One student stacks up the counters instead, while another watches and giggles.

“Can someone tell me what expression we just made?” asks Yvette Munguia, the math tutor leading the lesson. “What is two times four?”

“Eight,” murmurs one student.

“Plus three?” she asks.

Silence.

With Munguia’s patient coaching, the students — who scored several grades below the 5th-grade level in math — work their way through the exercise. As they work together on the order of operations, they take long pauses to puzzle over basic addition and subtraction.

Munguia is one of more than 20 math tutors working in Oakland Unified Schools this year. Called math “Liberators,” tutors like Munguia were recruited and trained as part of a partnership between the school district and the nonprofit Oakland REACH. The parent-led math tutoring model follows the success of the Oakland REACH’s Literacy Liberator program, which produced , according to a 2023 report.   

The math Liberator program is a direct response to parent demand. In 2021, Oakland REACH surveyed district families about what they wanted and needed for their children. More than 80% asked for math tutoring. 

Both REACH and OUSD wanted to follow up with a very specific type of tutoring. They sought to engage parents and other guardians in learning more about how the district teaches math and how they can employ that approach at home with their children. 

During two evening workshops, parents were encouraged to confront their own insecurities about math. Math educators talked about the importance of building confidence in mathematical ability, particularly for students of color. Oakland REACH shared data, including the fact that  students of color in Oakland are performing at or above grade level in math this year. Data points like this are important, but they also reinforce the myth that students of color aren’t good at math, the group was told. To support students, it’s critical to flip that narrative. The way forward is a “growth mindset” — tutoring with positivity and confidence.

What came next was MathBOOST, a campaign to train and hire math tutors from the community — no experience necessary. The goal was twofold: support children with high-dosage math tutoring while providing paid opportunities for parents and caregivers.

“It should be the district’s responsibility to support students, and why not show families that they’re already doing this at home and they can do it in a way that pays them money?,” explained OUSD STEM coordinator Edgar Rodriguez-Ramirez. The district depends on volunteers to support teachers in classrooms, he said, but more often than not volunteers are from white, affluent neighborhoods. 

Part of shifting the narrative about student intellectual capacity is to invite family members to be present in the school, Rodriguez-Ramirez said.

“Families that have been wanting to volunteer in school have the opportunity to work,” he said. “They know how to raise their children. Now they’re adding value to the community.”

Oakland REACH and district staff trained tutors based on the high-impact tutoring program, which requires weekly small-group support, close monitoring of student progress, alignment with district curriculum and oversight by school staff.

During her tutor training, Mungia and other prospective math tutors met on Tuesday and Thursday nights for five weeks — with dinners provided — followed by two more days of professional development. District and REACH staff worked together to train the tutors to use iReady, an online assessment and teaching platform that the district uses to personalize student academic support.  

Now as a tutor at East Oakland Pride, Munguia has access to the same diagnostic student assessments that classroom teachers use and can pull lessons from the district’s math curriculum to help students catch up. Using that information, she can target where each student in the small groups she meets with need practice and support.

The students seem excited to work with her. Some show up early and have to wait their turn. In addition to her natural patience and ease with math — not to mention the stickers she hands out on Fridays — Munguia’s roots in the neighborhood are an added asset for the job. Having attended OUSD schools herself, Munguia speaks fluent Spanish. She lives close by and her nine-year-old daughter attends another local area public school.

“She has the trust of the students,” said East Oakland Pride Principal Michelle Grant. “And if you don’t have that, you don’t have anything. She’s good at what she does.”

Munguia previously worked as a caregiver and an instructional assistant at a community college in Oakland. She was looking for another job related to education when she saw an ad for the tutoring program on the job site Indeed. She had never taught math to young children, so her success with students at East Oakland Pride is a testament to REACH’s training.

“Liberators are proof that our communities are full of assets we can no longer afford to sideline if we want to fix a broken educational system,” said REACH founder and CEO Lakisha Young.

Thalia Ward, 25, graduated from California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo three years ago and applied for a tutoring job because she wanted to go into teaching. 

The first step in the training, she said, was called a Fellowship. During their bi-weekly meetings, the tutors in training discussed readings they’d been given in advance.

“We worked through the different ways we learned math and how kids are learning math today,” Ward said. They heard from tutors who had started the previous year and also visited a veteran math teacher who was giving a summer school lesson.

“We saw that when expectations are high, students are more likely to exceed standards. A lot of us are working with students who are behind grade level, but that’s a sign that we should hold them to expectations. They need more personal time with an adult.”

Recruiting grandparents and caregivers

REACH developed Literacy Liberators in the fall of 2022 to supplement and support instruction during the pandemic, partnering with the school district and literacy nonprofit FluentSeeds to recruit parents, caregivers and community members to deliver tutoring. It’s a unique model, district leaders say, because it combines high-dosage tutoring with family and community engagement. 

“I don’t know of another model where you’re recruiting grandparents and caregivers, giving them a job, uplifting them to show the leadership skills to improve instruction,” said Rodriguez-Ramirez. “This model reclaims what it means to have a community school.” 

Tutors work from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. every day that school is open, he said, and earn between $16.33 and $19.17 an hour, with benefits.

Like Literacy Liberator model tutors, Math Liberators are encouraged to use their personal experiences with school in their work. Whether they found school difficult or relatively easy, personal experiences, one study found.

“It’s been a while since I was in elementary [school] myself,” said Munguia, who is 30. “I remember feeling shy, not wanting to speak up. I’m seeing the shy students and I can relate.”

While literacy tutors focus on students in kindergarten through third grade, math tutors work with third through fifth graders. Small groups — no bigger than four students — are still the model, but the math tutoring has a bigger emphasis on a “growth mindset,” since so many students, regardless of academic performance, don’t think they’re good at math.

“We don’t all have to be ‘math people’ to help our kids,” Rodgriguez-Ramirez said. “We wanted to address that math can be hard, but it’s because we didn’t learn it the same way.” 

During the parent workshops, families worked through the math problems that their children were learning so they would recognize their children’s homework. Helping children with math, Rodriguez-Ramirez said, doesn’t necessarily mean knowing the answers. It might mean figuring the problems out together.

“We want the kids to hear the same message at home,” he said. “Let’s talk about math without leaving it in the school.”

The program started in four schools, but this year it has expanded to 11 sites, with plans to grow further — not just in the number of tutors, but in their professional development as well. Tutors will receive continuous coaching, Rodrigues-Ramirez said, in pedagogy, including how to differentiate instruction for varying skill levels within a group.

REACH will also begin a virtual math tutoring pilot program in January, offering online tutoring to Black and Hispanic families in Oakland and Rochester, New York.

When school first started in September, Munguia helped classroom teachers during math instruction and got to know the students, said David Braden, instructional math lead at East Oakland Pride.

“She got to see the expectations for math, which are very high, and these kids have scored several grade levels below,” he said. And she’ll be getting deeper training in how to work with kids at different levels. “The trick is calibrating the instruction to align with what diagnostics say.”

Munguia appreciates the opportunity the program has given her. She has two associate’s degrees from Laney College in Oakland, one in Language Arts and the second in photography. She has no formal teaching experience but said she would love to be a classroom teacher someday.

“I’m ecstatic working here,” she said. “I wish I could help all of the kids, but I can only have four at a time.”

Disclosure: Walton Family Foundation, Chan Zuckerberg Initiative and The Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Philanthropies provide financial support to The Oakland REACH and ����Ӱ��.

In states like Mississippi, Louisiana, and Virginia, student test scores are climbing back toward their pre-pandemic levels, encouraging those who feel progress being made and worrying many who still see teaching and learning severely depressed by the impacts of closures. 

However, in , student scores show deep learning loss in both ELA and math, in which fewer than a third of students are now proficient. Districts in are reporting scores “plummeting” in every subject, for every grade. And while rolls out a new, “teacher-developed” assessment that makes it difficult to compare new scores to pre-pandemic years, state results show just about a quarter of students scoring proficiently in any given grade or subject. 

