Build or Buy: How to Choose the Right Summer School Program for Your District

Why Districts Are Rethinking Summer School Programs

Summer school is no longer a “nice-to-have.” It’s a critical part of district strategy for accelerating learning, addressing instructional gaps, and re-engaging students who need additional support. In fact, 82% of U.S. public schools offered summer programming in 2023, with 78% offering programs designed specifically to help students academically.

The need is clear—and the potential impact is real. Research from the RAND Corporation shows that high-quality summer learning opportunities can lead to measurable gains in math and reading, especially for students in historically underserved communities. Other findings suggest that continuous summer enrollment may improve language skills by up to 23% and math skills by up to 25%.

As a result, district leaders are reimagining summer school—not as remediation, but as a launchpad. These programs aren’t just helping students catch up; they’re offering a unique opportunity to improve teacher performance, provide real-time professional development, and spark energy heading into the new academic year. (Explore key insights from our recent Build or Buy webinar to learn how leaders are using summer as a strategic lever.)

Still, designing a high-impact program takes time, instructional expertise, and staff capacity—resources that many teams are already stretching to meet year-round demands. In 2023, 95% of public schools with summer programs relied on full-time teachers, and most operated four or more days a week. These are real commitments—and not all districts can build from scratch while maintaining quality and access.

Even when demand is high, only 72% of schools offering academically focused summer programs were able to serve most or all students who needed or wanted to attend, and just 18% of low-income students enroll in summer school, compared to 29% of students from higher-income households.

This brings up a critical question: Should your district build your own program—or buy one from a provider?

This guide walks through the benefits of purchasing a summer school program—backed by real-world examples from district leaders—so you can make a confident, strategic choice that works for your team and your students.

👉 Just starting your decision-making process? Download our free Build or Buy Decision Guide.

What It Takes to Build a Summer Program Internally

If your district is considering building a summer school program from the ground up, it's important to understand what that process really involves. While creating your own program can offer full customization, it also requires a significant investment of time, resources, and internal expertise.

Here’s what’s typically involved in building a program internally:

• Curriculum Development: Designing instructional materials aligned with state standards takes time, skill, and coordination across subject areas.

• Assessment Planning: You’ll need to create or adapt pre- and post-assessments to measure impact and meet accountability requirements.

• Professional Development: Teachers need training to implement the curriculum effectively, especially if it’s new or developed in-house.

• Technology Integration: From digital platforms to student data systems, every tool needs to be set up, tested, and supported.

• Logistical Coordination: Scheduling students, family outreach, teacher recruitment,, managing transportation and food services—all of it must be handled in-house.

• Quality Control: Absent an external partner to support, , the burden of maintaining consistency and effectiveness falls on district staff.

For some districts, this full build is feasible. But for many, the costs are unexpected and the lift is heavier than expected—making it difficult to scale with the level of quality students and families deserve.

Some leaders are finding success by piloting smaller-scale programs or using hybrid approaches (combining district-led elements with provider support) to test what works before scaling. These models can reduce internal lift, allow for real-time adjustments, and help teams build buy-in without committing all resources upfront. If you're weighing your options, this blog post breaks down how district leaders are navigating that decision.

Common Pitfalls to Avoid When Building a Program

Even with the best intentions, districts that build their own summer programs often encounter similar roadblocks. Here are a few of the most common mistakes and why they matter:

1: Underestimating Time and Staffing Needs Designing curriculum, managing logistics, and training teachers are all major undertakings. Districts often assume that existing staff can absorb these responsibilities on top of their year-round roles. But the opportunity cost can be significant. Without clear staffing plans, what starts as a cost-saving effort can quickly lead to burnout, reduced effectiveness, and even increased teacher turnover.

2: Skimping on Professional Development A well-designed program is only as strong as the training that supports it. Teachers need targeted, timely professional learning to deliver new or unfamiliar content effectively. Without it, even the best materials may not translate into meaningful student growth, and educators may feel unprepared or unsupported.

