COVID-19 and Learning Loss—Disparities Grow and Students Need Help
A new report from McKinsey & Company examines the impact of COVID-19 and school shutdowns on student achievement. Compared to analysis conducted in the spring, the report shows that states and school districts have made significant efforts to close the digital divide and provide access to remote education for all students. However, Black and Hispanic students are still more likely than white students to be attending school remotely and are less likely to have access to the necessary resources to successfully participate in virtual learning. The data also showed that on average, students started school about three months behind the expected level of attainment in mathematics. However, students of color were about three to five months behind in learning, while white students were only one to three months behind. The report also indicated that Black and Hispanic students are twice as likely as white students to have received no live contact with teachers over the previous week and are three to six percentage points less likely to be receiving consistent live instruction.