The authors divided their reports into three categories: What We Know, What We Don’t Know and What We Need to Know. Here are some of their key findings:

What We Know

Test scores show the average student mastered less academic content during the pandemic
Impacts on academic achievement, while significant, mask substantial variation in impacts across subjects, grades, demographic groups, and geography.
Students who learned remotely for long periods of time and historically marginalized students were more likely to experience negative impacts on their mental or social-emotional health during the pandemic.
While some students fared well initially or even fared better when learning remotely, these positive effects did not last.

What We Don’t Know

There is limited evidence on impacts on different subgroups of students. For example, there is limited information on the achievement of English language learners and students with disabilities—and none on other special populations, including foster children and children experiencing homelessness.
Despite efforts by some studies to gauge the validity of tests given outside of school settings, uncertainty remains about whether they are truly comparable to in-person assessments.
Some families of students with disabilities reported that their children went months without receiving their legally mandated therapies.
Most research efforts focused on adolescent students. We have little information on the pandemic’s impact on the well-being of children ages 5 to 10.

What We Need to Know

Researchers must understand how students who have become most disengaged from schooling fare over the next five to 10 years.
Educators must also determine if the mode of instruction or other factors lead to in-person instruction’s more positive outcomes.
Which supports and interventions will help students recover their mental health, well-being and age-appropriate social-emotional competencies.
How to coordinate and mobilize families, community members and community-based organizations to support students outside school.

Instant Insights /

12 things we know and don't know about pandemic's impact on students

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