Students across the nation continue to struggle from COVID-19 learning loss

WASHINGTON (TNND) — Students across the nation continue to struggle with COVID-19 learning loss. According to a new Education Recovery Scorecard released Tuesday, American students are half a grade level behind pre-pandemic achievement levels in both math and reading.

Jennifer Steele, a professor in the School of Education at American University tells us, that the scorecard released Tuesday highlights some of what was found in the 'Nation's Report Card' last month.

No state has really recovered to pre-pandemic achievement levels," Steele said.

While the scorecard found students are half a grade level behind pre-pandemic levels in math and reading, Steele says the results showed some have started to recover.

"The quartile of students that does seem to have bounced back is students from higher income households," said Steele.

Kristin Sayeski, a professor in the College of Education at the University of Georgia says, while there is no easy fix, it starts in the classroom with getting teachers the resources they need.

"There's a larger issue going on and that's really what we're doing with kids when we have them in school," Sayeski said.

Douglas Harris, a professor in the School of Liberal Arts at Tulane University says, schools also need to be held accountable.

"There's just not as much focus on that anymore. Not as much focus on basic achievement and holding schools accountable" said Harris.

Plus, Sayeski says some states have started to make adjustments. Moving away from independent practice time and into a more hands-on approach.

"Phonics instruction along with vocabulary. Along with systematic engagement with print, that really is teacher fostered, teacher-developed," said Sayeski.

The scorecard found that Louisiana is the only state that showed improvements in both math and reading. Chronic absenteeism is improving as well, falling two points in states with data through the spring of 2024.