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last yr.

Pandemic School Closures Result in Significant Learning Loss, Studies Show

Four years after nationwide school closures, new analyses reveal prolonged academic setbacks in math and reading, challenging catch-up efforts.

A New York Times study found that COVID-19 school lockdowns had a catastrophically negative effect on learning by K-12 students, with scant compensatory public health benefits. (Photo: Inna Reznik/Getty Images)
Learning loss has been a significant hurdle for schools to overcome in the wake of the pandemic, with many students suffering in subjects such as math, reading, and science. (Photo Illustration: Prasit Photo/Getty Images)
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Overview

  • Elementary students fell behind in math by over half a year due to virtual learning during the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • Extended school closures did little to halt COVID-19 spread, while significantly impacting student academic performance.
  • Students from poorer districts experienced greater learning loss, with a 0.64-year setback in math.
  • As of 2023, students have regained only a third of the lost ground in math and a quarter in reading.
  • Critics blame extended closures on decisions influenced by teachers unions, highlighting a contentious debate over reopening schools.