SW News: A US national survey shows students are still struggling to make up for the learning loss experienced during Covid-19. The impacts of the pandemic continue to reverberate through the American school system three years after the deadly virus closed the vast majority of public schools in the spring of 2020.

The Northwest Evaluation Association (NWEA) survey reveals that by spring 2022, sizable declines in student achievement had been observed across grades, subjects, and several assessments. The researchers found that achievement gains in 2022–23 lagged pre-pandemic trends with numbers falling short of pre-pandemic averages by 1–19% in reading and by 6–15% in math.

While the 2022–23 school year saw some semblance of normalcy, school districts were still confronting a range of behavioral, academic, and staffing challenges over the year. Schools in many states were embroiled in lengthy political debates about what can and should be taught. The study shows significant achievement gaps remain at the end of the school year 2022-23.

The NWEA research said addressing these gaps will take sizable and sustained effort. The average student will require 4.1 months of additional schooling to catch up to pre-COVID levels in reading and 4.5 months in math. While many districts are offering academic programs this summer, these programs are typically offered to a small share of students and do not include enough additional instructions to catch up with the average student, let alone the students who have been most affected by the pandemic.

The study also highlights the significant gaps in achievement that remain necessitate a sustained and comprehensive effort spread over several years. This long-term perspective emphasizes the importance of continuity, consistent investment, and comprehensive strategies that extend beyond immediate recovery initiatives.

This implies that marginalized students, who have been hardest hit by the pandemic, did not experience any additional catch-up, despite being the intended primary focus of academic recovery efforts. All students face a lengthy road to recovery, and the study estimates that road will be longer still for historically marginalized students.

Researchers conclude by saying that the scale of the crisis and its repercussions on students’ academic progress surpass what can be fully addressed with the current response. While schools are taking steps in the right direction, the reality is that the depth and breadth of the crisis demand an even more comprehensive, intensive, and sustainable approach to mitigate the long-lasting impacts of the pandemic on students.

Meanwhile, a recent RealClear Opinion Research poll shows nationwide support for school choice has increased by seven percentage points since the COVID-19 pandemic's start. According to the poll, 71% of people now support school choice, while only 13% do not. This level of support was 64% in April 2020.