The results come as national tests and data  — like the NAEP exam and data gleaned by nonprofit assessment maker NWEA — seemingly confirm the severity of the pandemic’s impact and underscore the need for schools and districts to wisely invest available recovery dollars.

Looking beyond assessments, here are nine other updates from across the country about how states and school systems are confronting the challenges posed by COVID-19 and its variants — and working to preserve student progress amid the pandemic:

WASHINGTON — Hungry for More Student Interest, WA Teachers Test a Free Science Curriculum

The lack of high-quality, engaging, and affordable science curriculum has made it difficult for many states to reach their goals of incorporating and implementing aligned to Next Generation Science Standards, experts and teachers . But, an openly developed and freely available curriculum, could be a game-changer as schools and districts reenergize their focus on science instruction and offerings. Washington is one of at least 10 states encouraging educators to pilot the OpenSciEd materials. This represents a departure from science instruction based on lectures and student memorization of information and toward student-centered exploration, investigation, and discussion. 

TEXAS & TENNESSEE — 2 States Get Tutoring Right, and Model How to Expand it Nationwide

States like Tennessee and Texas have taken the initiative to close achievement gaps, particularly in math, and get students back on track by implementing high-dosage tutoring programs and partnering with Zearn, a top-rated, open-source math learning platform. And though tutoring has risen as a top, evidence-based strategy to accelerate learning, Zearn co-founder and CEO Shalinee Sharma underscores the need for states to support schools, districts, and their teachers by properly vetting tutoring providers, ensuring the availability of aligned and high-quality training, and navigating challenges associated with staffing and scheduling. 

FLORIDA — Only 48% of 5th Graders Passed the State’s Science Exam; Fewer Than a Quarter Were ‘Proficient’

Recent statewide science exam results show a 1 percent increase from 2021 scores and a 3-7 percent decrease from 2012-2019 with 48 percent of Florida fifth-graders passing the 2022 exam, based on a score of 3 or higher. “That means some 5th graders struggling in science are headed into middle schools, where science courses can get harder,” author Danielle J. Brown noted. 

WISCONSIN — Evers Unveils Proposed $2B Boost to K-12 Schools

Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers recently proposed  for the 2023-25 state budget. If passed, the additional funds would be invested into literacy-related programs, student mental health aid, and free lunch programs for all students. “After a tough past few years, we know our kids and our families and schools need our help now more than ever to get caught up and to get more educators and staff into our classrooms, and ensure every kid has the support and resources that they need to be successful,” Evers said.

GEORGIA — State’s GEER Funds Confront COVID-19 Learning Loss

Gov. Brian Kemp announced over supporting learning recovery around the state. Organizations included the Georgia Alliance of Boys and Girls Clubs, Georgia Alliance of YMCAs, and Georgia Department of Education, along with many others. “We know there is still more work to do when it comes to recovering from pandemic-driven learning loss in our classrooms,” Kemp said. “That’s why I’m thankful to know that these additional funds — on top of the historic investments we’ve made in K-12 education — will both put students first and help set them on a renewed path of learning success.” The funds are intended to support programs that have been launched in partnership with schools, like community-based tutoring, summer and after-school initiatives, and expanded services for students with special needs.

CALIFORNIA — State May Become 20th State to Mandate Kindergarten

A bill awaiting signature by California Gov. Gavin Newsom , beginning in the 2024-25 school year. Proponents of the bill in the California State Legislature cite research showing strong positive links between early childhood education programs and quality of life indicators, like income, teen pregnancy, and higher education attainment. Alberto M. Carvalho, Superintendent of the Los Angeles Unified School District, penned a piece in support of the legislation. (Update: Gov. Newsom just )

INDIANA — New Grant Helps $111 Million Early Literacy Investment

To combat flagging literacy rates, the state of Indiana and Lilly Endowment Inc. using proven teaching techniques that align with the “science of reading,” a collection of research-based strategies that focus on building skill in phonics, phonemic awareness, fluency, vocabulary and comprehension. “I believe this funding will not only better prepare our students for a successful life, but will benefit the teaching profession by offering stipends to those who choose to participate in professional development and providing future educators additional instruction on Science of Reading methods,” shared Jeff Raatz, chair of the Senate Committee on Education and Career Development.

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA — D.C. Schools Roll Out Program to Improve Student Reading Levels

A new D.C. Public Schools effort called DCPS Readers Next Door is launching in the district this school year, and grow literacy rates. Featuring decodable texts and curriculum aligned to the “science of reading,” the program also lifts up lessons and texts from D.C. authors and educators. The new resources come as the first standardized test scores since the onset of the pandemic shine a light on how deeply learning was impacted by COVID-19 and school closures. This year, 36% of D.C. students scored proficient in reading, a 4% decline since pre-pandemic levels. 

NEBRASKA — Newly Approved Math Standards Put Greater Emphasis on Data, Statistics

In response to a statewide dip in math proficiency, members of the Nebraska State Board of Education . According to state law, districts must adopt the standards or their own set of standards on par with rigor within a year. Cory Epler, the department’s chief academic officer, said he expects districts to use federal relief funds to purchase high-quality math curriculum. “Adopting standards is not enough by itself to raise proficiency. Quality instruction is important as well,” he said.

This update on pandemic recovery in education collects and shares news updates from the district, state, and national levels as all stakeholders continue to work on developing safe, innovative plans to resume schooling and address learning loss. It’s an offshoot of the Collaborative for Student Success’ QuickSheet newsletter, which you can .

While some schools and districts prioritized investments in portable or low-cost air filters and other technology, experts say they may be missing an opportunity to upgrade air and climate systems that could have a measurable impact on students. “If you look at the research, it shows that a school’s literal climate — the heat, the mold, the humidity — directly affects learning,” said Phyllis Jordan, associate director of FutureEd, a think tank at Georgetown University’s McCourt School of Public Policy. 

Another federal report indicates over 36,000 schools were in need of air system upgrades even before the pandemic, a number experts say likely climbed during the pandemic. 

Looking beyond relief funds, here are seven other updates from across the country about how states and school systems are confronting the challenges posed by COVID-19 and its variants — and working to preserve student progress amid the pandemic:

INDIANA – Rate of Indiana High School Students Headed to College drops to 53%

Enrollment declines that began before the COVID-19 pandemic are continuing in the Hoosier State, with officials recently . As Chalkbeat reports, state education officials say the pandemic exacerbated the trend, with enrollment declining 1.8% or 110,000 students. “One of the questions that we just have to come back to is, just where are those kids?” said Heather J. Hough, executive director of the Policy Analysis for California Education. “We don’t have satisfying data to answer that question.”

MAINE – Gov. Janet Mills Announces $12.3 Million Expansion of Statewide Apprenticeship Programs

Maine schools are expected to more than double the number of apprenticeship programs available for students while also doubling the number of businesses and companies sponsoring the opportunities. The more than , including health care, construction, plumbing, heating/ventilation/air conditioning, welding, shipbuilding and marine, and engineering, and could increase the number of students graduating school debt-free, credentialed, and employed. “Apprentices in Maine, who completed their program in the last two years increased their wages, on average, by nearly 40%, even during the height of the pandemic,” said Gov. Janet Mills.

MISSOURI — Rural Explosion in Four-Day School Week Aimed at Recruiting Teachers

A quarter of all school districts in Missouri , largely as a result of districts working to recruit and retain teachers amid a growing national teacher shortage. Officials across the state say four-day weeks have made recruitment easier in hard-pressed rural communities, but signal that low teacher salaries and increasingly challenging teacher work conditions continue to ratchet up the challenge of hiring and keeping talent.

