Published July 8, 2026

Summer should be a time for children to explore new interests, stay active, and continue learning in safe and supportive environments. National Summer Learning Week, observed July 6–10, is an opportunity to highlight the importance of summer programs and the role they play in supporting children, families, and communities. It is also a time to recognize that for many families, summer brings challenges: ensuring children continue to have access to nutritious meals when school is out.  

Summer Learning and Summer Nutrition Go Hand-In-Hand 

Summer learning and summer meals are deeply connected. During the school year, millions of children rely on school breakfast and lunch. When school closes, children lose access to those meals, and at the same time, they lose access to structured learning and enrichment opportunities.  

New findings from the Afterschool Alliance’s America After 3PM summer study, The Summer Struggle for Everyday Families: Affording the Opportunities Parents Want for Youth, 

  • 89 percent of summer program providers are concerned that their students are experiencing food insecurity  
  • Parents of 24.6 million children want a structured summer experience for their child, yet one in two children — about 12.6 million — are missing out. 

Supporting Summer Programs and Meals   

The Summer Nutrition Programs provide funding to approved sites to serve meals and snacks during the summer months. In July 2024, 16.2 children received a summer lunch for every 100 children who received a free or reduced-price lunch during the 2023–2024 school year. 

During National Summer Learning Week, policymakers, advocates, schools, community-based organizations, and local partners must recognize that summer learning and summer meals must be strengthened together. Expanding access will require increased investment in summer programs, targeted efforts to reduce barriers like transportation and cost, stronger outreach so families know what programs and meal sites are available, and reduced administrative barriers for programs that want to provide meals and snacks.  

By expanding summer learning and summer meals, communities can help ensure that more children have a summer filled with nourishment, learning, connection, and opportunity. 

Learn more about Summer Nutrition and Enrichment Programs.