U.S. Department of Education Summer Reading Camp Self-Study Guide Tools Kevin G. Smith Barbara R. Foorman Florida Center for Reading Research At Florida State University This Summer Reading Camp Self-Study Guide was developed to help state-, district-, and school-based practitioners and stakeholders conduct self-studies of planning and implementation of state-required summer reading camp programs for grade 3 students who scored at the lowest level on the state reading assessment. In some states these students face potential retention in grade 3 if they cannot meet grade-level standards for reading through a good-cause exemption, applicable alternate assessment score, or portfolio of student work showing mastery of grade-level reading standards. This guide provides a template for data collection and guiding questions for discussion that may improve instruction and increase the number of students meeting the grade-level standard by the end of the summer reading camp. Introduction Several Regional Educational Laboratory (REL) Southeast states are implementing or planning to imple- ment summer reading camps for grade 3 students who have scored at the lowest level on the state reading assessment. Summer reading camps are required multiweek extensions of the school year during which reading intervention is provided. Instruction provided during the summer reading camp is designed to At Florida State University Improving Literacy Research Alliance members were integral to the creation of the guide: Patty Adams, Juliette Carter, Karla Casteen, Anna-Marie Cote, Heather Diamond, Linda Gaughan, Carolyn Guthrie, Lynda Hayes, Laurie Lee, Melinda Lundy, Karen Spigler, and Liz Woody. These researchers also provided helpful reviews of guide drafts: Elizabeth Bright (RMC Research Corpora- tion) and Carol Connor (Arizona State University). Special thanks to the Just Read, Florida! Offce at the Florida Department of Education for its assistance. At Florida State University