ERIC Number: ED661725
Record Type: Non-Journal
Publication Date: 2024-Oct
Pages: 22
Abstractor: ERIC
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: N/A
EISSN: N/A
From Crisis to Opportunity: Post-Pandemic Academic Growth in Massachusetts. White Paper No. 276
Daniel Hamlin
Pioneer Institute for Public Policy Research
The significant decrease in student achievement levels following the pandemic has become a pressing national problem, and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts showed some of the sharpest academic achievement declines in the country. To assist schools in recovering from the pandemic, the federal government allocated three waves of funding through its Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) package. Massachusetts received over $2.9 billion in ESSER funding that districts have largely allocated for academic remediation programs, such as high-dosage tutoring, summer learning programs, and after-school remedial instruction. This paper reviews these short-term learning loss recovery interventions. Evidence from this review indicates that while these popular learning loss interventions are underpinned by a strong research base, they are difficult to extend to all students and may be unsustainable after one-time federal relief funding is exhausted. To consider long-run policy responses, this paper examines differentiated teacher compensation, permanently extended instructional time, family engagement programs, and college, career, and technical education initiatives as potential strategies for sustaining student success in Massachusetts. Research suggests that if well-designed, these approaches hold promise for not only supporting learning loss recovery efforts but also creating a foundation for continued academic growth over the long run.
Descriptors: Academic Achievement, Trend Analysis, COVID-19, Pandemics, Elementary Secondary Education, Emergency Programs, Federal Aid, Grants, School Districts, Remedial Instruction, Intervention, Scheduling, Compensation (Remuneration), State Policy, Family Involvement, Teacher Salaries, Distance Education, Educational Change, National Competency Tests, Tutoring, Summer Programs, Scores, After School Programs
Pioneer Institute for Public Policy Research. 185 Devonshire Street, Boston, MA 02110. Tel: 617-723-2277; Web site: http://www.pioneerinstitute.org
Publication Type: Reports - Evaluative
Education Level: Elementary Secondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: Pioneer Institute for Public Policy Research
Identifiers - Location: Massachusetts
Identifiers - Laws, Policies, & Programs: Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund
Identifiers - Assessments and Surveys: National Assessment of Educational Progress
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A