Lengthy school closures and deplorable remote instruction, often imposed upon students in response to teachers unions’ demands, resulted in two years of disrupted learning and sharp declines in reading and math scores. Students entered the pandemic with weak academic skills, with only one-third of students reading proficiently and less than one-quarter of 12th graders proficient in math in 2019. Covid-era education policies compounded the literacy crisis, lowered math achievement, and negatively impacted students’ performance in additional subjects as well. Students didn’t just miss out on academic knowledge. According to McKinsey and Company analysis, “They are at risk of finishing school without the skills, behaviors, and mindsets to succeed in college or in the workforce.” In the midst of this academic crisis, many school districts unfortunately do not appear to be addressing the learning loss crisis their policies created.
