FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

SUMMER NEWS TOPIC

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SUMMER’S HERE. A TIME FOR SUN, FUN AND … LEARNING LOSS?

KOCE Explores the Issue of “Summer Learning Loss” and Unveils High-Tech New Educational Resource for Parents, Teachers and Children

With the hot summer months just around the corner, children everywhere are gearing up for summer vacation – which for many entails long lazy days in front of the television, playing video games or just generally “vegging out.” What they aren’t prepared for are the educational setbacks of what researchers commonly refer to as ‘the summer effect’ or ‘summer learning loss.’

Research demonstrates that students experience significant learning losses in procedural and factual knowledge during the summer months – about one month on a grade level equivalent scale.

“Just as you would expect a professional musician or athlete’s performance to suffer if they were out of practice for 25% of the year, it only makes sense that a child on a three-month holiday from constructive learning would experience similar setbacks,” said Hall Davidson, director of education services at KOCE-TV.

KOCE Builds an Educational Resource for Summer Learning

To combat the issue of summer learning loss, KOCE-TV in collaboration with United Learning, have designed an innovative new healthy alternative to mind-wasting summer activities; an online resource that provides high-quality summer learning opportunities for all young people – the KOCE Internet Library.

The KOCE Internet Library offers:

· More than 44,000 educational video clips to visually stimulate summer learners

· 24-hour access to online learning opportunities to keep young minds sharp

· An Internet encyclopedia of grade-specific information designed to engage students

· Hands-on education and an alternative to non-educational summer internet hang-outs

Community Outreach

On Tuesday, May 17^th at 6:00 p.m. KOCE is reaching out to the local community to provide personal training and orientation to the resource to the parents of GATE and ESL children at Landell Elementary School in Cypress, Calif. Media are welcome to attend to gain an insider’s perspective on this valuable local resource.

“KOCE-TV has always made community involvement a priority, striving to address the pressing issues within the community,” said Mel Rogers, KOCE-TV president. “The KOCE Internet Library, which is currently used in many classrooms in Southern California, addresses the negative impact of the traditional summer vacation on academic achievement and offers a tremendous new opportunity for year-round education. We are proud to unveil this resource to parents because it has been so successful for teachers. We hope its success will encourage other institutions to implement similar programs and resources for the betterment of our youth.”

Exploring the Issues: Interviews Available

KOCE-TV offers leaders in education, learning and diversity for discussion of the following topics:

· The issue of summer learning loss and it’s impact on all socio-economic classes

· The role parents can play in ensuring their child is not “left behind”

· Startling statistics in regards to the correlation between rates of loss and income level

· Resources for Orange County parents, teachers and students

· How KOCE is working to combat ‘the summer effect’ within the community

To schedule an interview with or for more information, please contact Leslie Licano at (714) 573-0884

or via e-mail at leslie@echomediapr.com