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Here are some of the things we’ve been reading about this week:
A study finds that parents don’t grasp the extent of academic damage caused by Covid.
Some states cut K-12 education funding during the pandemic.
Data from Virginia shows that the state has a severe shortage of child and adolescent psychiatrists.
To read more, click on the following links.
Research & Practice
ScienceDaily: Child-centric approach: Blueprint to improve communities
New findings from a decades-long study focusing on early childhood education and development were published in the journal Medical Research Archives. The research highlights lessons from the Abecedarian Project, an early intervention program initiated in 1971. The study emphasizes the benefits of coordinated education, healthcare, and social services, and involving the private sector to make communities more attractive, improve quality of life, and draw in new businesses. The paper recommends implementing scientifically validated approaches into existing community systems (like schools or community health organizations), emphasizing the positive impact of coordinated comprehensive services on children’s lives, and advocating for global application based on 50 years of research from the Abecedarian Project.
The 74: A Rose-Colored Recovery: Study Says Parents Don’t Grasp Extent of COVID’s Academic Damage
A new paper highlights an “urgency gap” between education experts and parents regarding the extent of pandemic-induced learning loss. While researchers express concerns about dismal test scores and long-term effects, parents generally believe their children are doing well based on grades and teacher feedback. The paper suggests parents’ lack of concern is due to minimal attention paid to standardized test scores, which researchers deem crucial. Discrepancies between grades and test scores have grown, with more B grades despite performance below grade level. Experts recommend educators focus on test score data in conversations with parents to address the urgency gap and implement effective recovery efforts.
The 74: Empty Desks: New Absenteeism Report Shows Dramatic Surge in Suburban, Rural & Latino Students Missing Class
A demographic analysis of chronic absenteeism reveals an increase for all students, with increases largely driven by students in suburban and rural districts and Latino students. The study by Attendance Works and the Everyone Graduates Center at Johns Hopkins University, based on federal data, identifies over 14 million chronically absent students in the 2021-22 academic year—an increase of nearly seven million compared to 2017-18. Latino student absences surged 53%, and Pacific Islander students saw a 46% rise. Suburban and rural school districts experienced a 46% and 47% increase, respectively. Schools with over 75% of students receiving free/reduced-price lunch had chronic absenteeism rates that tripled.
Policy
K-12 Dive: Report: Some states cut education spending amid pandemic uncertainty
During the 2020-21 school year, U.S. states reduced pre-K-12 education funding to levels not seen since the 2008 Great Recession, according to a report by the Education Law Center. The report highlights disparities in equitable and adequate funding both between states and among school districts within states. Some states, like Colorado and Hawaii, significantly reduced total state and local revenue allocated to districts, while others, like Illinois and New Jersey, didn’t implement planned funding increases. Per-pupil funding varied widely among states in 2021, from $27,265 in New York to $10,536 in Idaho.
See Also: Schools Lost Ground on Funding in Recent Years. The Recovery Could Be Slow, and When ESSER Funds Are Gone, Here’s Where Districts May Turn to Fill Gaps, and ESSER Funds: NC Districts Played It Safe on Teacher Pay & May Avoid Fiscal Cliff
Around the Nation
The Hechinger Report: PROOF POINTS: There is a worldwide problem in math and it’s not just about the pandemic
The recent results from the Program for International Student Assessment (PISA) show that U.S. 15-year-olds have moved up in international rankings for math, reading, and science. Education Secretary Miguel Cardona attributes this improvement to the largest federal investment in education, roughly $200 billion, during the pandemic. However, the rise in rankings is deceptive, as U.S. test scores did not improve; instead, other countries experienced larger declines. In math, the U.S. fell to 28th place, with a 13-point drop—the lowest scores in PISA math history. Inequality persists, with Black and Hispanic students scoring below their Asian and white counterparts. The results also indicate a global decline in scores, potentially influenced by technology distractions and increased migration. Despite the pandemic’s impact, the decline predates it, highlighting broader educational challenges.
EdWeek: Ed. Dept. Releases New Toolkit to Engage English Learners’ Families
The U.S. Department of Education’s Office of English Language Acquisition has updated its English-learner family toolkit, offering guidance for educators and families to enhance meaningful family engagement. The free toolkit, available in English, Spanish, Chinese, and Arabic as a mobile app, covers various topics, including enrollment documentation for English learners and advice for educators on navigating language barriers. The EL Family Toolkit app, developed by the Manhattan Strategy Group, aims to improve academic and linguistic outcomes by involving families in their children’s education. It serves as a resource for educators, emphasizing shared responsibility and providing information on U.S. education systems, extracurricular activities, and student services. The toolkit is valuable for supporting English learners and can be utilized by organizations assisting immigrants and English learners.
The 74: Virginia Data Shows Severe Shortage of Child and Adolescent Psychiatrists
Virginia faces a severe shortage of child and adolescent psychiatrists (CAPs), with only 264 available for the state’s 1.8 million children. This shortage contributes to delays in mental health care, impacting both students and families. The state ranks 37th in accessing mental health services, with the pandemic exacerbating workforce issues. Efforts to address the crisis include the Virginia Mental Health Access Program (VMAP), aiming to enhance mental health access by training pediatricians to function like psychiatrists. However, challenges persist, including a lack of therapists and fragmented healthcare delivery. The Richmond Behavioral Health Authority employs creative solutions, such as telehealth, to mitigate the CAP shortage, but the nationwide staffing crisis poses significant challenges. Increased funding, legislative support, and urgent systemic changes could help address the pressing issue of mental health care accessibility for children in Virginia.
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