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eu.clipdealer.com
Education Dive
Report: Steeper COVID slide expected in math than reading
Shawna De La Rosa
Nov. 3, 2020
Dive Brief:
Learning gains during the 2019-20 school year are expected to be
significantly lower than typical years due to the "COVID slide,"
according to a report from NWEA published in Sage Journals.
The research predicts learning gains in reading to be 63% to 68% of
what they normally are on average, but math is expected to be much
lower at only 37% to 50% of the average normal school year gains.
These numbers assume a 50% absenteeism rate during school closures compared to normal circumstances.
Dive Insight:
Research shows virtual instruction was hit-or-miss in the spring.
Though 83% of parents in a Gallup poll reported their children were
involved in distance learning, some teachers had no contact with a
significant number of students. A survey conducted by Education Week
the first week of April found only 39% of teachers interacted with
students at least once a day, and most communication was done via email.
Even when teachers made themselves available online, almost 50% of
low-income families and 42% of families of color lacked devices at home
needed for distance learning. High-poverty schools were less likely to
expect online learning to be offered to all students and also reported
a higher percentage of students who were completely absent compared to
low-poverty schools.
Mass tutoring initiatives are one way to fend off learning loss caused
by the "COVID slide." Proposals making their way through Congress would
expand AmeriCorps’ ability to connect students with tutors, while also
providing jobs for recent college graduates in a tough employment
market.
In some cases, charities are helping. For example, former Tennessee
Gov. Bill Haslam and his wife are helping to fund tutoring for students
through their foundation by paying 600 college students to tutor
struggling elementary students.
High-poverty schools can use some of their Title I funds for individual
education supports, including tutoring. Though this figure could be as
high as $425 million if all states participated, $630 million on
private commercial tutoring services.
One-on-one or small group tutoring has been shown to make a positive
impact on preventing learning loss, but that model also has the highest
price tag. Meanwhile, the students in most need of this intervention
are the least likely to have access to physical space, the moral
support or the technology and funds needed. An estimated 16.9 million
students, or 8.4 million households, lack home internet access, and 3.6
million households don’t have a computer.
In the end, it’s going to take time to recover from the COVID slide,
according to Claudio Estrada, principal of PUC Community Charter Middle
School in Lakeview Terrace, California, and Mariana Aguilar, who leads
the research team at ed tech company GoGuardian. Depending on the grade
level, students may only make 70% of the progress they typically make
in a school year. Adjustments need to be made, but standards will still
need to be met because knowledge builds upon itself.
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