America’s schools are working to help students catch up on lost learning due to the COVID-19 pandemic. While progress has been made, it has been slow and uneven, with marginalized students often falling behind. According to the Education Recovery Scorecard, students have made up one-third of their math losses and one-quarter of reading losses. However, in nine states, including Virginia, reading scores continued to decline. This has raised concerns about a looming financial crisis as federal relief money is set to run out later this year.
To address the learning loss, some states like Virginia and Massachusetts have allocated additional funds for tutoring programs. Virginia, in particular, has hired online tutoring companies to provide extra support to students. U.S. Education Secretary Miguel Cardona has urged states to continue funding academic interventions as federal money expires. In Alexandria, Virginia, the district received additional state funding to expand tutoring programs. Educators are working to prioritize students with the greatest needs and provide individualized support to help them catch up.
The pandemic setbacks have widened existing achievement gaps, particularly among poorer students. Failing to get students back on track could have lasting consequences, affecting their income and incarceration rates in the future. While some states have seen improvements in math and reading scores, others are still struggling to reach pre-pandemic levels. Chicago Public Schools have been able to make significant gains in reading scores through the implementation of tutoring programs, interventionists, home visits, and expanded arts education to engage students.
At Wells Preparatory Elementary, the school saw a significant increase in reading proficiency thanks to federal relief funds. The school focused on collaboration and engagement to help students catch up. Students like Olorunkemi Atoyebi, who struggled with math after the pandemic, received individualized support and saw improvement in their grades. Educators emphasized the importance of engaging students in their learning to ensure academic growth. Overall, the efforts to help students recover from pandemic setbacks are ongoing, with states and districts working to provide necessary support and resources.
