In an effort to stem the learning loss that students typically experience during the summer, Cox Communications kicked off its Summer Smarts Series at the Cranston YMCA’s Pastore Center last Thursday morning.

The series, which is directed toward parents, will provide tips and ideas for keeping children engaged in learning during the off-school months.

“We’re trying to go to different communities all over the state this summer and call attention to the importance of keeping your kids engaged,” said Jennifer Bramley, vice president of government and public affairs at Cox.

The “summer slump” that students experience has been long documented by the National Summer Learning Association (NSLA).

“Most students lose about two months of grade level equivalency in mathematical computation skills over the summer months. Low-income students also lose more than two months in reading achievement, despite the fact that their middle-class peers make slight gains,” according to the NSLA’s website.

Some of the series’ recommendations include having the student create a journal, using cooking skills to practice fractions and visiting the museum.

Also important – and where Cox steps in – is access to the Internet. An increasing amount of schoolwork requires online access, making it integral in a child’s education.

State Sen. Joshua Miller, who was on hand for the kickoff, called access to the Internet “a great component of continuing learning and maintaining learning throughout the school year and over the summer.”

His sentiment was shared by Cranston Schools Superintendent Dr. Judith Lundsten, who thanked Cox for their efforts and emphasized the importance of youngsters having access to the “appropriate” websites.

“I love the fact that you’re going to educate parents. I think that safety piece is huge,” she said.

There is, however, a financial burden that comes along with Internet access.

“Unfortunately, not every family has access to broadband services, and the key reason for that has really been the cost,” said Bramley.

Recognizing this, Cox has teamed up with national non-profit Connect2Compete (C2C) in order to provide discounted services and access to affordable computers.

Under C2C’s current program, families who currently have at least one child receiving free school lunch through the National School Lunch Program may apply for Internet through Cox for $9.95 a month. These families also have the opportunity to purchase a refurbished desktop computer for $150 or refurbished laptop for $199 from GoodPC.

Additional information about C2C’s program may be found online at www.connect2compete.org/cox or by calling at 1-855-222-3217.