3: Inconsistent Quality Across Sites When each site is left to build or adapt its own program, the student experience can vary widely. Without centralized support, disparities in materials, pacing, and instructional quality can emerge. Purchased programs often include built-in support to help ensure every student, regardless of location, receives a consistent and high-quality experience.

The Case for Buying a Summer School Program

Time and Resource Constraints

Designing a summer school program from scratch is a massive lift. Planning curriculum, writing materials, coordinating logistics—it all stretches thin teams even further. By purchasing a ready-to-go program, districts can save hundreds of planning hours and deploy. Pre-built programs allow staff to focus on important supporting students and core academic year priorities.

Teacher Workload and Retention

Teacher burnout is real. Asking teachers to create curriculum and teach over the summer can lead to low participation or morale.

Purchased programs lighten the lift. They come with a full curriculum and built-in PD, allowing teachers to focus on instruction and connection.

Quality and Effectiveness

Building your own program means quality can vary depending on internal expertise. Reputable providers offer evidence-based programs that have been tested and refined across districts.

Scalability and Ease of Implementation

Managing a summer school program across multiple sites is complex. Purchased programs are designed to scale and often come with implementation guides, centralized systems, and coaching.

Compliance with State and Federal Mandates

Summer programs must align with academic standards and often require impact reporting. Providers typically include assessment tools, reporting features, and standards-aligned content.

Reduced Administrative Burden

From recruiting staff to managing materials, internally developed programs demand significant logistical coordination. Buying a program means much of the heavy lifting is handled.

How Districts Are Measuring Impact

District leaders who have implemented summer school programs with external partners like NSSI are already seeing promising results—from student engagement to early academic gains.

“Our students were bought in,” said Erica Godfrey, MTSS Coordinator at City Schools of Decatur. “They liked having a voice and choice in math. And we’re already seeing promising data when we compare their progress to students who didn’t participate.”

For many, success goes beyond test scores. Engagement, satisfaction, and teacher development are also important markers of a program’s effectiveness.

Sarah Campbell of KIPP DC shared, “We want more kids to want to come to summer school. When the content is strong and relevant, it helps us reach more families.”

Using high-quality instructional materials and targeted professional development to improves the classroom experience and help build long-term buy-in among students, families, and staff.

What Does Implementation Look Like with NSSI?

When districts partner with NSSI, they don’t just get a curriculum and best-in-class professional development, they get a structured implementation plan designed to support district personnel who are tasked with summer school management.

Here’s a general outline of what implementation can look like with NSSI:

Pre-program

• Program Setup and Onboarding

  • Customize your summer calendar and training dates

  • Job descriptions and stakeholder communications plans

  • Review checklist and timelines to ensure we hit planning benchmarks

  • Procurement plan (books, printing) and other logistics

• Staff Recruitment, Training and Support

  • Initiate teacher recruitment plan, including information sessions

  • Invite teachers to their grade and subject specific sessions

  • Pre-program Institute (2-day training to inspire and prepare)

  • Access to curriculum and navigation tips

  • Office hours and additional supports, as needed

Program 

• Daily lessons and decks to make it easy for teachers to lead dynamic instruction

• Weekly PLCs to support with implementation

• Assessment supports

• Teacher and leader communications 

• Office hours

Post-program

• Impact report generation

• Partner debrief

NSSI is built with both ease of use and scalability in mind. We spend the entire year designing for the optimal summer academic experience so our partners can focus their energy on the academic year.The goal: to help districts move quickly and efficiently without compromising quality or burning out their teams.

Does One Size Fit All? What to Consider Based on Your District

Every district has its own constraints and considerations. While the advantages of buying a summer school program are consistent, the reasons districts make this choice vary based on size, staffing, and student demographics.

• Small or Rural Districts may lack the staff capacity or curriculum department to build and manage a full program internally. A turnkey solution offers immediate relief and consistency across schools with limited hands-on coordination.

• Large or Urban Districts often need to implement programs across dozens of sites quickly. The ability to scale—while maintaining instructional quality—is one of the main reasons these districts opt to buy.

• Districts Serving High-Need Populations benefit from programs that are, culturally relevant, highly engaging, and designed to support diverse learners. Trusted vendors often bring deep experience in these areas and can ensure all students feel supported.

