Turning a Page on the Summer Slide

With schools across Long Island dismissed for the summer, New York State Sen. Monica R. Martinez is reminding students, parents and guardians that intellectual enrichment doesn't need to end just because classes have.  To combat the "Summer Slide," during which students lose some of the achievement gains made during the previous school year, the New York State Senate is launching its 2025 Summer Reading Program.  The annual event encourages parents and guardians statewide to keep their children engaged in learning, while fostering a love of reading that will boost literacy skills during the summer months and beyond. This year’s theme, Color our World: Colorea Nuestro Mundo, was developed in collaboration with the Collaborative Summer Library Program (CSLP) to create inclusive literacy-based programs that are enjoyable for all ages. 

To participate parents and guardians are asked to submit their children’s summer reading activities, which include the names of three books read by their child this summer to Sen. Martinez on the Summer Reading Program’s webpage through August 22, 2025.  Children entered will receive a Certificate of Achievement from Sen. Martinez in recognition of their achievements. 

“Summer is the perfect time for students to discover their artistic and creative sides through reading,” said Sen. Martinez. “Summer reading allows students to explore their interests while strengthening the reading and comprehension skills that will fuel their success in September and beyond.  As a former educator, I encourage families to participate in the New York State Senate's 2025 Summer Reading Program to keep your child engaged, intellectually stimulated, and ready to thrive when they return to school this fall.”

According to the New York State Library, summer reading programs like this one play a crucial role in advancing literacy and academic performance.  By engaging children and teens in voluntary reading, these programs promote successful reading experiences and support literacy development in communities across New York State.

For more information on the New York State Senate's 2025 Summer Reading Program, please visit https://www.nysenate.gov/nyread.  Additional resources and insights into the benefits of summer reading are available from New York's Libraries and Scholastic’s Kids and Families Reading Report.