When schools let out for summer break, usually between mid-May and mid-June, millions of students will be disengaged from learning and will experience significant learning loss. In math, they may lose as many as three months’ worth of knowledge. 

That means when they return to school in late August or early September, they are effectively back to March in terms of academic progress. Studies suggest students experience the most learning loss in math, but reading skills can also suffer — by as much as two months — unless students are engaged in supplemental education.

Many students are enrolled in summer school or other enrichment programs, but many of these come with a cost. Children from the lowest-income families often don’t have access to them. The attack on the Department of Education and this president’s indifference to education have affected some of the programs previously funded by the agency.

The so-called “Big Beautiful” — let’s call it the Big Ugly — eliminates after-school and summer learning programs, such as the 21st Century Community Learning Centers, which serves 1.4 million children. Black students are especially vulnerable to learning loss. They have less access to summer enrichment due to cost, transportation, and availability. According to the Afterschool Alliance, 2.3 million Black students would have enrolled in a summer program in 2019 if one had been available.

That was before the COVID-19 pandemic. The need is likely greater now. Parents can’t depend on the government to prevent learning loss. While one in seven students participated in summer enrichment programs in 2024, there is still significant unmet need. Bloomberg Philanthropies has a Summer Boost program that funded efforts in Baltimore, Memphis, and Washington. Many school districts will offer summer school programs, as will recreation centers and civic organizations. In Washington, the Southeast Tennis and Learning Center runs an engaging summer program that includes reading and athletics. In Indiana, summer learning labs provide supplemental education in English, language arts, and math. Parents — talk to a teacher, go online, and find a program for your child.

There aren’t enough opportunities for every child who needs one, but parents can piece together programs for their young ones. Children should be exposed to museums, libraries, theater, concerts, and reading.

Can’t afford it? Consider pooling resources with other parents to hire a teen or young adult to work with a group of children once or twice a week. And why not, parents, read with your children — and let them read to you.

Learning loss has major equity and civil rights implications. It widens the achievement gap and affects high school graduation, college attendance, and long-term income and wealth.

Another activity Black parents should prioritize is water safety. There are many reasons why Black people historically haven’t learned to swim. Some are cultural; others are rooted in systemic racism. Many public pools were drained or filled in to prevent integration. Some Black women avoided swimming to protect their hair. But Beverly Iseghohi, an Atlanta-based triathlete and swim coach, suggests life is more important than a hairstyle. She is passionate about getting more Black people to embrace water safety and learn to swim.

Iseghohi also points to a connection between swimming and cognition. Perhaps swimming can help reduce learning loss. We must take learning loss seriously, and the entire community must step up when government education programs fall short.

The Children’s Defense Fund’s Freedom Schools have operated for decades in 26 states, including the District of Columbia. They are fighting learning loss — and we all share that responsibility. Learning loss has long-term consequences for our community.

The writer is an economist, author and educator.