BILL NUMBER: SCR 93	ENROLLED
	BILL TEXT

	ADOPTED IN SENATE  AUGUST 9, 2010
	ADOPTED IN ASSEMBLY  JUNE 28, 2010
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  JUNE 15, 2010

INTRODUCED BY   Senator DeSaulnier
   (Coauthor: Senator Cedillo)

                        MARCH 23, 2010

   Relative to Summer Learning and Wellness Month.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   SCR 93, DeSaulnier. Summer Learning and Wellness Month.
   This measure would designate July 2010 as "Summer Learning and
Wellness Month."



   WHEREAS, A child's need for meaningful learning and enrichment
experiences does not end in June when the school doors close for
summer vacation, these needs continue into and through the summer
months. Many of these needs are not being met in neighborhoods where
poverty is high; and
   WHEREAS, All children need summer learning opportunities in order
to stay on course academically. Without ongoing summer opportunities
to reinforce and learn skills, children, especially children in
low-income communities, may fall behind dramatically in many areas of
academic achievement; and
   WHEREAS, The debilitating effect of an absence of summer learning
and enrichment is often referred to as "the summer slide." The summer
slide is characterized by measurable learning loss that includes
reading loss and significant achievement gaps between children with
lower and higher income parents; and
   WHEREAS, The summer slide affects children from low-income
families disproportionately. The lack of summer learning
opportunities during elementary school years contribute to the
ninth-grade achievement gap between youths with lower and higher
income parents. As a result, youths with low-income parents are less
likely to graduate from high school or enter college; and
   WHEREAS, While parents in California consistently cite summer as
the most difficult time to ensure that their children have productive
things to do, the supply of low-cost summer programs in California
is extremely limited relative to the number of children with
low-income parents; and
   WHEREAS, Summer school is currently the largest provider of summer
programming in California, but budget cuts have had a devastating
effect on program availability; and
   WHEREAS, Many children with low-income parents lose access to
healthy school meals and organized physical activity during the
summer months; and
   WHEREAS, In California, nearly one-third (32 percent) of 5th
graders are overweight or obese. Some studies indicate that children
gain weight more rapidly when they are out of school for summer.
Summer weight gains are especially large for African American and
Hispanic children; and
   WHEREAS, The national Summer Learning Day on June 21 celebrates
how public and private summer programs send young people back to
school ready to learn, support families, and help keep children safe
and healthy; now, therefore, be it
   Resolved by the Senate of the State of California, the Assembly
thereof concurring, That the Legislature designates July 2010 as
Summer Learning and Wellness Month; and be it further
   Resolved, That the California Legislature recognizes that all
children need fun, safe, and educational opportunities in the
summertime that prevent summer learning loss and summer weight gain;
and be it further
   Resolved, That the Secretary of the Senate transmit copies of this
resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.