Giving Compass' Take:

• Laura S. Hamilton describes how coronavirus has affected schooling, focusing on differences in opportunities, student well-being, and engagement.

•Why is data essential in understanding how coronavirus has affected schooling? What can we do to improve research on the matter in order to implement strategies that improve upon current remote learning?

• Learn about opportunities to support coronavirus response efforts in education and other fields.

In April and May, we surveyed roughly 1,000 teachers and 1,000 principals in the AEP to gauge how the pandemic has affected schooling, what supports they need, and how they are thinking about the next school year.

Almost all teachers engaged in distance learning with their students, but only 12 percent reported covering the full curriculum they would have covered if schools hadn't closed. Teachers indicated a need for lesson plans as well as support to keep students engaged and motivated to learn remotely.

The pandemic likely exacerbated existing disparities in educational opportunities and outcomes, and the survey results point to some areas of concern. For example, only nine percent of teachers in schools serving high percentages of low-income students or students of color reported that all or nearly all of their students were completing assignments, compared to roughly a quarter of teachers in other schools. Understanding these disparities will be crucial for addressing them in the coming months and years.

Looking ahead to next fall, teachers plan to prioritize student well-being (e.g., their safety, sense of community, and social and emotional well-being) more than they did last fall, and principals anticipate more emphasis on family engagement and addressing performance gaps. Principals also recognize the need for supports for their teachers, with 50 percent indicating that professional learning for teachers will be a higher priority this coming fall than last.

We invite others to use our results to inform their own work and the guidance they are providing. Moreover, we hope that others will contribute to the broader effort to coordinate the work of researchers. A few strong evidence-based strategies could help schools navigate reopening in fall as well as planning to meet the new challenges that will likely arise.

Read the full article about how coronavirus has affected schooling by Laura S. Hamilton at RAND Corporation.