Learning loss from the COVID-19 pandemic is real.
These numbers just quantify it.
The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) administers a standardized test known as the NAEP.
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It’s also known as “the nation’s report card.”
But these decreases were likely years in the making.
Still, the decline that occurred post-pandemic is notable and marked a sharper decline than in years past.
What Role Did the Pandemic Play?
Your first thought may be what role the pandemic played in these lowered test scores.
Was it all the fault of the pandemic?
What about the fact that test scores have been decreasing for the past decade?
As for how the pandemic might have contributed, its multi-faceted.
With the majority of kids eitherlearning remotelyfull or part-time (remember hybrid learning?
), its no wonder kids academic skills took a hit.
Learning is cumulativeall new learning generally builds on prior learning.
When so much went missing, the logical outcome was going to be increased learning loss.
Racial and Economic Inequities
The racial and economic inequities reflected in these test scores are glaring.
The pandemic put inequality under a magnifying glass, she says.
All of these factors likely impact these students test scores.
Its not easy to learn when youre carrying all of that.
Is There Hope for Educational Recovery?
We also need to keep in mind that learning is different now than it was pre-pandemic.
What Can We Do to Make Up for These Losses?
This catching up doesnt just need to happen in the classroom, Dr. OConnor suggests.
We should provide students with quality out-of-school support as well, she says, such as after-school programs.
These skills directly impact learning, too.
Finally, parents can focus on decreasingstress and anxietyat home.
National Assessment of Educational Progress.Scores decline again for 13-year-old students in reading and mathematics.
2022;13:869337. doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2022.869337
Feuer W.WHO says pandemic has caused more mass trauma than WWII.
