COVID-19 and U.S. Schools: Using Data to Understand and Mitigate Inequities in Instruction and Learning

Abstract

Shortly after the COVID-19 pandemic arrived in the United States, schools across the country had to enact significant, rapid changes to their instructional models, and schools varied widely in their access to the resources needed to support these efforts. Researchers across the U.S. quickly launched surveys, website reviews, and other data-collection methods to document these shifts. In this chapter, we draw on this research to describe the U.S. K-12 educational context, the policies states adopted, the practices and resources schools offered, and the potential effects on students’ academic, social, and emotional learning. In these discussions we draw particular attention to inequities in educational opportunities across schools serving different student populations. We then discuss how different sources of data will be needed to help identify educational needs and mitigate disparities in instruction and learning post-pandemic.