A year after school closures and transitions to remote instruction, early evidence suggests that the negative effects of the pandemic on student learning have been greatest among our most vulnerable student populations. Although districts were quick to provide meals and devices that addressed students’ basic needs, disparities in opportunities to learn have persisted, and in many cases widened. To understand how districts have responded to educational inequities during the pandemic, the California Collaborative on District Reform’s latest brief, Reflecting Back and Looking Forward: Educational Equity in the Era of COVID-19, describes three responses to educational challenges: providing access to safe and supportive learning environments, social-emotional supports, and high-quality instruction. These examples help to elevate lessons that may inform other districts as they seek to address disparities now and into the future.
For other resources from the California Collaborative related to the COVID-19 pandemic, please see https://cacollaborative.org/topics/covid-19