Warm weather is finally returning to the Pacific Northwest, and this means summer break is almost here.

Although summer break can mean long days enjoying the sun and hanging out with friends, it’s also a time when students can suffer academically. The term “summer slump” is a time when students can easily fall behind academically. According to the National Summer Learning Association, research spanning 100 years shows that students typically score lower on standardized tests at the end of summer vacation than they do on the same tests at the beginning of the summer. In addition, a comprehensive analysis published by the RAND Corp. noted that elementary students’ performance falls by about a month during the summer. Reading is a great way to attack the summer slump.

Arlington Public Schools offers a program during the summer called “Books on the Bus.” The bookmobile travels on Wednesdays from June 28 through Aug. 16 to the following locations:

•Presidents Elementary School: 9:30-10:30 a.m.

•Twin Ponds Apartments: 10:40-11:30 a.m.

•Haller Park: 11:40 a.m.-12:40 p.m.

•High Clover Park: 1:30-2:30 p.m.

•67th Street: 2:45-3:45 p.m.

The bookmobile is a school bus full of books. It’s available to all Arlington students from preschool through high school but reading materials focus on elementary students. Staff help students find books and can also read to them or with them. Students are able to check out three books at a time. Students can earn points for returning their books and points can be used to purchase prizes at the end of the summer.

Books on the Bus participation continues to grow, and this summer’s goal is to serve 400 students. This is the third year of the program. The next time your family goes on vacation or visits the beach this summer, make sure your children have a book with them.

It could help them avoid the summer slump and prepare them for the upcoming school year.

-Terri Bookey is the director of Early Learning for the Arlington Public Schools.