NEW JERSEY — State Creates Path for More Prospective Teachers, as Shortages Grow

Earlier this month, New Jersey passed a suite of changes in hopes of guiding more teaching candidates into the profession and into classrooms. Most notably, the changes would allow candidates who did not score sufficiently on licensure tests or earn sufficient grade points averages to enter a coaching pilot via the alternative licensure program. In response to some concerns that the move could lower standards for incoming teachers, State Board member Nedd James Johnson said the changes will remove barriers that have been preventing qualified applicants to enter the field.

ARKANSAS — Gov. Hutchinson Supports Proposal to Raise Minimum Salaries of Teachers to $46,000

Arkansas lawmakers sent a number of education bills to Governor Asa Hutchinson’s desk alongside a record K-12 budget recently as the state legislature adjourned. The expanded state budget , while a series of legislation would expand resources for classroom supplies, open new routes to licensure for teacher candidates, and set controversial rules on classroom discussions of gender identity and sexual orientation.

MICHIGAN – Financial Literacy Requirement Becomes Law for Michigan Students

Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed a new law . The move lends to a trend of schools nationwide increasingly trying to widen access to financial literacy courses for students. “As a mom, I want every kid who graduates in Michigan to enter the world with a diverse set of skills and knowledge, and that must include financial literacy,” Whitmer said in a written statement.

TEXAS — Dallas Sees Positive Results in First Year of Discipline Reform

A transformation of Dallas Independent Schools’ disciplinary policies has already seen encouraging success, say school and district leaders. The opening of 60 “Reset Centers” staffed with trained professionals was aimed at working through issues with students before situations result in suspensions, says Superintendent Michael Hinojosa. The initiative required roughly $4 million in federal recovery funds to implement, but has already resulted in over $2 million in cost savings .

This update on pandemic recovery in education collects and shares news updates from the district, state, and national levels as all stakeholders continue to work on developing safe, innovative plans to resume schooling and address learning loss. It’s an offshoot of the Collaborative for Student Success’ QuickSheet newsletter, which you can .

As , while Congress placed relatively few strings on the cash, lawmakers did specify that at least 20% of school and district funds must be targeted to address learning loss — a number to meet the challenges faced by students. Yet as states review district allocations, some are rejecting plans or asking for more information that investments will be evidence-based and proven to move the needle on student academic achievement, causing lengthy delays that are drawing the ire of state and federal officials. 

“Bureaucratic hurdles should not get in the way of student recovery,” said an Education Department spokesperson. “States should [be] doing everything they can to get these badly needed resources into the classroom and helping students recover.”

Looking beyond relief funds, here are nine other updates from across the country about how states and school systems are confronting the challenges posed by COVID-19 and its variants — and working to preserve student progress amid the pandemic:

MICHIGAN — Gov. Whitmer Seeking to Invest in Large-Scale Tutoring Initiative

Despite not including tutoring as a piece of the state’s plan for federal COVID relief funding, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer is designed to address widespread learning loss. As Chalkbeat reports, officials are pointing to increasing evidence that tutoring is the among the most impactful interventions for accelerating and making up learning time, including new research from Harvard’s Thomas Kane.

ARIZONA – $100 Million K-12 Investment Sees Summer Camps Expanding Across State

A $100 million investment in summer programming in Arizona means there are for students this summer, say state officials. The AZ OnTrack Summer program is a pillar of Gov. Doug Ducey’s strategy for investing pandemic relief aid and helping students and teachers make up lost learning and instructional time. Some programs, like in the Scottsdale Unified School District, are targeted to the youngest learners, who experts say often have the greatest need. “Very few of them know what it means to last a whole year in school without it being interrupted by COVID,” said Alice Spingola, a Scottdale ESSER Coordinator. “This is very beneficial for our students. These students more than any other grade level really need that head start.”

NORTH CAROLINA — Pandemic Remote Learning Set Back Student Progress

Students in North Carolina are from where’d they be without the effects of the pandemic, according to a report released by the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction. The study suggests learning loss was sharper for students in schools that kept instruction remote for longer. 

TEXAS — State to Resume Accountability Practices Linked to State Testing

Texas officials set in place to monitor student achievement and school performance. Schools and districts will be given an A-C letter rating based on how students score on the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness, or STAAR exam. Schools that earn a D or F rating will be listed as “Not Rated” and have the opportunity to take action to improve scores for the following academic year. “STAAR results allow parents, teachers and schools to see how individual students are performing so they can better support those students moving forward,” Frank Ward, a TEA spokesperson said.

FLORIDA — State Reading Test Results Show Decline in Proficiency for Third-Graders

Just over 53% of Florida third-graders passed the state’s annual reading assessment, roughly the same as the results from last year, when tests were reinstated after a pause during the pandemic and faced challenges with weakened participation. The results represent about a 5% decline in proficiency from 2019, the year before the pandemic shuttered schools. Despite half of students “passing,” only 1 in 4 scored proficiently. Another quarter of students earned a Level 1 score, the lowest, which could lead to higher rates of students being held back or requiring additional interventions and services.

MISSOURI — State to Implement Summer Programming with ARP Funds

The Missouri Education Department has made over $20 million in federal American Rescue Plan dollars this year. Officials say that the funding will enable large districts to expand existing programs to accommodate more students, while many smaller and more rural districts may be able to implement summer offerings for the first time. 

MINNESOTA — Lawmakers Pass $93 Million to Address Rise in Mental Health Crises

A last-minute vote in the Minnesota legislature saw the passage of a suite of mental health resources, , that lawmakers say will help address the sharp rise in mental health crises seen in communities during the pandemic. A portion of the funding is meant to establish “mental health urgency rooms” that will seek to alleviate pressures on emergency services and provide safety for teens and students in particular. 

OREGON — Auditors: State Lacks Accountability Measures to Ensure Efficient Use of Funds

As Oregon receives an influx of funds, in place to monitor spending. Auditors are urging state officials to put measures in place that hold schools and districts accountable for the outcomes of the students they serve. “State leaders need to monitor how the agency itself is performing and intervene when necessary to ensure student success does, in fact, increase,” auditors said.

COLORADO — Lawmakers Tout Significant Increase in State Education Budget:

Through a series of bills recently signed by Colorado Gov. Jared Polis, in the Centennial State just two years after the pandemic forced a significant cut to state budgets and programs. Changes to the state education budget mean per-pupil expenditures across Colorado will increase by 6% to as much as 40% for students who receive special education services.This update on pandemic recovery in education collects and shares news updates from the district, state, and national levels as all stakeholders continue to work on developing safe, innovative plans to resume schooling and address learning loss. It’s an offshoot of the Collaborative for Student Success’ QuickSheet newsletter, which you can .

“I’m most concerned the catch-up plans that districts are working on are just nowhere near the magnitude to make up for these losses,” , which he co-authored with researchers from National Bureau of Economic Research. Kane urges districts to target funding specifically to proven, evidence-based strategies like high-dosage, low-ratio tutoring and extended instructional time.

Elsewhere, across the nation are providing insight into how America’s educators are viewing prominent K-12 issues as schools largely emerge from the daily challenges posed by COVID-19. One survey conducted by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) revealed just how much experienced by students as classrooms shuttered and instruction moved online. Of the GAO survey respondents, over 60% of teachers said students struggled more than in previous years and even more saw social and emotional challenges become heightened obstacles to learning during the pandemic. Another survey of nearly 30,000 educators, conducted by Educators for Excellence and sponsored by assessment maker NWEA, provided insights into and their role in pandemic learning recovery. Notably, 75% of teachers of color said statewide annual summative assessments were needed to understand and propel student learning, while large majorities of respondents said they had little ability to inform curriculum decisions.

Looking beyond relief funds and teacher surveys, here are 11 other updates from across the country about how states and school systems are confronting the challenges posed by COVID-19 and its variants — and working to preserve student progress amid the pandemic:

IDAHO — Learning-Loss Grants Now Available to Parents at Certain Income Levels: Idaho families making less than $60,000 a year can apply for up to $1,000 per student or up to $3,000 per household as part of a new grant program established by the Idaho State Board of Education and . Families can use the sums on qualifying education expenses, including technology, services, and materials. A form is available for families to complete on the state board’s site, though the official registration window will open later this summer.

