TEA study finds that students have lost 3.2 months of learning since March

According to the Texas Education Agency, the average student lost 3.2 months of learning during school closures since last March, in addition to the typical 2.5 months of summer learning loss. Researchers were able to come up with the amount of instruction loss by comparing beginning-of-year assessments given to 648,609 students from 334 different school systems.

According to the TEA, the beginning-of-year assessments covered the same grades, subjects and courses that are provided for STAAR and were constructed from previously released STAAR test items. The study compared assessment scores from the beginning of the 2020-2021 school year relative to normal academic school years.

The TEA says, “The extended school closures and long-term remote instruction many students have experienced in the past nine months – in addition to the trauma of the pandemic itself, including the potential loss of financial resources and instability of food and housing – are likely to cause substantial academic impact. The data reported here provide a unique opportunity to compare students’ understanding of the curriculum at two different timepoints during the pandemic with that of previous years.”

The Kerrville Independent School District wants to remind parents and guardians that Monday, January 18 is designated as an Asynchronous School Day, meaning that students will be completing their daily assignments from home. This day will also give teachers additional time to fully support student learning. For more information visit kerrvilleisd.net.