Summer has finally arrived, and with it comes some incredible out-of-school learning programs right here in Story County. Every single year, I find myself energized by the kids participating in these programs. We get to hear the most wonderful stories of their academic and personal growth. Whether it’s the excitement of baking chocolate chip cookies for the first time, meeting local leaders, or the proud milestone of advancing from picture books to chapter books. Summer doesn’t mean learning stops; it just happens a little differently!
Your investment in United Way of Story County is a direct investment in the futures of hundreds of children. You are helping remove barriers, prevent the “summer slide” and keep kids fed outside of school.
Making Summer Learning Accessible for All
A high-quality summer program shouldn't be a luxury. That is why our financial investments in these programs are so critical: they allow our partner agencies to offer sliding-scale fees. By making these programs affordable based on a family's income, we ensure that these life-changing summer experiences are accessible to all children in Story County, no matter their financial circumstances.
The Summer Slide
While summer is traditionally a time for relaxation, for many students in our community, particularly those already facing systemic barriers, it represents a risky gap in support and opportunity.
The "summer slide" is one of our biggest hurdles to educational equity. Research consistently shows that students from underserved communities can lose two or more months of reading skills each summer. These losses stack up year after year, creating a compounding disadvantage that pushes kids further below grade-level expectations.
But our data also shows a much brighter reality: with targeted, high-quality interventions, summer can completely transform from a season of learning loss into a season of growth, confidence, and academic momentum. In 2025, your investment enabled 1,157 local youth to participate in enriching, structured summer environments across ten UWSC-funded programs.
Looking at the Whole Child
Securing bright futures for our youth means looking at the big picture. Kids can't focus on learning if they are hungry or stressed, which is why the programs we invest in offer stability that extends far beyond the classroom.
Our partnerships ensure that local kids receive hands-on learning and daily reading support, alongside reliable daily meals. For many families, the end of the school year means losing access to school-provided breakfasts and lunches. By bridging this nutritional gap, these summer programs alleviate a massive burden for parents and keep kids fueled, focused, and ready to thrive.
Driving Change Together
Last year, 88% of summer learning program participants reported feeling positive about returning to school. Investing in these summer programs is a core piece of our Bright Futures initiative. Our big 2030 goal is to deliver 12,500 high-quality, early education opportunities for children across Story County, and summer learning opportunities make up nearly 10% of that goal.
We are so proud to steward your resources into programs that deliver measurable, lasting benefits for our neighbors. Thank you for partnering with us, advocating for our youth, and ensuring every child has the opportunity to succeed all summer long.
United is the Way.