A 25 year-old figured out a way to save low-income kids from the dreaded 'summer slide'

pulse

May 9, 2017 4:23 PM

Karim Abouelnaga started his company Practice Makes Perfect in college seven years ago. To-date he's helped 4,000 kids avoid summer learning loss.

Karim Abouelnaga giving his TED talk on summer slide.

For most kids, summertime means a few forgotten math equations or the loss of select grammar rules. For others, particularly those in poverty, it can mean years of compounding disadvantages that result in fewer jobs and lower wages as adults.

Karim Abouelnaga may have found a workable solution to this phenomenon, known best as "summer slide."

The approach seems to be working. Roughly 85% of kids show up on a regular basis, compared to just 65% in summer school. Only about 5% of kids stop showing up entirely, he says.

Currently, the program is in 37 schools across New York City's five boroughs. Abouelnaga hopes one day to expand nationwide. For now, however, the city's 1.1 million kids more than keep his hands full.

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