Schools Out, Battle Against Learning Loss Begins
Schools kids from across West Alabama have been looking forward to this event since last August - the final day of the 2025-26 school year. They may not run out the school's front door throwing expensive text books in the air like some television shows depict, but they are happy none-the-less.
While students in West Alabama are ready for summer break, schools are preparing to address learning loss with initiatives like the Summer Reading Challenge launched by Governor Ivey.
The Last Day
Today is the final day for students in the school systems of Tuscaloosa City and County School, Hale County, Lamar County, Marengo County and Walker County. Teachers will return for a quieter work day tomorrow before starting their Memorial Day weekend.
Perry County students got a jump on everybody, ending their school year yesterday. Tomorrow is the final day for students in Bibb, Fayette, Greene, Pickens County schools.
Memorial Day Monday is the end of the school year for Jasper City School while students in Sumter County must wait until next Wednesday.
Alabama public schools are required to provide a minimum of 180 instructional days per school year. Some school systems may have slight altered school calendar due to weather and other events as long as 1,080 instructional hours are recorded.
For years, Alabama had the shortest school year in the nation with 175 student instructional days. In 2006, the state lengthened the school year to180 days to meet the national average, which is still below the international aveage of 200 instructional days.
Summer Learning Loss Solutions
In recent years educators have been attempting to overcome a significant educational problem, retention of what has been learned. Summer learning loss (often called the “summer slide”) is the documented decline in academic skills and knowledge that occurs during summer break. On average, students lose about one to two months of learning, with math skills generally decaying faster than reading proficiency. Of most worry is the 60% loss in reading skills during the summer that impacts all school subjects.
Educators say the "summer slide" forces teachers to have to delay new learning due to lengthy start of school review.
Alabama schools combat summer learning loss through targeted, state-mandated camps, community-based partnerships, and district-level enrichment programs. These efforts emphasize foundational skills like reading and math, and have proven highly effective in helping students retain knowledge and accelerate their academic growth.
The Alabama Literacy Act and Alabama Numeracy Act were passed by the state legislature requiring summer reading and math programs to reduce the summer slide. Combined with community partnerships and grants, these programs are producing positive results.
Gov. Ivey announced her 2026 Summer Reading Challenge this week. She is inviting Alabama students entering kindergarten through eighth grade to celebrate a patriotic summer through reading as America prepares to mark its 250th birthday.
“One of the best things we can do as Americans is to keep learning, keep dreaming and keep working to build an even stronger future for our country,” Ivey stated in her announcement. “I look forward to hearing from students all across Alabama this summer.”
Students participating in the challenge are asked to track the books they read using a Summer Reading Challenge log and submit either a written reflection or drawing describing what they learned about the United States of America during their summer reading.
Governor Ivey, a former teacher, is encouaging students to choose books they enjoy while especially considering stories focused on America’s history, culture, hardworking people and enduring values.
Completed reading logs and reflections must be mailed by August 1, 2026, to:Governor Kay Ivey, Attn: Summer Reading Challenge, 600 Dexter Avenue, Montgomery, AL 36130.
Governor Ivey’s invitation letter, additional information and the downloadable materials for Governor Ivey’s Summer Reading Challenge are available here.
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