Summer school scholarships are a key way to improve student learning for low-income Baltimore City students, according to a new study by Dan Lips, a senior fellow at the Maryland Public Policy Institute.

Baltimore City Schools CEO Andres Alonso is making big strides to improve the educational opportunities for his students during the school year. Giving principals more control over their curriculum and finances and closing underperforming schools are two examples of reforms that are improving student learning. But the school system remains in a state of crisis, with a 2008 study funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation showing that only 35 percent of students graduate from high school in Baltimore City - the fourth worst rate in the nation.

One of the factors contributing to the poor performance is summer break. What happens when children are out of school for three months can often set them back academically and increase their chance of dropping out of school. Studies show that low-income students are at particular risk for losing ground during the summer and widening the achievement gap between themselves and higher-income peers.