U.S. Faces ‘School Attendance and Graduation Crises’
This is our weekly update on the pandemic, verified by John Bailey. To access the complete archive, please click here.
Top Story of the Week
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The United States is grappling with a "crisis" in school attendance and graduation rates, according to a report by the nonprofit organization Attendance Works. Chronic absence, which refers to missing 10% or more of school days, has significantly increased since 2019, with many states experiencing two to threefold rises. The highest levels of chronic absence are seen in low-income and minority students, who have also been disproportionately affected by the pandemic.
Daniel Domenech, the executive director of the American Association of School Administrators, states that "almost 10% of the school population seems to have disappeared." In order to address this issue, Hedy Chang, the founder and executive director of Attendance Works, suggests that states should adopt common standards for measuring attendance, invest in data quality, establish expanded metrics, and publish disaggregated data. This will make the data more meaningful and useful for allocating resources and identifying best practices in the future.
Paige Kowalski of the Data Quality Campaign emphasizes that solutions will vary from school to school and family to family, and some may not be entirely within the control of schools until COVID-19 becomes less of a prominent factor. However, regardless of the reasons behind a student’s absence, it is crucial to simply acknowledge that they did not attend school.
The Big Three – July 15, 2022
Americans Reflect on the Nation’s COVID-19 Response
According to a survey by the Pew Research Center, a majority of both Republicans (69%) and Democrats (57%) believe that the country has not prioritized the educational needs of K-12 students enough. However, opinions are mixed when it comes to whether the country has given the right amount of priority to protecting public health. 43% believe that the level of priority is appropriate, while 34% believe it has been insufficient, and 21% believe it has been excessive.
These findings reflect two contrasting viewpoints on the nation’s response to the pandemic. Republicans feel that the country has not focused enough on business concerns and individual choices, while Democrats are more concerned about protecting public health and minimizing risks for vulnerable populations.
COVID Learning Loss Has Had Devastating Global Consequences
When the COVID-19 pandemic first emerged, it was reasonable to suspend regular education in order to take precautionary measures. However, the disruptions to education persisted long after it became clear how the virus spread in classrooms, how young people were affected, and their likelihood of transmitting the virus to older generations.
Extended school closures have had a detrimental effect on children’s ability to learn how to read. Before the pandemic, the World Bank reported that 57% of 10-year-olds in low and middle-income countries could not read a simple story. This figure is now estimated to have risen to 70%. In Latin America, which is one of the worst-affected regions, the percentage of 10-year-olds who cannot read could increase from around 50% to 80%.
Many countries around the world kept schools closed for an excessively long period. A study conducted by the World Bank, Harvard, and the Brookings Institution examined 35 studies on learning loss from 20 mostly affluent countries. The average learning loss equaled the amount of material typically covered in one-third to one-half of a regular school year.
UNICEF reports that a quarter of countries still have no plans for catch-up education, and fewer than half of governments have developed national strategies to address this issue. Children from disadvantaged backgrounds are at a greater disadvantage in terms of recovering the lost learning time compared to their wealthier peers.
Despite the urgency of the situation, it may take up to six months to fully implement a new national tutoring effort to address the learning loss caused by the pandemic.
Federal Updates
Updates from the White House
The White House has announced over $40 billion in investments from the American Rescue Plan to support our workforce. They have also shared their strategies for managing the BA.5 COVID variant during a White House briefing.
Internet for All
The National Telecommunications and Information Administration has confirmed that all states and territories will be participating in the Internet for All initiative, ensuring access to the internet for everyone.
Department of Agriculture
The Department of Agriculture has partnered with 27 states to provide child food benefits for the summer, supporting families in need.
FDA Grants Full Approval to Pfizer COVID Vaccine for Ages 12-15
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted full approval to the Pfizer COVID vaccine for ages 12-15. This decision was made after a thorough analysis of safety and effectiveness data. The vaccine was previously approved for use in individuals aged 16 and older.
City & State News
Oklahoma
Governor Kevin Stitt has called for a special audit of the Tulsa Public Schools, alleging mishandling of COVID-19 relief funds and possible violation of state law through the teaching of critical race theory.
Illinois
As the teacher shortage worsens, schools in Illinois are concerned about reopening in the fall.
California
Public health officials in California have provided guidance for the upcoming 2022-23 K-12 school year, stating that there will be no mask requirement for students or staff.
