Introducing MD-SALT: A Statewide Push for Better Summer Learning

Young people spend 80% of their waking hours outside the traditional school day. Summer is where that time adds up the fastest, and for too many Maryland families, it’s also where the gaps show up most. Working parents scramble to find safe, affordable places for their kids to go. Students lose ground academically. Communities with the fewest resources are left with the fewest options.

That’s the problem the Maryland Summer Achievement & Learning Taskforce, or MD-SALT, was built to solve.

What is MD-SALT?

MD-SALT is a cross-sector coalition facilitated by the Maryland Out of School Time Network (MOST), bringing together leaders from K-12 and higher education, youth development and youth voice, public health and safety, philanthropy, business, faith-based organizations, and government. It’s a big tent by design, because summer learning isn’t just an education issue. It touches public health, workforce development, public safety, and family economic stability all at once.

The Taskforce’s Charge

Over the course of the year, MD-SALT members are working together to:

• Build a shared understanding of Maryland’s summer learning landscape, including current opportunities, funding streams, and the access and equity gaps that persist across the state.
• Define quality and lift up what works by recommending statewide Summer Program Quality Standards as part of MOST’s updated Quality Standards Framework, and by identifying program exemplars communities can learn from.
• Advance policy and systems change by developing recommendations to expand access, proposing legislative strategies, and suggesting statewide systems that support quality, innovation, and continuous improvement.

Why It Matters Now

Research consistently shows that participation in high-quality summer programs reduces learning loss, improves school-year outcomes, and strengthens long-term educational and career success. Yet access remains uneven, and too many working families are left to fend for themselves during the summer months. MD-SALT exists to change that, not by adding another report to a shelf, but by building the shared standards, data, and political will to make quality summer programming a reality statewide.

Get Involved

MD-SALT’s work is only as strong as the voices at the table, including young people themselves. Follow along for updates on the Taskforce’s progress, upcoming Summer Program Quality Standards, and ways your organization or community can plug in.