School districts that stayed remote longer caused students’ academic performance to suffer at least 20% more than districts that returned to in-person learning, according to a report by the Education Recovery Scorecard.
On average, school districts who were remote through the 2020-2021 school year experienced a 41% larger achievement loss in math, according to a report by the Education Recovery Scorecard. In reading, remote districts saw a 20% greater achievement loss than schools in the same state that were doing in-person learning. (RELATED: ‘I Wouldn’t Be Boasting’: Reports That Los Angeles’ School Lockdowns Didn’t Hurt Learning Are Misleading. Here’s Why)
“The COVID pandemic affected virtually every aspect of children’s lives, including their families, their social lives, their mental health and their schooling experiences and learning opportunities,” the report read. “A comprehensive accounting of the toll of the pandemic on students would measure not just their math and reading skills, but also their mental, physical, and socio-emotional well-being.”
Every state has seen a decline in its math scores since 2019. Approximately 43 states saw a decline in their fourth-grade math scores and all 50 states, plus Washington D.C., saw a drop in eighth-grade math scores.
Fourth-grade math scores fell by an average of five points while eighth-grade math scores dropped by eight points. Only 36% of fourth graders and 26% of eight graders are currently proficient in math.
A counter-demonstrator holds up a sign as members of the Chicago Teachers Union and their supporters participate in a car caravan around City Hall to protest against in-person learning in Chicago public schools on January 10, 2022 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images)
A September National Assessment of Educational Progress report showed that reading scores fell back to where they were in 1990 and math scores saw their first ever decline.
For many districts, including the Detroit School District and Seattle Public Schools, making up learning losses will cost millions of dollars.
The Educational Opportunity Project at Stanford University used data from all 50 states, examining students’ math and reading scores from third to eighth grade to create the report.
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