Summer should be a time of heading to the beach with friends and playing capture the flag in the yard until the streetlights come on.

However, research suggests that it should also be a time for learning. Summer learning loss, sometimes referred to as the "summer
slide," is a loss of academic achievement students experience during the summer. Schools should implement summer reading programs
to help combat this summer setback. Engaging summer reading programs help to foster lifelong readers. Reading over the summer
helps children keep their literacy skills up, and with a broader selection of books, the program can pique the interest of reluctant readers.
What is the author's purpose?
(1 point)
O to show the ineffectiveness of summer reading programs in schools
O to outline the components of a strong summer reading program
O to explain how children should spend their summers
O to show the benefits of summer reading programs in schools

The author's purpose is to show the benefits of summer reading programs in schools.