Bridging the Gap: Schools in the Post-Pandemic World
How COVID harmed learning: According to the Bellwether Education Partners report, around 3 million marginalized students have not experienced any formal education — virtual or in-person — since March 2020. The reasons these many students aren’t attending school are complex and varied, but there are a few clear causes. The digital divide was made increasingly evident throughout the pandemic as it became known that many students lack the devices and Wi-Fi access to participate in virtual instruction fully. National analyses suggest that as many as 16.9 million children lacked home internet access before the pandemic, and 7.3 million children did not have a computer at home. These students disproportionately live in low-income households and are more likely to be Black, Latinx, or Native American. A lack of access to technology isn’t the only issue preventing students from engaging in educational pursuits. Many English learners and students with disabilities had no good options to receive the academic accommodations and services they are legally entitled to, making learning inaccessible. Children in foster care and children experiencing homelessness encountered barriers to education before the pandemic, and this year, instability, confusion, and poor communication exacerbated the problem. Furthermore, non-white children are estimated to fall behind six to 12 months in mathematics compared to four to eight months for white students, according to a December 2020 McKinsey & Co. report.
What can be done: Schools are already seeing an influx of federal investment. California K-12 schools have received or are slated to receive roughly $28.6 billion in federal funds between spring 2020 and spring 2021 to address pandemic response and learning loss. About $129 billion in COVID-19 relief funds will go to K-12 schools nationally. Though necessary, money alone will not solve the systemic issues plaguing our educational system. While many are eager to return to normal, the old “normal” was under-serving our nation’s most vulnerable children and youth. As Americans respond to this public health and education emergency, it is imperative to build toward an education system that places equity at the center so that all students, especially those most impacted by the pandemic and systemic racism, have the support and opportunities they need to achieve their potential. Schools should also attempt to be restorative places where students feel safe, known, supported, and fully engaged in learning, thus laying the groundwork for long-term and systemic transformation.