Whether you're running a small pilot or a districtwide rollout, buying can help streamline planning, support teachers, and accelerate student outcomes at scale.

What District Leaders Are Saying

Still Deciding? Download the Free Decision Checklist

🎯 Download our Build or Buy Decision Checklist This free resource walks you through the top considerations for your district, helping you weigh staff capacity, student needs, timelines, and cost.

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What’s the Right Move for Your District?

Buying a summer school program isn’t just a time-saver—it’s a smart investment in student success. With proven outcomes, teacher support, and simplified implementation, it’s no surprise so many districts are choosing to purchase rather than build.

But the truth is, every district is different. Your students, your staff, and your community all have unique needs and challenges. That’s why your next step should be grounded in a thoughtful, evidence-based decision-making process.

Here’s how to move forward with confidence:

• Clarify your district’s priorities. Are you trying to accelerate learning? Prevent regression? Increase engagement? Build community? Let your goals guide your decision.

• Assess your team’s capacity. Do you have the time and staff to develop curriculum, train teachers, and manage logistics internally? Or would it be smarter to work with a partner who brings a turnkey solution?

• Evaluate cost—not just dollars, but opportunity. What are the hidden costs of building your own program? Lost staff time? Inconsistent quality? Missed impact?

• Talk to other districts. Learn from leaders who’ve been there. What worked? What didn’t? What would they do differently?

• Consider your timeline. If you're planning for this summer, every week counts. Purchased programs can be implemented far more quickly than building from scratch.

At NSSI, we’ve supported districts large and small—urban, rural, and everything in between. Our programs are grounded in equity, designed by experienced educators, and proven to work in diverse contexts.

👉 Download the decision checklist or reach out to our team to learn more.

FAQs About Buying a Summer School Program

Can we customize a purchased program to fit our district’s needs? Yes. Many summer school providers—including NSSI—offer flexibility to align with your local goals, standards, and constraints..

What if we already have some curriculum in place? You can often blend existing materials with a purchased program, especially when using a provider that offers modular or supplemental content.

Is professional development included? Reputable vendors include training as part of their packages to ensure teachers are confident and supported. NSSI, for example, provides coaching and PD as a standard feature–and it’s delivered by some of the nation’s best teachers

How quickly can we get started? If your timeline is tight, buying a program allows for rapid implementation—sometimes in as little as a few weeks. Teacher recruitment and book procurement are generally the variables that need a more generous lead time.

Is buying a program more expensive than building one? Not necessarily. When you factor in staff time, PD costs, and opportunity costs, purchased programs can be more affordable and more effective. NSSI’s pricing is highly competitive.

Will our teachers still have autonomy? Yes. Purchased programs provide structure and consistency but still allow teachers the flexibility to adjust based on student needs and classroom dynamics. That said, teachers share that in summer, they don’t want to plan lessons. They prefer grab-and-go content, which NSSI provides.

What kind of support do district leaders receive during implementation? Vendors like NSSI typically provide onboarding supports, staff training, and ongoing coaching to ensure a smooth rollout. This allows districts to implement with confidence, even on tight timelines.

Can we phase in a purchased program across multiple schools or summers? Absolutely. Many districts start with a pilot (such as a single subject or grade band) and scale over time as they assess impact and build staff buy-in. Other partners choose to go big immediately.

What outcomes can we expect for students and teachers? Summer academic programs that are led by district teachers, run for at least twenty days, and meet other instructional criteria are proven to staunch summer learning losses and boost gains across demographic groups. In many cases, data shows measurable learning gains compared to students not enrolled in summer programming.

Will this help with teacher development? Yes. One of the key benefits of programs like NSSI is aligned professional development. Teachers don’t just receive curriculum—they gain tools, training, and coaching that helps them return to their classrooms next fall more prepared to lead high-quality Tier 1 instruction.

Ready to Decide?

Use Our Build or Buy Checklist for Summer School

Deciding whether to build or buy your summer school program isn’t easy. That’s why we created a practical tool to help district and school leaders weigh the pros and cons based on your unique goals, staffing, and student needs.