ZEELAND (WHTC) - Elementary students in the Zeeland Public Schools are being encouraged to participate in a summer learning program that’s designed to reduce a loss in learning that typical occurs over summer break. Students in kindergarten through fifth grade are bringing home a brochure about the “Summer Stretch” program that describes four choices they have for taking part. District reading specialist Julie Paterick says that research has shown that students lose an average of 2.6 months of academic achievement during the summer months, and that as little as 20 minutes of reading or math each day can drastically improve this statistic. Two meetings to explain the program will be held Thursday night, at 5:30 p.m. at New Groningen Elementary and 7 p.m. at Lincoln Elementary. All parents are welcome.