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA – Online Learning to Shrink or Go Away in D.C.-Area Schools Next Year: Some D.C.-area schools are . Others are planning to offer limited options. School leaders are arguing that students fare poorly in an online environment, an assertion supported by an abundance of data that emerged from the pandemic. Many districts, like Fairfax County Public Schools, are offering virtual options for students whose health would be significantly compromised by returning in-person. While other districts, like Arlington Public Schools, had difficulty with its online learning offerings due to staffing shortages and will be declining to offer any form of virtual instruction.

HAWAII – Schools Are Struggling to Hire Special Education Teachers. Hawaii May have Found a Fix: In an effort to recruit and retain special education teachers, the Aloha State . “It’s definitely having a great impact on getting people to remain in special education, and also it’s attracting folks to go into special education.” said Osa Tui, the president of the Hawaii State Teachers Association. This pay increase has caused the percentage of special education vacant positions and staff without appropriate licenses to be cut in half. Reflecting on the practice, financial expert Chad Aldeman of the Edunomics Lab at Georgetown University questions why other districts around the country aren’t following suit. “If districts start thinking about the amount of money it would cost to recruit and replace the teacher who leaves, then it might start to change the calculation,” Aldeman explains. “It can make sense financially.”

WISCONSIN — Despite Fears, Teacher Retirements Were Down Last Year: Amid nationwide concerns about growing teacher shortages and fears of an impending wave of teacher retirements, from the year before. And though some education officials were breathing lighter after the news, others pointed to additional factors that could disrupt the supply of teaching staff. The Badger State has more projected teacher openings than students in its teacher preparation programs who could fill them, for example, and the supply of substitute teachers, while generally stronger than in many other states, has been strained in larger districts like Madison. “It takes special people to decide in this moment that they want to become an educator,” said one retired educator. “I’m really fearful what that looks like in 20 years — 20 years from now, are we going to be able to find teachers at all?”

SOUTH CAROLINA — After-School Programs Doubling Down on ESSER Funds: State officials announced late last month an across the state. In a press release, the state Department of Education said it would partner with the South Carolina Afterschool Alliance to disperse the funding to “evidence-based programs in underserved areas.” Recipients of the grants include the organizations Wings for Kids, Communities in Schools, Kids on Point, Yes I Can After School Program and the Youth Empowerment Services (YES) Beyond Measure Mentoring Program.

TENNESSEE — DOE, UT System Launch Grow Your Own Center to Bolster Teacher Pipeline: The Tennessee Department of Education will be alongside the University of Tennessee system to coordinate and support the state’s 65 and growing “Grow Your Own” teacher training programs in districts. Such programs, centered on empowering and equipping school support staff and students to become qualified teachers, has proven immensely successful in several Tennessee districts, with some even set to completely that were once at a crisis level. “We have to remove the barriers that prevent great people from becoming great teachers,” said Tennessee Commissioner Penny Schwinn. “The apprenticeships supported by Tennessee’s Grow Your Own Center give future teachers “exceptional preparation at no cost [to them].”

Today, and launched the Tennessee Grow Your Own Center! This $20M investment creates a permanent technical assistance provider to support districts and states to design, launch and implement teacher apprenticeship and endorsement programs.

— Penny Schwinn (@SchwinnTeach)

ALABAMA – More Than Half of First-Time Teachers in State Leave Within Three Years: According to a new report by the Alabama Commission on the Evaluation of Services, . The report focused on two big issues: support for new teachers and declining employment of certified teachers. Although Alabama is pouring funds into replacing teachers with increased pay, researchers say that isn’t enough. With a growing workload and less quality professional development and collegial support, teachers are feeling unappreciated for their efforts. “There’s kind of an alarming trend that despite the fact that many states are raising compensation, they’re trying to change policy, they’re trying to do what they feel like they can do to stop or to reverse the teacher shortage trend,” said Megan Boren, a project manager at the Southern Regional Education Board. “It’s not quite working yet. The numbers are still getting worse each year.”

COLORADO — Gov. Jared Polis Signs Universal Pre-K Bill Into Law: Colorado Gov. Jared Polis signed a bill into law that aims to make universal pre-K a reality for all residents. Under it, recipients will receive 10 hours of free preschool education per week by fall of 2023. The new law . The effort will be administered by the Department of Early Childhood, a newly-created entity.

NEW JERSEY – Inside New Jersey’s ‘Zillow for Finding Schools’: How a New Effort in Newark Aims to Empower Families By Putting More Education Information at Parents’ Fingertips: A new mobile-friendly online tool is providing Newark families with easy access to detailed school data and registration information for all 185 schools in the city. The tool, My School Newark, was developed by the New Jersey Children’s Foundation and represents the first such effort in the region to aggregate K-12 school information so that parents can make informed decisions about enrollment, applications, and school performance.

MAINE — State Approves $2 Million in Funding to Expand Climate Education in Maine Schools: Lawmakers in Maine aimed at providing educators with climate science education after more than 100 students, families, and teachers testified in support of it. The professional development could provide greater access to quality climate science instruction in schools, say supporters.

COLORADO — Gov. Jared Polis Signs Universal Pre-K Bill Into Law: Gov. Jared Polis signed a bill into law . Under it, recipients will receive 10 hours of free preschool education per week by fall of 2023. The new law is estimated to save families with young children around $4,000 per year in pre-K costs. The effort will be administered by the Department of Early Childhood, a newly-created entity.

CONNECTICUT — Early Childhood Education Gets $150 Million Investment from State: A $150 million investment in early childhood education was recently passed as part of Connecticut’s state-level budget, a move that child care providers in the state say . “We would not be here today without all of the advocacy that was done prior. Child care providers raised up their voices saying that we need help — we are thankful that the cries did not go unheard by our legislators and our governor’s office,” New Haven parent Steven Cousin told Connecticut Public Radio.

As , research on the effectiveness of masking, appropriate distancing, and school building ventilation were shared without evidence or with mistakes that were never corrected. “They had a really hard job. This has never happened before in anybody’s lifetime,” said Doug Harris, a Tulane University researcher who has studied schools through the pandemic. Still, he said, “The quality of research coming out was disheartening.”

Looking beyond safety research and guidance, here are eight other updates from across the country about how states and school systems are confronting the challenges posed by COVID-19 and its variants — and working to preserve student progress amid the pandemic:

1 TEXAS — 4-Day School Week Picks Up Steam in Rural Texas Districts

Amid rising teacher burnout and declining student attendance and enrollment, some . Paul Thompson, an associate professor of economics at Oregon State University, has conducted research surrounding the impacts of four-day school weeks on students. “A common reason districts – both rural and urban – seek this model is because it can save money and effectively recruit and retain students and staff,” Thompson said. In turn, advocates opposed to a four-day school week have said it could result in less quality instructional time for students.

2CALIFORNIA – State Public School Enrollment Spirals, Dropping by 110,000 Students this Year

Enrollment declines that began before the COVID-19 pandemic are continuing in the Golden State, with officials recently announcing a fifth consecutive year of shrinking enrollment. State education officials say the pandemic exacerbated the trend, with . “One of the questions that we just have to come back to is, just where are those kids?” said Heather J. Hough, executive director of the Policy Analysis for California Education. “We don’t have satisfying data to answer that question.”

3UTAH — State Invests $8 Million into Free Early Learning Program for Children

The state of Utah is kicking off an with a local nonprofit called Waterford Upstart, a program meant to expand access to pre-k and kindergarten opportunities to rural families. “Our state leaders recognize we must do something to help our children stay on track, and that help must come early,” said Kim Fischer, the national spokesperson and senior vice president of communication for Waterford.org. “Waterford Upstart is a great solution because it gets families involved and it can be done in conjunction with traditional education.” Among the resources provided to families by the Waterford Upstart program are access to technology and internet, personalized learning software, and coaching. 

