Baltimore leaders commit to expanded summer programs for youth

Today Baltimore’s Promise hosts "Summer in December," bringing together the Summer Systems Table, a cross sector group that includes City Hall, Baltimore City Public Schools, philanthropy, cultural institutions such as Port Discovery and the National Aquarium, nonprofit providers and families. The meeting is meant to move planning from conversation to coordinated action by aligning budgets, staffing and program design across institutions that serve young people during the summer.

Organizers framed the effort around evidence that regular affordable summer programming reduces learning loss, maintains engagement and promotes youth safety. They cited local data showing cost is a significant barrier for many families seeking summer options, and they emphasized that without coordinated investment and planning low income children risk losing ground academically and missing structured supports that working caregivers rely on.

Participants committed to monthly follow up meetings and to a slate of short term actions to be completed within 30 days. Three standing subcommittees will push immediate work forward. One will focus on data to measure participation, outcomes and access. A second will address accessibility and collective bargaining to ensure workforce stability and fair pay for summer staff. A third will plan out of city experiences under the B’More Voyages initiative to expand exposure and learning opportunities for Baltimore youth.

The plan signals a shift toward year round planning between the school system, city agencies and community organizations. For Baltimore residents the economic implications are concrete. More accessible summer options can reduce child care costs for working families, support summer employment for teens, and help cultural institutions and nonprofits operate more sustainably by improving enrollment and funding predictability.

Policy questions remain about long term funding and how much of the expansion will require municipal budget commitments versus philanthropic or federal support. City and school leaders at the table stressed the need to integrate summer strategy into broader workforce and education planning to multiply benefits for students and employers alike.

The Summer Systems Table will use the next month to produce actionable steps for program expansion and to report back at the next monthly meeting. The intent is to turn short term actions into a steady pipeline of higher quality, more affordable summer opportunities across Baltimore.