Pandemic School Closures Result in Significant Learning Loss, Studies Show

Four years after nationwide school closures, new analyses reveal prolonged academic setbacks in math and reading, challenging catch-up efforts.

Elementary students fell behind in math by over half a year due to virtual learning during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Extended school closures did little to halt COVID-19 spread, while significantly impacting student academic performance.
Students from poorer districts experienced greater learning loss, with a 0.64-year setback in math.
As of 2023, students have regained only a third of the lost ground in math and a quarter in reading.
Critics blame extended closures on decisions influenced by teachers unions, highlighting a contentious debate over reopening schools.