Giving Compass' Take:

• A study published in the American Education Research Journal, shows an average learning loss of 39 percent of total school year gains during the summer months.

• Nonprofits such as EducationSuperHighway are tackling issues like the homework gap and digital divide to help curb these losses. How can donors support these organizations?

• Read about the struggle for homeless students during COVID-19.

A study published this week in American Education Research Journal, following students in grades 1 through 6 over five summers, shows 52% of students lost an average of 39% of their total school year gains during the summer months. The study used data from Northwest Evaluation Association that included 200 million test scores for 18 million students in 7,500 school districts.

The research also identifies differences in resources like family income, parental time availability, and parenting skill, and expectations as potential factors further widening the gap, as some students continue to gain knowledge over summer. And because many students haven’t been in school since March due to the coronavirus pandemic, many experts believe the extended period will exacerbate learning losses.

During the coronavirus pandemic, summer learning programs will be especially important. With many students sidelined from traditional academics for nearly six months, experts are expecting significant learning shortfalls when students return to their studies this fall. This is especially true for those who lack home internet access or computers.

The problem, known as the homework gap, has been a growing issue as classrooms have grown more digital in recent years. But now, pandemic-related school closures have brought the issue to the forefront, with some lawmakers now willing to invest billions to connect all students to the internet from home. In May, the nonprofit EducationSuperHighway, which had long focused on connecting all schools to fast, reliable internet, launched the site digitalbridgeK12.org to provide information, tools, resources and best practices around improving home internet access to policymakers and school leaders.

Read the full article about student learning losses by Shawna De La Rosa at Education Dive.