Colorado
A report has found that the rate of Colorado students going to college directly after high school has decreased, and those who do go are less prepared. Additionally, participation in high school programs offering college experience has remained stagnant.
Hawaii
Indoor masks at Hawaii public schools will be optional.
Idaho
Parents with incomes at or below $60,000 per year can apply for grants this summer, created by the Idaho State Board of Education, to assist with their children’s education.
COVID-19 Research
An Update on Variants
Katelyn Jetelina provides an update on variants:
– In Europe, the BA.4/5 variant is causing a surge in cases. Hospitalizations in Portugal have peaked and are declining, but other European countries are still experiencing an increase.
– In the U.K., hospitalizations for both COVID-19 and other conditions are rising consistently since the first Omicron wave.
– The BA.2.75 variant carries eight additional mutations on the spike protein compared to BA.2, including two mutations of concern: G446S and R493Q. G446S is located at a potent site for antibody escape. The impact of BA.2.75 will depend on a person’s infection history.
– The conversation around booster shots becomes interesting with the emergence of BA.2.75. The FDA recently authorized a vaccine for the BA.4/5 variant, but some argue that the original vaccine for the BA.1 variant may be more effective against BA.2.75. However, constantly chasing variants is not a sustainable solution. The goal should be to broaden protection, which an Omicron vaccine can achieve regardless of the circulating subvariant.
Moderna Omicron Shots
Moderna is developing two vaccine candidates for the Omicron variant. One is designed specifically for the BA.1 variant, and the other targets the BA.4 and BA.5 variants.
Approved At-Home Test for COVID and Influenza
The FDA has approved a combination at-home test for COVID and influenza in children, just in time for flu season. This will provide convenience and ease for testing at home.
Kids Have Stronger COVID-19 Antibody Response Than Adults
A new study published in JAMA has found that children under 3 years old develop higher levels of binding antibodies compared to adults over 18 years old.
Viewpoints and Resources
National School Pulse Survey
Strategies for Promoting Health in Buildings
Insights from The Lancet COVID-19 Commission Task Force on Ensuring Safety in Workplaces, Schools, and Travel: The Primary Four Approaches for Creating Healthier Buildings to Mitigate COVID-19 Risks
Over 50% of Parents Likely to Comply with Pediatrician’s Recommendation for COVID-19 Vaccination
According to a study published in Academic Pediatrics, "More than 30% of respondents across all demographics agreed with the notion that COVID-19 vaccines may have lasting health implications for their children."
Recovering Education After the COVID-19 Pandemic
As stated by the OECD, "Although children have been less susceptible to the effects of COVID-19, no group has been as profoundly impacted by the public policies implemented to contain the virus. Recent evidence highlights the detrimental effects of prolonged school closures on children’s cognitive, social, and emotional well-being. Not only does the significant loss of learning time deprive children of valuable educational and interpersonal experiences with teachers and peers, but it also has long-term consequences for individuals and society as a whole, such as limited job prospects, reduced income, and decreased economic productivity. Importantly, data from surveys conducted by the OECD, UNESCO, UNICEF, and the World Bank indicate no correlation between the extent of school closures and COVID-19 infection rates across different countries. This demonstrates that school closures were not an unavoidable outcome, but rather a policy decision often influenced by a lack of institutional capacity to effectively balance educational provision with health and safety."
…And an Uplifting Message
Duke Women’s Basketball
"Strive to overcome challenges with resilience and strength. pic.twitter.com/JhkGCRg8o7— Duke Women’s Basketball (@DukeWBB) July 5, 2022
"Be someone who copes with difficulties more effectively.""In life, we often wait for things to become easier.""However, they rarely do. Instead, we learn to navigate and handle challenges better.""Therefore, strive to become the kind of person who manages adversity gracefully instead of passively waiting for an easy path.""Because if you are engaged in a meaningful pursuit, it will never be effortless."
ICYMI @The74
Weekend Reads: In case you missed them, here are our top stories of the week:
New Research: Black Students in Special Education Subjected to Higher Rates of Disciplinary Actions During the Pandemic
74 Interview: Harvard Economist Offers Grim Prediction Regarding Recovering from Pandemic-Induced Learning Loss
Resource: Education Researcher Develops Free Summer Reading Program for Parents
For more information on COVID policies and education updates, subscribe to John Bailey’s daily brief via Substack.
Disclosure: John Bailey is a consultant to the Walton Family Foundation, which provides financial support to .
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