COVID Education Gap
The effect COVID had on education has forever changed it. From delivering instruction remotely to returning back safely, education is now on a new path. But the same challenges education had prior to COVID are still present to this day, and the education gap created by COVID is the most impactful yet. This outline illustrates 7 key components that can help in understanding how to develop a plan towards the restoring education after COVID.
1) Education Paused
March 2020. The order was given that schools would be shutdown and stay at home would be implemented. At this time it is believed that this would be a temporary measure as the complexity of the virus was just beginning to be known. Education was paused pending further information.
2) Education Continued
Spring 2020. As it became clearer that the school shutdown and stay at home orders would be in place longer than expected, schools began making preparations to continue education the only way feasible: Remote Learning. This would help close the school year as reopening plans were prepared over the summer for the next school year.
3) Education Delayed
Summer 2020. As quickly as reopening plans were designed and modified so did the reality of safely reopening schools changed. The 2020-21 school year would begin with distance learning in place. Plans of hybrid models or partial return to school were scraped. Education would be delayed.
4) Education Loss
ASY 2020-21. Remote learning is implemented to begin the 2020-21 school year however the model begins to show its limitations in engaging students. As great a job as teachers did to modify lesson plans it became clear quickly that the return to in-class instruction would be necessary or the loss of education by students would greatly affect their academic development.
5) Education Reset
Summer 2021. As the school year progresses, and new regulations and mandates with it, it becomes clear that education has reached a point of reset from what it once was. Unfortunately this reset won't bring everything back to zero or original conditions, but rather serve as a pivot point from which local educational agencies would embark in unique directions.
6) Education Assessment
ASY 2021-22. With the development and administration of vaccines a turning point is reached in the fight against COVID. As schools receive students back into the classroom the need to assess student's learning and knowledge must become a priority in order to proceed with the restoration of education. Data collected from education assessment is necessary to measure how big a gap has been created by COVID as well as knowing how various groups have been impacted.
7) Education Restored
Present Day. Until standardized testing is administered to provide a full assessment of education, in-class assessments by those who know students best (teachers) can be a valuable tool in the process of restoring the damaged done to student's education. This will take time and may be the greatest challenge for years to come, but with the full collaboration of all education stakeholders it can be achieved.
Manuel R. CortezRodas - Educator
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