4SOUTH CAROLINA – Proposal Would Pay State College Students Majoring in Education if They Become Teachers

More and more teachers are leaving the classroom and fewer people are setting their sights on teaching as a career, prompting South Carolina lawmakers to counter the trend with a proposal via a yearly stipend. Palmetto State Teachers Association Director of Government Affairs Patrick Kelly expressed to members, “The retention part, you guys are working on through other avenues – unencumbered time, other issues – but we’ve got to get them into the pipeline. If we don’t, there’s nobody to retain.” The Commission on Higher Education would be responsible for defining which majors and students would be eligible for the stipend.

5MICHIGAN – Detroit School District Plans to Scale Back COVID Testing Next Year

Detroit Public Schools will soon move to small-batch COVID testing instead of universal screening as emergency public health guidelines are scaled back across the state. Citing a sharp increase in school districts dropping mask mandates and testing requirements, .

6ALABAMA – Lawmakers Passed Teacher, Substitute Pay Raises, Certification Updates … What’s Next?

Alabama lawmakers recently as the state legislature adjourned. The expanded state budget includes significant raises for most public school teachers, while a series of legislation would expand resources for classroom supplies, open new routes to licensure for teacher candidates, and set controversial rules on classroom discussions of gender identity and sexual orientation.

7INDIANA – State Board OKs Measures to Ease Special Ed Teacher Shortage

State education officials in the state as schools face sharp staffing shortages and growing populations of students with disabilities. “Through a new license option, approval of additional transition to teaching programs and financial assistance to support training for our current and future special education teachers, we’re committed to supporting our local schools as we seek to grow the pipeline of educators in this high-demand field,” said Indiana Education Secretary Katie Jenner. Officials say that the number of special educators in Indiana has declined 4% since 2014, while the number of students receiving special education services grew by 12%.

8NATIONAL — With Millions of Kids on the Line, Can Schools Make Tutoring Work?

Amid a historic surge in tutoring services due to pandemic disruption to learning and overflowing school coffers, experts are increasingly concerned that schools may struggle to deliver the high-quality, targeted type of tutoring interventions that have proven to be effective. Catherine Gewertz of Education Week cites the inclusion of tutoring as a key recovery strategy and investment across more than 70% of surveyed school districts, as well as a $100 million philanthropic initiative, as representing a wave of programs whose quality schools may find difficult to ensure. “Because so many are launching big programs so quickly, their impact might be disappointing, sparking a backlash,” says one tutoring researcher,

This update on pandemic recovery in education collects and shares news updates from the district, state, and national levels as all stakeholders continue to work on developing safe, innovative plans to resume schooling and address learning loss. It’s an offshoot of the Collaborative for Student Success’ QuickSheet newsletter, which you can . 

The report calls on the Institute of Education Sciences — the research arm of the Education Department — , including education technology, teacher education and workforce development, and civil rights policies and practices in schools. “When research is grounded in the needs and experiences of communities, then that community’s district and educators are more likely to use the findings of the research in his or her daily work,” Adam Gamoran, the chairman of the National Academies committee that wrote the report, . 

Elsewhere this week, K-12 policy expert Jocelyn Pickford turns her attention to in her latest CurriculumHQ blog.��

She first recognizes Nebraska, where officials are “investing in aligned professional development for Comprehensive Support & Improvement schools through their Communities of Practice partnership with TNTP” and providing statewide access to Zearn Math, a curriculum tool that has enabled over 8,000 teachers to reach 110,000 Nebraska students already. “Stories like these are helping me channel my math anxiety into something much more productive: optimism that educators + curriculum experts = collaboration that helps kids,” .

Looking beyond curriculum and research, here are eight other updates from across the country about how states and school systems are confronting the challenges posed by COVID-19 and its variants — and working to preserve student progress amid the pandemic:

ALABAMA – Governor Ivey Signs ‘Numeracy Act’ With Aim of Boosting Math Education

Alabama Governor Kay Ivey , approving an intended boost to math education in the state via the hiring of hundreds of new math teachers, investment in professional learning and development for teachers, and the establishment of an Office of Math Improvement and dedicated education task forces. “For our students to have positive educational outcomes and to have success later in life, we must ensure proficiency in both reading and math is achieved,” said Gov. Ivey, noting that the new law follows a 2019 law improving the state’s focus on literacy instruction.

CALIFORNIA — With Students in Turmoil, US Teachers Train in Mental Health

Despite a national return to in-person classes and overflowing school coffers, education systems are struggling to meet heightened mental health needs among students, families, and teachers that spiked during the pandemic. One coalition of mental health organizations says nearly every state in the U.S. , while teachers increasingly raise alarms for their students. “There’s more school violence, there’s more vaping, there’s more substance abuse, there’s more sexual activity, there’s more suicide ideation, there’s more of every single behavior that we would be worried about in kids,” one mental healthcare provider . In California, officials are leaning into an educator training course offered since 2014 to help prepare and equip teachers to identify and respond to mental health concerns among students. Though more than 8,000 teachers have taken the course, experts say such efforts will need to be expanded into communities that are currently without a similar resource.

NEW JERSEY – Midyear Test Scores Predict Continued Struggle With Learning Loss

New Jersey educators and officials are bracing for lowered student proficiency rates in reading and math as students sit for annual state exams this spring, . Across grade levels in both ELA and math, fewer than 10% of students are expected to score proficient. Newark Superintendent Roger León said his district is “taking the numbers very seriously because their implications are quite profound,” while also saying that the “road to recovery will be long” after years of disruption by the pandemic.��

CONNECTICUT – State Program Has High School Students Propose, Vote on Uses of Federal K12 Funds

Fifty-four high schools across Connecticut have now participated in the state’s Voice4Change initiative, encouraging high school students to submit and vote on proposals . So far, high school students have put their support behind projects like building school greenhouses, renovating common spaces, and bringing school communities together for special events. “I’m so happy that Connecticut, under the governor’s leadership, determined that with all the federal funding we were getting in the state, that this was an opportunity for students … to tell us how you’re choosing to spend some of our recovery funding,” said Commissioner Charlene Russel-Tucker, noting that the program is the first of its kind in Connecticut and the nation.��

OREGON – Districts Exceed Federal Expectation for Committing K12 Dollars to Unfinished Learning

Oregon school districts are funneling federal COVID-19 aid into efforts to address unfinished learning, say state officials. The federal government mandated that a minimum of 20% of pandemic relief funds be targeted to lost learning, but . Programs being bolstered by the funds include in-school supports for students and teachers and  partnerships with community organizations like the Boys & Girls Club, mental health providers, and tutors who can help meet student needs when kids aren’t in school.

NATIONAL — Funders Give Millions Towards Tutoring in Hopes It Can Aid Recovery Despite Big Challenges

A coalition of philanthropic organizations led by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and Overdeck Foundation feel the need for effective tutoring programs is paramount to address gaps in students’ learning growth that were exacerbated by the pandemic. The funders have organized , including staffing, capacity, uptake, and lack of research on online tutoring. The initiative, dubbed Accelerate, will be led by CEO Kevin Huffan, a former Tennessee superintendent, and Janice Jackson, formerly of Chicago Public Schools. Accelerate will work with both in-person and online partners with an end goal to take the “burden of quality control” off overtaxed schools and district leaders.

TEXAS — State Education Agency Says Flagging Attendance Won’t Reduce School Funding

In light of reduced enrollment and attendance due to the pandemic, the Texas Education Agency (TEA) within the first 24 weeks of the 2021-2022 school year. “Providing this adjustment to the 2021-22 school year will ensure school systems have the funding they need to retain the best and brightest teachers and provide quality education to all public school students across Texas,” said Texas Gov. Greg Abbott in a statement. TEA also guaranteed essential funding support for school systems by providing full funding based on daily attendance, whether in-person or remote. Although grace is being extended to struggling districts, experts caution that incentives for school systems to keep students in school should remain in place to help address long-term enrollment concerns.

