The answer, for most city school systems (from New York City to Los Angeles, Chicago to Houston), was a radical departure from the "summer slide" prevention packets of years past. 2020’s summer homework was less about algebra drills and book reports, and more about resilience, reflection, and—above all—flexibility. In a typical year, a city school’s summer homework might include 20-30 pages of math review, a required reading list, and a science project due on the first day back. But in June 2020, many large districts did something unprecedented: they made summer work optional .
For students, parents, and teachers in metropolitan school districts, the summer of 2020 was unlike any in living memory. The usual rhythm—a final exam, a celebratory bell, and a stack of photocopied worksheets sent home in a backpack—was disrupted by a global pandemic. As cities emerged from the chaos of sudden spring lockdowns, the question loomed: What does summer homework look like when no one knows what fall will bring? city school summer vacation homework 2020
And in the eyes of most educators, that was an A+. This article is a historical reflection based on documented practices from major US city school districts during summer 2020. The answer, for most city school systems (from
The Chicago Public Schools system, for example, advised principals to "prioritize student and family wellness over academic assignments." Similarly, the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) distributed a "Summer of Learning" guide that focused on daily reading and outdoor exploration, explicitly stating that no graded work would be accepted in the fall. But in June 2020, many large districts did