State education report finds pandemic learning loss
The state Department of Education released its Condition of Education in Connecticut report for the 2020-21, which revealed that while graduation rates continue to rise, evidence was found of learning loss caused by the pandemic.
The Condition of Education in Connecticut is a yearly status report that analyzes the quality and progress of the public education system. It includes aspects like student and educator demographics, student performance and engagement, and student readiness for college and careers.
The report is compiled and published annually by state education officials including Education Department Commissioner Charlene M. Russell-Tucker, who said in the report that COVID-19 most definitely affected education.
“The COVID-19 pandemic has broadly affected all areas of human life including education,” Russell-Tucker said in the report.
One effect the pandemic had on education was forcing districts to implement different learning models, many including fully remote or hybrid education. Many districts changed their learning models as the year went on.
According to the report, students that learned inperson during the 2020-21 school year “lost the least ground academically,” while those who learned in hybrid or remote models showed “substantially weaker achievement and growth during the pandemic.”
This fact was consistent across all grade levels and nearly all demographics. It was true for all subjects, and was most significant in mathematics.
While graduation rates increased to just under 90 percent, and remain higher than the national average, the percentage of ninth-grade students who were on track to graduate was the lowest in the past seven years.
Additionally, performance on college and career readiness benchmark exams declined. This includes the SAT, ACT, and advanced placement or international baccalaureate exams.
The percentage of the state’s 11th- and 12th-graders who met the benchmark on these exams declined through the pandemic from 42.6 percent in 2018-19 to 36.0 percent in 2020-21.
“This is another indication of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on student performance,” education officials said in the report.
Chronic absenteeism was another issue that was exacerbated by the pandemic. Chronic absenteeism is defined as missing 10 percent or more of the school year for any reason. This was measured slightly differently than in past years to account for different learning models.
The chronic absenteeism rate increased by 55 percent, from 12.2 percent in 2019-20 to 19.0 percent in 2020-21.
School enrollment continued to decline, but by a faster rate in the 2020-21 school year.
Enrollment declined by 14,750 students, just under three percent, from the prior year.
Adult education enrollment also declined sharper than usual, dropping 37 percent from 16,660 students in 2019-20 to 10,494 in 202021.
There were some positives identified in the report, as well.
The percentage of nonwhite educators has increased from 8.1 percent in 2014-15 to 10 percent in 202021, edging closer to matching the demographics of the student population.
The percentage of nonwhite students in the state increased to just over 50 percent in 2020-21.
Increases occurred in the percentage of students with disabilities, with 16.3 percent of students now receiving special education and related services.
The Condition of Education in Connecticut report can be viewed in full on the state department of education website.