CALIFORNIA – State Task Force Recommends Investments in Literacy Programs, More Specialists

A task force assembled by State Superintendent Tony Thurmond to study and recommend action on flagging literacy in California . Citing heightened challenges during the pandemic, the task force also urged state leaders to pass a series of bills being considered by the legislature that would fund summer literacy programs, invest in bilingual initiatives and specialists, and boost library budgets and resources.

This update on pandemic recovery in education collects and shares news updates from the district, state, and national levels as all stakeholders continue to work on developing safe, innovative plans to resume schooling and address learning loss. It’s an offshoot of the Collaborative for Student Success’ QuickSheet newsletter, which you can .��

Their discussion comes as a number of leaders recently call for renewed focus on science education, including experts and advocates like ., CEO of the National Math and Science Initiative and the first African-American astronaut, and Jim Clark, president and CEO of the Boys & Girls Club of America. (To read more about how high-quality materials can help bring science instruction alive, check out ).

Elsewhere in the news this week, challenges across the country are preventing schools from spending billions of dollars in federal K-12 funding as quickly as many had anticipated after years of ailing school budgets and the generational shock of the pandemic. 

Plans to bolster teacher workforces or improve facilities and infrastructure are being held up by record labor shortages and seemingly endless supply chain issues — economic challenges that are disrupting nearly every sector of the economy. Some that politics are making the funds harder to spend on a realistic timeline as Republicans increasingly bemoan the size and scope of federal K-12 recovery and Democrats resist “acknowledging that the money will take years to spend.”

Looking beyond curriculum and relief funds, here are nine other updates from across the country about how states and school systems are confronting the challenges posed by COVID-19 and its variants — and working to preserve student progress amid the pandemic:

1 PENNSYLVANIA – State in Crisis as Schools See Sharp Declines in Teaching Applicants & Candidates

A deputy secretary for the Pennsylvania Department of Education last month stated that as applicants dwindled and the number of young adults pursuing the field plummets. According to the official, both the number of teacher applicants in Pennsylvania and the number of undergraduate education majors in colleges dropped by 66% over the previous decade. Speakers during a recent House Education Committee meeting said that teacher workforce issues predated the pandemic, but that COVID-19 exacerbated an already tough situation into a crisis.

2 DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA – Literacy Scores Point to Widened Reading Gap During Pandemic

Black and Hispanic students in the District are still behind early literacy benchmarks and levels of achievement seen in 2019, before the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to data released by D.C. Public Schools. The data states that white students are now meeting literacy benchmarks at the rate they were before the pandemic, . Schools and teachers are responding to these trends, officials say however, noting that gains are being observed across the board as schools make large investments in tutoring, family and student outreach, and targeted instruction and interventions.

3 MARYLAND – Officials Release Some Testing Results, Show Steep Learning Loss

“Education experts made dire predictions during the last two years, and it appears they were right,” writes Chris Papst writing for WBFF in Baltimore. Reporting on newly released data from the Maryland Department of Education, . Across Maryland, “81 percent of all Maryland students tested in grades three through five are not proficient in math, and 76% are not proficient in English Language Arts.” While plans to address flailing scores vary by district, Baltimore Public Schools pointed to its to provide every student with a specialized learning plan and targeted instructional supports.

4 COLORADO — Colorado is Reshaping Early Childhood. Some School Districts are Nervous

Colorado’s progress toward providing universal early childhood education is being met with both praise and alarm as . After Gov. Jared Polis moved up the date for the establishment of a new early childhood education agency from summer to this spring, experts are flagging the many additional accomplishments that will need to be made to deliver universal pre-K on the law’s timeline of summer 2023. Angela Fedler, who heads several early childhood programs for the Delta County School District in western Colorado, said, “I love the idea of universal preschool. I believe in the idea of universal preschool. I do have some fears around it as well.”

5 CALIFORNIA – Districts Double Down on Addressing Learning Loss After Sharp Decline in Test Scores, Literacy

Statewide student assessment scores recently released by the California Department of Education seemingly confirm what many educators say they’ve been fearing: . The data are adding even more pressure to districts and schools to refocus efforts to help students catch up – like in San Diego, where the district is reviewing curriculum, providing on-demand tutoring, and investing in new professional development and training. The statewide testing data comes as literacy more broadly appears to be flagging in the Golden State. According to a World Population Review , California has the lowest literacy rate of any state, with nearly 1 in 4 people over the age of 15 lack the skills to decipher the words in this sentence and only 77% of adults are considered mid- to highly literate.

6 NEW YORK – Report Explores How New York City is Spending $7 Billion in Federal K-12 Funding

Analysis by the Independent Budget Office shows for pre-K through third grade, with much of the money left to schools to use toward reading coaches, instructional materials, academic recovery, and operating costs. The report also indicated that a little less than half of the total pot is being spent this school year, with the rest earmarked for initiatives through the 2024-25 school year.

7 MICHIGAN – Detroit Virtual School Experiencing Difficulty As New Phase of Recovery Begins

“Ahead of this school year, school officials were banking on the virtual option becoming a permanent fixture for students who thrive in the online space,” writes Ethan Bakuli for Chalkbeat as he reports on the progress of an all-virtual school founded in Detroit during the pandemic. Unfortunately, , saying staffing is a consistent issue and course and program offerings aren’t reliable. Bakuli reports that similar concerns are swirling around other pandemic-driven virtual schools across the country. “There was a trend this fall among larger school districts who created permanent remote learning options as a function of responding to parent demands and trying to recapture enrollment … not necessarily as a longer-term vision for what a good remote learning environment could look like for kids,” says Bree Dusseault, principal at the Center for Reinventing Public Education.

8 ARIZONA — Governor, Ed Officials Announce New ARP-Funded Efforts to Combat Learning Loss, Support Teachers

Arizona officials have unveiled numerous education initiatives in recent weeks . In addition to directing in American Rescue Plan (ARP) funding to deliver $1,000 to classrooms through the popular donate platform Donors Choose, Governor Doug Ducey is using of the federal funds to bolster Arizona OnTrack summer programs. “One of Arizona’s most respected education leaders, Lisa Graham Keegan, will lead the AZ OnTrack Summer Camp, the initiative to overcome learning loss that occurred during the pandemic,” read part of a news release from Ducey’s office, which additionally stated that summer offerings would be targeted to critical subjects like reading, math, and civics.

9 NORTH CAROLINA – Reports of Learning Loss Match Experiences in Schools Across State

A report released by the North Carolina Department of Education , with of third graders not reading proficiently and math scores for nearly all students plummeting. The report also found clear gaps in progress for students of color, economically disadvantaged students, and young learners, who particularly struggled with the shift to virtual learning.  “The problems are different for kids, so for elementary kids that’s when they are learning how to read. That’s when it really mattered to them to have strong instruction,” says Sara Rich, literacy expert and CEO of Just Right Reader, “So, I think it’s great the kids are back in school.”

This update on pandemic recovery in education collects and shares news updates from the district, state, and national levels as all stakeholders continue to work on developing safe, innovative plans to resume schooling and address learning loss. It’s an offshoot of the Collaborative for Student Success’ QuickSheet newsletter, which you can .

“We urged our schools and districts to approach their federal funds wisely and with sustainability in mind,” said North Dakota Superintendent Kirsten Baesler. “We encouraged them to spend about one-third on meeting immediate needs, one-third on innovation and implementing new ideas, and a one-third on keeping what works going.” The briefs feature specifics about “big-bet” programs in the states that could lead to generational advances in areas like tutoring, teacher training, and summer learning programming. Check out to learn more. 

