How DSLN Works
“Participating in this network gave us a chance to learn from other districts across the country … [My team members] are now better positioned to advance our work because we have an entire network of like-minded professionals to lean on.”
–Matt Brewster, Director, Office of Staff Development, Newark Board of Education
Overview
Why summer?
Summer is a time of opportunity. A chance to try new things to respond to tough challenges.
During the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, education leaders turned to summer learning to reengage students, strengthen academic performance, and improve well-being.
They understood that high-quality summer learning programs can:
- Create significant learning gains, including in literacy and math
- Deepen student and family connections to their school community
- Launch career pathway and workforce exploration
But to do this well, states and districts had to rethink summer.
FHI 360 started DSLN to help them do just that.
Since 2021, we’ve partnered with states and districts to help them craft a bold new vision for summer focused on accelerated learning, enriching experiences, and holistic support for every student.
Read on to learn how DSLN is shifting summer learning practices and programs across the nation to better serve young people.
The DSLN theory of action
A place for changemakers to learn together
DSLN coaches drive the model.
They are former district leaders, out-of-school time experts, leadership consultants, and national facilitators—all grounded in summer learning research.
DSLN coaches provide job-embedded support to help district leaders put new ideas into practice and guide their teams as they transform summer learning design and planning. To equip districts and states to achieve their vision for summer, coaches help them:
- Analyze data
- Set summer learning goals
- Strategize around challenges
- Build and convene planning teams
- Rethink budgets and summer learning sustainability
DSLN hosts monthly virtual sessions where summer learning leaders can learn from research, experts, and most importantly, one another.
FHI 360 designs each session to encourage members to present and spotlight the real-world successes and challenges they experience. Member districts and states share their approaches to critical topics like sustainability, student and staff recruitment, and continuous improvement. Each session includes breakout rooms where participants can reflect, apply what they’ve learned to their own planning, and give feedback and support to their peers. The community benefits from hearing from other professionals.
DSLN members value having a community of summer learning leaders committed to transforming summer for all students.
Our network extends beyond monthly professional development sessions and features:
- Small learning series on priority topics (e.g., older youth, community partnerships)
- State or regional cohorts focused on summer learning in similar legislative or local contexts
- Ad hoc connections between districts or states to share common challenges or resources
The network is most visible at the National Summer Learning Association’s annual summit, where DSLN members have been recognized as national award winners two years in a row.
During the first four years of the program, 95% of districts reported that DSLN coaching and professional development was useful.
What participating district staff have to say:
DSLN provides a platform for school and district leaders to engage in ongoing professional learning, allowing them to stay informed about best practices in leadership, instruction, and school management. Through collaboration, coaching, and shared experiences, leaders develop stronger decision making skills and the ability to implement effective strategies tailored to their school's needs.
–DSLN participant
The work with our coach has been key in designing our program. She has helped us problem-solve, brainstorm solutions, and create a successful vision for our program.
–DSLN participant
Through engagement with DSLN, our educators and administrators have gained access to proven instructional models and frameworks that enhance teaching and learning. Schools have implemented innovative approaches that improve student engagement, differentiation, and targeted interventions to meet diverse needs of learners.
–DSLN participant
Having a coach has been instrumental for our growth. She keeps me on task and challenges me.
–DSLN participant
Want to learn more about being a part of the network?
Find out how DSLN can help you improve your summer programs.
Email us at summerlearning@fhi360.org.
Evidence-based practices, anchoring beliefs, and continuous improvement
We know what works in summer learning.
DSLN draws on over a decade of research into high-performing K-5 summer programs. Through professional learning and the DSLN Roadmap process, we help districts:
- Understand the research and conditions needed for summer learning success
- Review their program components to align them with research
- Develop goals that incorporate evidence-based practices
- Measure their success
And for older youth, FHI 360 uses the science of adolescent development and positive youth development to help districts design programs to meet their unique needs.
Our network is built on key pillars: academic quality, partnerships, and whole child development.
The growing summer learning evidence base shows these pillars are crucial for building and sustaining high-quality summer learning programs that lead to academic success and student well-being.
Partnerships an important strategy for designing quality and impactful summer learning. Community partners have resources and relationships with families and the local community. They can be beneficial to designing and sustaining programs that meet local needs and ensure more students and families are served.
When school districts take a whole child development approach to summer learning, they commit to creating a positive, inclusive environment to ignite learning, strengthen school relationships, and provide rich supports, opportunities, and experiences.
Summer learning is an opportunity to provide students with rich academic learning experiences to mitigate summer slide and prepare students for the next grade. When academic quality is strong, summer learning supports student engagement and student voice, cultivates critical thinking, and strengthens critical skills.
To ensure DSLN supports meet district and state needs, FHI 360 designed a continuous improvement framework to strengthen standards and meet new goals.
We routinely collect date from coaches and members through:
- Professional learning attendance and coaching participation
- Weekly coaching logs
- Participant surveys to gauge the effectiveness of DSLN supports
- Member focus groups and interviews
- Roadmap planning tool review and synthesis of learning
The DSLN team analyzes the data regularly to identify successes, challenges, and opportunities and to develop action plans for continued improvement.
Field-tested tools and resources
This planning document outlines a three-year path for a district’s summer learning program.
Districts and coaches work through the roadmap together in three phases:
- Fall: Reflect on the previous summer to understand successes and challenges. Craft goals for the next summer based on the district’s overall objectives and current student data.
- Winter: Design a program to achieve these goals, including family and student recruitment, staffing, materials, and a professional learning plan.
- Spring: Finalize the implementation plans. Build data collection mechanisms to help with continuous improvement during the summer and provide insights into their work’s impact in the fall.
To centralize resources and provide space for sharing among districts, FHI 360 created an online hub.
The site houses DSLN tools, learning products, and other resources available to the public. Network members can access professional learning materials and summer learning resources, including:
- Professional development plans
- Recruitment materials
- Budget information
- Walk-through protocols
- Reflection guides
FHI 360’s evidence-based tools were field-tested with DSLN members, ensuring usability, relevance, and actionable steps to help districts meet their summer learning goals.
The suite of tools on the DSLN Hub support:
District Summer Learning Network
From 2021–2025, FHI 360 built a network of over 100 districts and states to transform summer learning across the country. Big changes happened.
Find out how DSLN’s insights can help you.