The primary challenge VBPL looked to address was how to bring summer literacy opportunities to disadvantaged students in order to prevent summer slide. Students most at-risk for summer slide are often unable to visit their local library due to transportation and family scheduling challenges. In order to reach this segment of our population, VBPL partnered with the public school system to offer a reading program in which VBPL Youth Librarians visit Title I Schools to bring hands-on library programming and encourage families to register for the library's Summer Reading Challenge. From 2013 to 2014, VBPL increased programming from 6 to 11 Title I schools.

Prior to the launch of this program, schools and libraries offered separate summer reading challenges. Through this partnership, youth librarians work with Title I teachers and families to bring the summer reading challenge into the classroom. In 2013, libraries and schools partnered to reduce duplication of services and to address the issue of reducing summer slide. The City of Virginia Beach is a member of the National Campaign for Grade-Level reading and has formed the Virginia Beach Reads interdepartmental team with the shared goal to have all children reading on grade level by the end of 3rd grade.

In 2014, the Summer Slide program resulted in 60% of Title I children maintaining or improving their reading levels prior to entering school in September. The SRC-Title I Partnership utilizes the research-based Developmental Reading Assessment (DRA) scores to assess whether or not participation in the program had a measurable effect on summer slide. The DRA is administered individually to students by teachers. Tasks measured are divided into different skill sets including phonemic awareness, alphabetic principles, fluency, vocabulary, comprehension, and reading engagement. Testing is administered by Virginia Beach Public Schools.