Learning gains during the 2019-20 school year are expected to be significantly lower than typical years due to the "COVID slide," according to a report from NWEA published in Sage Journals.

The research predicts learning gains in reading to be 63% to 68% of what they normally are on average, but math is expected to be much lower at only 37% to 50% of the average normal school year gains.

These numbers assume a 50% absenteeism rate during school closures compared to normal circumstances.

Research shows virtual instruction was hit-or-miss in the spring. Though 83% of parents in a Gallup poll reported their children were involved in distance learning, some teachers had no contact with a significant number of students. A survey conducted by Education Week the first week of April found only 39% of teachers interacted with students at least once a day, and most communication was done via email.

Even when teachers made themselves available online, almost 50% of low-income families and 42% of families of color lacked devices at home needed for distance learning. High-poverty schools were less likely to expect online learning to be offered to all students and also reported a higher percentage of students who were completely absent compared to low-poverty schools.

Read the full article about the COVID slide by Shawna De La Rosa at Education Dive.