Initiative Description: A STEM Robotics Summer Learning Program funded by the U.S. Department of Education’s Investing in Innovation. The robotics component was expected to increase student engagement (including attendance) and perception of the relevance of mathematics, leading to increased student effort and math achievement. Intervention students were matched to comparison students who did not attend summer school. All rising 6-8th graders were eligible to enroll in the 5 week program. The program specifically targeted studetns who were low-performers in mathematics on the previous year’s state assessment

Study Results:The attendance rate of the treatment students was significantly higher than control students (p=.001).

Reference: Mac Iver & Mac Iver (2014). “STEMming” the Swell of Absenteeism in Urban Middle Grade Schools: Impacts of a Summer Robotics Program. Society for Research on Educational Effectiveness.

Level of Evidence: Very Good