Elsewhere, districts across the nation are experiencing declines in the number of students getting referred for evaluation for special education services. The shift that students with the greatest need are less likely to receive the help they need emerging from the pandemic. From to to , Chalkbeat reports that referrals for special education services fell by nearly a third after the onset of the pandemic and have failed to rebound as schools approach the end of the second year in pandemic schooling. “We don’t want to leave a child behind if they need those [special education] services,” said Julie Rottier-Lukens, director of special education for the 90,000-student Denver Public Schools. “And yet we don’t want to make presumptions based on what we’re seeing in front of us right now and discount that kids have been through a lot.”

Looking beyond relief funds and special education, here are nine other updates from across the country about how states and school systems are confronting the challenges posed by COVID-19 and its variants — and working to preserve student progress amid the pandemic:

1 RHODE ISLAND – State Lawmaker Pushes to Require Measurement of Student Learning Loss

Rep. Julie Casimiro of Rhode Island has introduced a bill aimed at measuring learning loss after concern from local parents about the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on student achievement. “If we don’t address it as the adults in the room, it’s not going to get addressed. It’s not going to get fixed,” Casimiro said. The legislation in school districts across the state – and then come up with individualized plans to address it.

2 ILLINOIS – Chicago Public Schools Consider New Vaccine Strategies as Rates Dip for Younger Children

Chicago Public Schools says it continues to explore ways to improve access to vaccines and vaccine uptake after the district reported a sharp drop in the rate of vaccination for 5- to 11-year-olds three months after Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine received authorization from the federal government. At the time of reporting, — with rates especially lagging in schools on Chicago’s South and West Side.

3 MICHIGAN – Data Confirms Extent of Student Learning Loss

Michigan state education officials are reporting marked declines in student proficiency during the pandemic, with . A recent Education Policy Innovation Collaborative (EPIC) also found schools that kept students in the class year-round fared better than districts that relied more heavily on virtual learning. The data comes as Michigan schools continue to face and as state teachers unions urge leaders to relax attendance requirements for students in the face of continuing virus outbreaks, staffing shortages, and poor weather conditions.

4 NORTH DAKOTA – Districts Struggle to Find Substitute Teachers

North Dakota school districts are having difficulty finding substitute teachers as people are less willing or less interested in taking on the responsibilities of being a substitute teacher, said Rob Lech, superintendent of Jamestown Public Schools. “As our pool of substitute teachers continues to get smaller, the need is spread then really thin,” he said. The shortage of substitute teachers is not a new issue, said Rebecca Pitkin, executive director of the North Dakota Education Standards and Practices Board. She said .

5 OREGON – Districts Estimate Continued Enrollment Declines, Brace for Budget Cuts

Portland Public Schools officials are . “While we are forecasting fewer dollars to operate schools generally as a result of declining student enrollment, we are also grateful to have targeted state and one-time federal investments to limit the impact of this enrollment change school districts all across Oregon are facing,” said Guadalupe Guerrero, Superintendent of Portland Public Schools. 

6 ARIZONA – Families Eye Private Tutoring Options as Pandemic Learning Disruption Draws On

Parents are to keep up with online learning during the pandemic. Natanya Washburn, a Phoenix resident, says all four of her children are still feeling the impact of online learning that began in March 2020, especially her daughter, who is in high school and has special needs. Online tutoring platforms like Varsity Tutors report a huge increase in the number of customers in the Phoenix area, stating demand for STEM tutors is up 62% compared to last year.

7 NEW YORK – Defying National Trends, New York’s Graduation Rate Inches Up During Pandemic

Graduation rates across New York City and large parts of the state rose last year, defying national trends of flagging grad rates as the pandemic disrupted schooling. , while the statewide average climbed a single percentage point to 86%. City officials additionally noted that a record number of high school seniors received waivers of typically required Regents exams – 44,545 in 2021 compared to 8,000 in 2020. Statewide, 82% of seniors were granted an exemption from Regents exams last year. 

8 MISSOURI – State Among the Last to Approve Federal Funding Allocations

The Missouri legislature is targeted to K-12 schools and districts. Facing a March 24 deadline to allocate the funding, Missouri is among the last states in the nation to approve the distributions that will be based on school and district spending plans submitted to state officials. Once approved, the funding will need to be spent before September 2024 – a deadline shared with schools across the nation. 

9 COLORADO – Leaders Debate Changes to Teacher Evals As COVID Policies Shift, Universal Pre-K Begins

A bill being considered by the Colorado legislature by reducing the weight of student academic growth in a teacher’s evaluation, providing increased training for evaluators, and boosting teacher professional development. “The goal has always been to help develop and support excellent teachers,” said Jen Walmer, state director for Democrats for Education Reform. “The time is now to help streamline the system, make it less burdensome, restart the evaluation system, and set up the evaluation system to really help teachers grow.” The bill comes as the state prepares to launch a and as state leaders prepare the way for schools to treat COVID “,” a move some believe will allow schools to place the bulk of school disruptions in the rearview mirror. 

This update on pandemic recovery in education collects and shares news updates from the district, state, and national levels as all stakeholders continue to work on developing safe, innovative plans to resume schooling and address learning loss. It’s an offshoot of the Collaborative for Student Success’ QuickSheet newsletter, which you can . 

Roza touches on promising ways she’s seeing the money being spent, including “districts adapting to help make sure students are returning — things like finding ways to transport kids during bus driver shortages, updating ventilation, creating virtual offerings where needed, and so on.” She also emphasizes that “while the feds attached very few strings to this money, one significant string is the requirement that districts when making spending decisions.”

Looking beyond issues of relief funds and federal oversight, here are eight other updates from across the country about how states and school systems are confronting the challenges posed by COVID-19 and its variants — and working to preserve student learning amid the pandemic:

UTAH — School Districts Are Offering Extra Pay to Attract Substitute Teachers to Avert Crisis. Will it Work?

In recent weeks, increasing numbers of Utah school districts are acting on the hope , as shortages enter “crisis” territory. Ben Horsley, the spokesman for Granite School District, said shortages are a funding issue and school districts are competing with each other for the same substitutes — as well as with outside companies that might be able to pay more. School officials say they’re willing to try different things, like bonuses, to get the numbers back to a more manageable level. In Utah and elsewhere, widespread staffing shortages appear to impact low-income communities hardest throughout the pandemic. 

FLORIDA — Move to End Standardized Testing in High Schools Draws Both Praise and Concern

In September, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis proposed the “elimination” of the Florida Standards Assessment, instead advancing a plan to implement “progress monitoring” in schools throughout the year. However, n. One parent worried about schools’ ability to understand how students are progressing. “To take it away completely off the board and not have an idea where someone might be could set a tone … of ‘We don’t have confidence in you to reach this mark even though it’s been a difficult year,” she said. 

DELAWARE — Fueled by Grants, States Bet Innovative Career Training Programs Will Lure Disengaged Youth Back to School

����Ӱ��’s Beth Hawkins documents a robust effort by private and civic leaders to support the growth of “promising career-pathway programs” in schools in states across the country, offering grants as large as $25 million to spark innovation. From apprenticeships with restaurants to operating vertical farms, students should have access to career opportunities and hands-on experiences at younger ages and across communities, say philanthropic organizations like the Walton Family Foundation and Bloomberg Philanthropies. A number of states are in agreement with the strategy to challenge schools to offer students the opportunity to earn job credentials or even employment after graduation — Delaware, Texas, and Tennessee each bolstered career programs as part of their K-12 recovery plans.

PENNSYLVANIA — Fair School Funding Trial Begins

Attorney Katrina Robson wove history, statistics, and heart-tugging stories of teacher sacrifice and student deprivation into a 90-minute opening statement , where spending disparities are among the highest in the country. The plaintiffs, who also include three families, the Pennsylvania chapter of the NAACP, and the Pennsylvania Association of Rural and Small Schools, say that the system violates the state constitution’s mandate for a “thorough and efficient system of education” as well as its equal protection clause. The wide gaps in education spending discriminate against those who live in the underfunded districts, they say. At the heart of the case, first filed in 2014, is Pennsylvania’s system for funding education — the amount of state aid it sends to its 500 school districts, and how that money is distributed. In Pennsylvania and elsewhere, state education aid is meant to make up the difference in local property wealth and taxing capacity.

