 22 — 1:00PM – 2:30PM ET
- Session 2: Thursday, October 29 — 1:00PM – 2:30PM ET
- Session 3: Thursday, November 5 — 1:00PM – 2:30PM ET
- Session 4: Thursday, November 12 — 1:00PM – 2:30PM ET
- Session 5: Thursday, November 19 — 1:00PM – 2:30PM ET
Sprint Objectives
Participating teams will work through a 5-session online learning curriculum with a cohort of peers from local governments across the nation. By the end of the Sprint, participants will:
- Understand the evidence-base and eight key design principles of an effective summer learning program and develop an action plan for launching or improving a summer learning program.
- Understand how summer learning programs can reduce “summer slide” and advance student achievement goals.
- Explore best practices for summer planning, program design, staffing and student engagement.
- Identify funding sources for summer learning programs and understand and be able to apply evidence-based spending strategies to increase the impact of investments.
- Consider opportunities for community partnerships and cross-sector coordination.
- Learn from and build relationships with peers across the nation who are implementing effective academic summer learning programs.
Participation Requirements
Teams applying to this Solutions Sprint should have:
- Demonstrated commitment or interest in developing, expanding, and/or sustaining a summer learning program;
- Commitment to achieving the goals of the sprint;
- Commitment to improving outcomes for all students—race, ethnicity, gender, geography, income, ability, or other characteristics should not determine student outcomes;
- Consistent participation is important; participating teams must commit to having at least two representatives from the team at each session.
Application Instructions
- This form will take approximately 10 minutes to complete, and we suggest consulting relevant interest holders to complete the form.
- Applications are due by 5PM PST on Wednesday, September 23, 2026.
- Only one application per team should be submitted.
- Each team should identify a team lead to coordinate communications; we encourage the team lead to submit the application.
For more details on this opportunity, please visit our Sprint landing page. If you have any questions or need support completing your application, please reach out to us at Education@results4america.org.