Strategies schools aim to apply in combatting educational setbacks due to Covid-19:
Young Student Reading Loss During COVID-19: Policy Approaches and Strategies for Remediation
COVID-19 has left a significant mark on education, particularly in the realm of early reading development among young students. Recent data has confirmed the suspicions of many: the pandemic has caused a surge in learning loss, exacerbating existing disparities across racial and socioeconomic lines. One analysis by Amplify Education, Inc., a curriculum, assessment, and intervention product creator, found that first and second grade students experienced the most pronounced drops in reading level compared to previous years, with 40% and 35% of first and second grade students, respectively, being at significant risk of requiring intensive intervention.
Larry Berger, CEO of Amplify, noted the impact of the pandemic on the critical early stages of reading skill development, which are crucial for foundational reading skills and rapid progress. The kindergarten year was particularly hard-hit, with Berger commenting that a large number of children will likely be missing key reading skills developed during that period.
Amplify's findings are far from alone; data analyzed by McKinsey & Company suggests that students have lost at least a month and a half of reading abilities, with students of color suffering the most substantial losses. The full extent of learning loss is expected to be even worse among the most vulnerable students who may not be attending virtual classes or taking assessments regularly.
"It's hard to even test where kids are, and in the ways they are usually tested in the classroom," said Adeola Whitney, CEO of Reading Partners, a nonprofit that focuses on reading support and tutoring. Some reports have suggested that reading loss may not be as severe as anticipated, but Amplify's data show that early reading achievement is a pressing concern. "The slide is substantial, and it definitely has us asking, is the country ready to try and close the gap of this scale?" said Berger.
Here are some strategies and recommendations for addressing the learning losses and gaps among young students in reading:
- High-Dosage Tutoring: Research has shown that high-dosage tutoring, especially in the early years of elementary school, can help boost reading skills. England has launched a national tutoring program to help students recover lost ground, and some states like Tennessee have targeted pandemic-related learning loss with existing tutoring corps. Broward County Schools in Florida partnered with Saga Education last year to launch a mathematics tutoring program aimed at addressing pandemic-related reading loss. Reading Partners, which places tutors in under-resourced schools, transitioned to an online platform last year, allowing for remote tutoring during the pandemic.
- Extended School Year: States like North Dakota are considering extending the school year to help students catch up academically, as the Ector County Independent School District in Texas has already done, with plans to launch a summer program for students. The Los Angeles Unified School District plans to offer tutoring appointments and Saturday school to support students, while the McKinsey & Company report recommends summer programs like Aim High in California or Acceleration Academies as options for remediation.
- Grade-Level Reading Exposure: McKinsey & Company's report highlights data that show keeping learning materials at the appropriate grade level and helping students work up to that level is more effective than pulling students out of grade-level work and reteaching content from earlier grades. Mississippi has offered professional development for educators to learn about this approach, and the Highline Public Schools district in Washington state has equipped teachers with sample units designed with this approach in mind.
- Partnerships with Community Organizations: Communities can support teachers through partnerships with literacy programs like the Minnesota Reading Corps or Jumpstart. These programs are needed more than ever during these challenging times, asserted Whitney of Reading Partners.
- Literacy Practices at Home: Parents can help boost literacy at home by reading books with children, pointing out letters and words in everyday life like at the grocery store, and making literacy-related activities playful to help young children build their fundamental reading skills. Even during school and library closures, parents can engage their children in such literary exercises to help them catch up.
In conclusion, numerous experts and educators have proposed a variety of strategies for tackling the learning losses caused by the pandemic. These measures include targeted interventions, technology integration, teacher collaboration, early language support, family engagement, and strong policy frameworks—all aimed at mitigating the impact of COVID-19 on young children's reading development. By implementing these strategies, we can work towards closing the achievement gaps created by the pandemic and ensuring that every student has an opportunity to succeed.
- The surge in learning loss during the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly in early reading development among young students, underscores the need for innovation in education, such as high-dosage tutoring, to help close the existing inequality gaps.
- Education-and-self-development initiatives, like incorporating literacy practices at home, partnering with community organizations, and promoting grade-level reading exposure, are crucial in addressing learning loss and supporting rapid progress in the critical early stages of reading skill development.
