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Want to build a summer program that gets results?

Join the District Summer Learning Network

Fill out the interest form to get started.

Or read on for more information about the program.

DSLN at-a-glance

  • No-cost core programming supported by grant funding
  • National network of district leaders building high-impact summer programs
  • Easy-to-use, proven tools and resources
  • Optional coaching for more tailored support (scholarships available)
  • Facilitated by FHI 360 and AASA, The School Superintendents Association

Why districts join DSLN

  • To improve student outcomes
  • To increase attendance in summer programs
  • To build stronger programs with proven practices
  • To get support from peers and experts
Children walk into Susan Moore Elementary School in Blount County, Alabama, to attend Dreamcatchers, a summer learning program offered by Blount County Schools. The district participates in the District Summer Learning Network, a nationwide project led by FHI 360. Photo credit: Bita Honarvar for FHI 360
Children walk into Susan Moore Elementary School in Blount County, Alabama, to attend Dreamcatchers, a summer learning program offered by Blount County Schools. The district participates in the District Summer Learning Network, a nationwide project led by FHI 360. Photo credit: Bita Honarvar for FHI 360
Christopher, a student at the Dreamcatchers summer learning program at Susan Moore Elementary School in Blount County, Alabama, listens during class. Photo by Bita Honarvar for FHI 360.
Christopher, a student at the Dreamcatchers summer learning program at Susan Moore Elementary School in Blount County, Alabama, listens during class. Photo by Bita Honarvar for FHI 360.
Durham Public Schools' Southern School of Energy and Sustainability staff members Dare Kumolu-Johnson, Jerome Leathers, Lilly Norman, Jennifer Hull Campbell, Joseph Rattigan, Joselyn Montoya Granados (left to right).
Southern School of Energy and Sustainability staff members Dare Kumolu-Johnson, Jerome Leathers, Lilly Norman, Jennifer Hull Campbell, Joseph Rattigan, Joselyn Montoya Granados (left to right). Photo by Jessica Scranton for FHI 360.

What your district gets

  • A clear, comprehensive summer learning plan
  •  Ready-to-use tools and templates
  • Strategies to improve attendance and student outcomes
  • Stronger internal capacity and sustainability
  • Connection to peers leading summer learning change across the country

What your team will experience

No-cost core programming funded by The Wallace Foundation:

  • Monthly professional learning sessions to build your summer plan
  • Dedicated time to collaborate and problem-solve with peers
  • Access to tools, templates, and resources from our team and other districts in the network
  • Support to apply evidence-based practices to your district context

Your time commitment

  • One two-hour professional learning session per month for five months 
  • Opportunities to present or discuss your district’s work to the network
  • Optional additional sessions with one of our expert coaches
  • Optional additional one-hour sessions for more discussion with districts addressing similar challenges 

Don't take it from us. Here's what our members have said:

DSLN fosters collaborative learning communities where leaders across districts can exchange ideas, discuss challenges, and share solutions. This network has created a support system that encourages continuous reflection and the implementation of best practices across multiple schools.

Great network and resources; our involvement has transformed our programming.

Being a part of DSLN has shown me new ways to approach summer learning and planning in more thoughtful ways.

Being in network with other districts across the country, but also in the same state has been crucial to helping us do better and serve scholars in a more robust way.

Whether you're just getting started or ready to level up your summer programming, DSLN offers the tools and community to help you make summer a time of opportunity for all students.

Need some summer learning inspiration? 

Find out how nine different districts that shine used DSLN’s support and resources to solve sticky challenges. 

Get started in 2 minutes.

  1. Fill out our interest form.
  2. A DSLN team member will follow up.

Sign up by September 9 for the 26–27 year.

Not sure? There’s no commitment required. Fill out the interest form and our team will get back to you to answer any questions you might have.

Want more customized support?

Check out our optional coaching packages.

DSLN members have consistently identified coaching as the most powerful network support, allowing them to measurably improve their summer learning programs. 

Here’s what some of our members have ahd to say about DSLN coaching:

[My DSLN coach] is the best thing that I have ever encountered as a support structure.

Having a coach has been instrumental for our growth. She keeps me on track and challenges me.

Our DSLN [coach] was incredibly responsive. She was able to share ideas and thoughts from other programs. Her ability to provide strategic planning was helpful. The level of expertise was beyond helpful.

We hired a dedicated person last year to focus exclusively on the data collection process. Our DSLN [coach] worked directly with that person to ensure her work was aligned to our needs and we received data that was easily translated to various audiences.

DSLN members have consistently identified coaching as the most powerful network support, allowing them to measurably improve their summer learning programs. We now offer three coaching packages to help you apply network learning and set audacious goals to transform your summer programs. Our expert DSLN coaches tailor their support to your individual summer learning needs and contexts.

If you don’t see an option that reflects your needs, let us know and we can discuss individual packages.

Pick the level of support that works best for your goals.

Coaching Package A

40 hours of coaching

~4 hours per month for 10 months

Appropriate for districts: 

  • New to DSLN with a goal of significantly improving their summer program
  • Building capacity of cross-functional summer learning team
  • Committed to shifting from remediation to acceleration
  • New to summer learning evidence-based practices or wanting to strengthen multiple evidence-based practices
  • Wanting to improve academic outcomes and/or build better systems for tracking outcomes of summer learning
  • Small districts that need extra help or large districts that have complex teams
Cost: $12,250

Coaching Package B

20 hours of coaching

~4 hours per month for 5 months

Appropriate for districts: 

  • New to DSLN with a plan to explore ways to improve their summer program
  • Returning and needing moderate support
  • Looking to strengthen 2-3 key summer learning evidence-based practices
  • Planning on a targeted improvement in summer learning: strengthening literacy in summer, strengthening summer for older youth, etc.
  • Interested in improving recruitment and family connection during summer
Cost: $7,750

Coaching Package C

10 hours of coaching

~2 hours per month for 5 months

Appropriate for districts: 

  • Returning to DSLN and confident in their goals and plans
  • Focused on strengthening 1-2 summer learning evidence-based practices
  • Requiring light or short-term support setting up systems or implementing practices; planning program improvements based on data; or those with prior DSLN experience
Cost: $5,550

Site Visits

Appropriate for districts that want hands-on support: 

  • In the planning phase, including implementing professional learning, presenting to a board, facilitating planning, etc.
  • In the implementation phase, observing across sites and giving feedback to improve next year’s summer learning  

Costs include coaching time, travel, accommodation, meals, and incidentals. Total cost is variable based on site visit duration and travel requirements. Email summerlearning@fhi360.org to create a customized site visit. 

All prices can be discounted 15% for returning districts or new districts that sign up by October 15, 2025.

Considering joining DLSN?

Please fill out our interest form to get started or learn more. A member of the DSLN team will contact you to share information about the sign-up process and answer any questions about the network.

Fill out the interest form