During summer breaks, most of the schools offer different academic summer programs to their students in order to help them with their studies.    The program is not mandatory to students; it's a means of support.   Students with special needs, or specially challenged with certain areas, would greatly benefit from academic summer programs.   For regular students who can cope with the demands of school or who have no plans of education advancement, it's not a popular choice. 

Students who require special or added supervision by their teachers at school or even during holiday breaks probably have learning disabilities or challenges.   Sometimes, the parents also factor in how students respond to school.  Most of the time, parents who are well – educated can understand the needs of their children and would be more supportive in helping them overcome these challenges.  These parents are usually the ones who would help their children with their homework.   However, there are cases wherein supportive parenting does not seem to be enough; their children are still academically challenged.  This is one situation wherein academic summer programs can actually help.

There is an ongoing debate on the benefits of year – round education for children.  It is a common experience among everyone that one tends to “forget” what was taught in school during vacation.  Now, to help students “remember” what they have forgotten, parents would look at enrolling their children into one of these programs.  The program sort of “bridges” the memory gap and help students to be mentally prepared when school starts once again.

From a student's perspective, another downside to attending academic summer programs is that it prevents them from taking some time off to have some fun.  There is probably no student out there who does not look forward to a school break, even if it's just for a few days.  That is a very common mentality for students.   After a year of school work, they would feel that they deserve a break and strike a balance between academics and life in general.

The decision whether to attend an academic summer program will be made, most likely, by the parents.  However, parents should not see these programs as the end – all solution for their children's learning needs.  Sending them off to these programs does not guarantee at all that a student having challenges in science or math the previous year will breeze through the same subjects the next year if they attend the program.  It does not work that way.   There are no conclusive findings to say otherwise.  If parents are really serious about helping their children, then the first step is to understand them and spend time with them.  Know their needs and find the solution together.