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Dr. Paul von Hippel: Should parents worry about summer learning loss?

June 9, 2026

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What is Experts on Camera?

As we head into summer, many parents are concerned about what’s known as the “summer slide,” the idea that students can lose academic ground during the break, especially younger learners. On June 9, 2026, SciLine interviewed Dr. Paul von Hippel, a professor of public policy, sociology, statistics, and data science at The University of Texas at Austin.

TV bundle includes:

Soundbite (SOT)
VOSOT script (can be used as-is or modified)
Raw, full-length interview video & log with timecodes (upon request via form below)

These resources are free to use. No attribution to SciLine is required.

Soundbite (SOT) and pronouncer

Downloadable video of the soundbite

High definition (mp4, 1280x720)

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Click for VOSOT script (can be used as-is or modified): ANCHOR
AS KIDS HEAD INTO SUMMER… MANY PARENTS WORRY THE BREAK COULD COME WITH SOME ACADEMIC SETBACKS.
BUT SHOULD THEY?

VO
WE’RE TALKING ABOUT WHAT’S KNOWN AS “THE SUMMER SLIDE”… THE FEAR THAT STUDENTS COULD LOSE *MONTHS OF ACADEMIC GROUND OVER THE SUMMER… ESPECIALLY YOUNG LEARNERS.
DOCTOR PAUL VON HIPPEL… AN EDUCATION POLICY EXPERT… AND PROFESSOR AT THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN SAYS HIS LATEST RESEARCH TELLS A DIFFERENT STORY… SHOWING WHILE MOST KIDS DON’T GAIN ACADEMIC SKILLS DURING THE BREAK… THEY’RE NOT LOSING MUCH GROUND AT ALL… IF ANY.
HE RECOMMENDS SHIFTING THE CONVERSATION FROM SUMMER LEARNING *LOSS… TO SUMMER LEARNING *OPPORTUNITY.

SOT
Duration: :31
Super: Dr. Paul von Hippel – Professor, University of Texas at Austin
“I think that a lot of the conversation around summer learning loss is built on fear. And that’s because of certain findings, really dating back to the 1980s, suggesting that kids really fall off a cliff during the summer. Those findings, I think, it’s a little bit comforting to know that they don’t replicate all that well. It is true that most kids don’t build much skill during the summer, and so I think we really wanna reframe the summer, stop thinking about it with fear as anticipation of loss, and start looking at it with hope and as an opportunity.”VO
SO WHAT CAN YOU DO DURING THE BREAK TO CREATE LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES?
DOCTOR HIPPEL SAYS IT CAN LOOK LIKE ENRICHMENT ACTIVITIES FOR KIDS WHO ARE ALREADY ON TRACK… WHETHER THAT’S LEARNING A NEW LANGUAGE OR TAKING MUSIC LESSONS.
FOR STUDENTS WHO ARE BEHIND ON SUBJECTS LIKE READING OR MATH… HE SAYS SUMMER CAN PROVIDE TIME TO CATCH UP OR BUILD SKILLS BEFORE THE NEXT SCHOOL YEAR.

Raw, full-length interview covers:

What research shows, and what it doesn’t, about losing academic skills over the summer months;
Why the focus is shifting from summer learning loss to summer learning opportunity;
How access to resources and enrichment opportunities can help students with learning opportunities over the summer; and
Practical ways families can support learning and development during the break.