National Survey Asks: How to Compensate for Lost Classroom Time?

WASHINGTON, April 30, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- With schools closed across the country, the Collaborative for Student Success surveyed more than 5,500 teachers, administrators, policymakers, and education advocates from every state on how to address the loss of classroom instruction caused by COVID-19.

"Despite heroic efforts by educators and parents, the extended lack of in-class instruction has no doubt resulted in significant learning loss that must be diagnosed and addressed—particularly for our most at-risk students," said Jim Cowen, Executive Director for the Collaborative for Student Success.

Respondents were asked to consider four return-to-the-classroom options. Most preferred either beginning the next school year with instruction scheduled as in any other year or by beginning next year with instruction that would have been taught when schools shut down this spring.

Cowen continued, "Given the anticipated learning setback, we hope districts and states will remain open to all options, from extending the school year to creating differentiated, flexible, and personalized plans. But whatever option pursued, we hope that every effort is made to help students make up for this unprecedented disruption to learning."

At the same time, a large majority of participants agreed that a high-quality assessment should be administered at the beginning of next year to help understand the amount of learning loss incurred. This is noteworthy in a time of increased anti-testing sentiment.

"Educators got it right: States should have an assessment in place with the primary goal of benchmarking the breadth and scope of learning loss and allowing teachers to personalize instruction," concluded Cowen. 

To learn more about the findings, including dozens of verbatim responses, read the Collaborative's memorandum here.

More About the Collaborative For Student Success:

The Collaborative for Student Success is a non-profit advocacy organization that works to defend high standards, high-quality assessments, and strong systems of accountability, to ensure that all kids are prepared for college or career. Through capacity-building efforts with in-state organizations and collaboration with national partners, we promote fact-based public discourse and fight to advance policies that promote best practices and ensure equitable outcomes for all students. See www.ForStudentSuccess.org

More About the National Survey:

Beginning on April 16 and running for eight days, the Collaborative for Student Success conducted a voluntary online survey of 5,500+ education professionals from across the country. Every state in the country was represented with half of the states providing at least 50 responses. The purpose of this survey was to determine the relative support of education administrators, policymakers, advocates, and teachers for various proposals intended to respond to the COVID-19 school disruption. This was not a scientific poll and does not have a representative sample. Individual responses were kept confidential unless respondents allowed us to reference their position and employer. A preamble to the survey offered a link to more about each of these options from some of the ideas' proponents: https://forstudentsuccess.org/our-campaigns/catching-up/. Consequently, 2,500+ unique visitors – nearly half of survey respondents – viewed this page to read more about the options.

SOURCE Collaborative for Student Success