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Who's Hit Hardest By The 'Learning Lag' From Pandemic Online Education
After a year of learning online, many students will have lost valuable educational opportunity.
(
Kyle Stokes
/
LAist
)
As most students in California return to the classroom, many educators and parents are concerned that a year or more of Zoom school means students may be lagging behind where they would have been if there had been no pandemic.
Listen
17:33
Libby Pier on KPCC's AirTalk talking about online education's "learning loss"
Learning loss is most pronounced in students who were struggling pre-pandemic, said Libby Pier of Education Analytics during an interview on KPCC's AirTalk. She said it's hard to pinpoint any one reason.
"It's hard to know whether it is reliable internet access or a quiet place to study or reliable internet connection, whether it's the ability of teachers to pivot almost impossibly fast, whether it's the fact that there's a global pandemic happening and there's a lot of trauma and stress associated with that."
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Those disproportionately experiencing learning lag include Black and Latino students, English language learners and those from economically disadvantaged backgrounds.
Pier says there isn't a one-size-fits-all cure for learning loss, but it's important that students' basic needs are met. This includes access to food, safety and strong social relationships with peers and teachers.
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But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.
Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.
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