EARLY EDUCATION — Kindergarten Enrollment Slumped Last Year. Now, Some Schools See Rebounds Among Youngest Students 

After seeing sharp declines in the number of students entering kindergarten during the pandemic, many schools are seeing a rebound in enrollment as students and families re-engage with schools. Reporting for Chalkbeat, that sometimes eclipse numbers prior to the pandemic. Whereas, “many big-city districts that were shrinking pre-pandemic saw overall enrollment drops again after experiencing especially large declines last fall.” Districts are pointing to larger population declines and decreases in birth rates as additional factors for their shrinking enrollment beyond the pandemic, though officials say long term trends “remain to be seen.”

ILLINOIS —Chicago Might Rely Less on Yellow Buses to Transport Students Next Fall

Struggling to attract and retain bus drivers, Chicago Public Schools is considering a longer-term strategy . During the pandemic — in ChicaGo and other cities — districts offered families financial incentives for coordinating their children’s transportation or have increasingly partnered with ride-share services like RideAlong. “I am not sure if for next year having yellow buses should be the exclusive mode of transporting students,” said district CEO Pedro Martinez. “Our old way of thinking might be too restrictive.”

MICHIGAN — Dyslexia Bills Launch Debate over Supporting Struggling Readers

Following emotional testimony, Michigan lawmakers have renewed their efforts to pass a package of bills designed to help struggling young readers. The bills would so teachers are better able to identify and address reading problems. The proposed laws have drawn unusually broad support from lawmakers and experts across Michigan’s political and geographical divides, who say the state has not done enough to identify and support struggling readers. However, ​​some literacy experts and school officials urged caution about the bills, calling them overly prescriptive and too similar to policies that have proven ineffective in other states.

CALIFORNIA — As State Aims to Come From Behind in Making Sure Children Learn to Read, Some Say Push Is Political

In an attempt by state leaders to address gaps in reading education across the state of California, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed legislation last month ensuring that prospective teachers learn reading instruction practices backed by research, while another proposed bill would require universal screening for dyslexia. Meanwhile, state Superintendent Tony Thurmond has launched his own literacy agenda, creating a task force aimed at making sure all third graders can read by 2026 and pledging to distribute 1 million books to students. 

This update on pandemic recovery in education collects and shares news updates from the district, state, and national levels as all stakeholders continue to work on developing safe, innovative plans to resume schooling and address learning loss. It’s an offshoot of the Collaborative for Student Success’ QuickSheet newsletter, which you can . 

Meanwhile, school districts across the nation are moving away from masking mandates as pressure builds to keep kids in classrooms by rapidly testing students who may have been exposed to the virus rather than requiring students to quarantine at home.

According to data gathered by Burbio, 135 of the largest 200 districts have mask requirements, down from 150 a month earlier. The shift comes as COVID-19 precautions continue to be a political flash point in most states — with lawmakers in and banning districts and schools from requiring masks, oftentimes against locally-made decisions.

Looking beyond issues of safety protocols and relief funds, here are eight other updates from across the country about how states and school systems are confronting the challenges posed by the pandemic and the Delta variant — and working to preserve student learning amid the pandemic:

SOUTH DAKOTA – Teachers and Support Staff Receive Incentives to Tutor After School

Sioux City teachers who volunteer to tutor after school hours after the local school board approved an agreement with teachers unions to use a portion of the district’s federal ESSER funds. The board additionally approved two other programs to address learning loss – a math remediation program and district-wide literacy intervention materials.

ILLINOIS – State School Report Card Points to Declining Enrollment and Engagement

Illinois education officials are drawing showing that student engagement and attendance continue to flag amid COVID-19. In addition to transfers to private schools and an uptick in homeschooling, a drop in public school enrollment was fueled by students becoming disengaged from school systems entirely, warranting a statewide strategy and response in engaging families and students. Illinois, like other states, continues to modify its recovery plan, most recently by waiving teacher evaluations for a second year.

VIRGINIA — Youngkin Pledged More Parental Control of Education, But Changes May Prove Difficult

Following last week’s gubernatorial victory of Republican Glenn Youngkin over incumbent Democrat Terry McAuliffe in Virginia, education advocates and experts are looking ahead to see how Youngkin’s education-focused campaign focus might play out in the Old Dominion and potentially in other states. Despite a promise to give parents increased control over topics and materials taught in schools, some education experts warn “.” Stephen Farnsworth, a political scientist at University of Mary Washington in Fredericksburg, Virginia, points to multiple systems that already elicit parent engagement and ensure local decision making remains central to instructional and curriculum decisions. “It’ll be interesting to see if education is as high a priority for Youngkin the governor as it was for Youngkin the candidate,” said Farnsworth.

NATIONAL — State Test Results Are In. Are They Useless?

States continue to confirm that pandemic disruption severely impacted student learning and progress as they slowly release data gathered this past spring, after many schools had been shuttered and as students and families cautiously walked a line between virtual and in-person schooling. Officials in say test scores “crashed” while Board of Education dedicated time recently to publicly discussing the “dramatic drop” in ELA and math scores. Similarly, states like and are seeking out lessons from the data while attempting to account for weak participation rates after the federal government waived the requirement for 95% of students to be tested. Catherine Gewertz, covering the topic for Education Week, writes that assessment experts are encouraged that leaders are looking to data to see how best to guide pandemic recovery and target learning acceleration efforts, but that they also caution using recent test scores as the only data point informing education actions, as participation rates, reporting and comparability will vary state by state. “Multiple sources of data are more important than ever,” Gewertz concludes.

TENNESSEE – State Officials Kickoff Townhall Tour to Get Feedback on School Funding Formula Changes

Gov. Bill Lee and Education Commissioner Penny Schwinn are crossing the state . The governor’s proposed Basic Education Program formula, or BEP, would shift the state to a more student-centered funding mechanism, said Schwinn at one of several townhalls planned across the state on the topic. “Altogether what we’re hearing as a theme is that students deserve to have a tremendous number of opportunities to engage actively in schools and make sure they have the staff and teachers available to support them and make sure they can realize their dreams,” Schwinn said.

UTAH – Poll Shows Support for Directing Budget Surplus to Education Efforts

New polling data from Deseret News and the Hinckley Institute of Politics . “We believe that continued investment in education including pre-K and optional enhanced kindergarten are a wise use of surplus funds,” said Moe Hickey, CEO of the child advocacy organization Voices for Utah Children. “We are opposed to a tax cut at a time when we as a state have so many unmet needs,” he said, referring to polling results that showed tax cuts as a second-place priority for Utah voters.

NEW YORK – Nation’s Largest District Rolls Out Vaccine Centers Across Elementary Schools

COVID-19 vaccines , announced Mayor Bill de Blasio following the federal government’s approval of the vaccine for use with 5-11-year-olds. As of the date of the announcement, 78% of New York teens ages 12-17 had received at least one shot.

COLORADO – Budget Proposal Includes Record Education Funding for Pre-K, K-12 & Higher Ed

Gov. Jared Polis’ recent budget proposal for the 2022-23 year . “Education is the best investment as a state that we make. It’s one of the reasons I ran for governor — to fix the systemic underfunding of our public schools and to pay teachers better,” Polis said in a speech announcing the proposal. “It’s why I’m extremely proud to put forward a budget that invests a historic level of funding in our public schools.” The increase in education funding would drive investments in early and higher ed, while also helping K12 schools ensure they do not face a “funding cliff” as federal relief funds expire or run out.

This update on pandemic recovery in education collects and shares news updates from the district, state, and national levels as all stakeholders continue to work on developing safe, innovative plans to resume schooling and address learning loss. It’s an offshoot of the Collaborative for Student Success’ QuickSheet newsletter, which you can .