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Many at-risk students fall behind academically with learning loss, leading to even more significant mental health issues. Schools will face difficulty addressing these issues for a few reasons:
- Schools are not equipped with enough mental health professionals to address immediate needs.
- Schools are attempting to combat learning loss with 1:1 tutors (we’ll dive into that more below), and this additional instruction time can contribute to anxiety and depression in students.
- Schools are understaffed and facing teacher shortages, so your first line of defense for mental health intervention is strained. Schools must find ways to retain teachers and improve job quality to have their most crucial child advocates working directly with students and forming meaningful relationships.
Key Takeaway: School districts must prioritize mental health with students through purposeful social-emotional learning. The best way to deliver this is through teachers who have relationships with students. Schools must address the strain on teachers’ time so that whole-child learning can happen on an ongoing basis.
Data-Informed Decision Making Is Possible For All Stakeholders
The last decade of education has taught educators that data is valuable and there are infinite ways to collect data. There is a disconnect between school leaders and teachers on this. Over 80% of teachers believe in data’s usefulness in identifying needs and taking action.
The problem is that most teachers believe there needs to be more data and more ways for educators to synthesize it to make informed decisions in their classrooms. (Two out of three educators agree with the previous statement.)
There are two ways for teachers to make sense of data to inform decision-making in the classroom:
- Teachers must be included in data analysis from the top down. This means that data analysis that occurs with district leaders needs to include teachers.
- Teachers need to take a more active role in designing measurable formative assessments in the classroom using tech tools that gather data on student progress.
Key Takeaway: Teachers have difficulty incorporating data into the classroom because there’s too much data, and they can’t synthesize it. Make data more accessible to teachers.
Tiered Instruction Will Replace Response To Intervention (RTI)
In a 2022 study, 80% of districts report using a form of tiered instruction to address learning loss. Here’s what that typically looks like inside a school:
- A student receives instruction from their classroom teacher. Teachers gather data from assessments and measure mastery.
- From there, differentiation or remediation occurs. This often looks like a different practice activity or even a reteaching activity.
- Formal remediation occurs if growth isn’t occurring after the first two tiers.
On paper, this is a fail-safe method for districts to employ. The problem is that the nation is grappling with widespread learning loss. We have large percentages of students going to tier two.
Tier one– classroom instruction— must be strengthened so fewer students go into the higher tiers.
Key Takeaway: The tiered instruction model is breaking down due to widespread learning loss. Many students require intervention and remediation. Addressing learning loss in the classroom can free resources for high-need students who need remediation and intervention. Teachers can leverage tech tools to do more during instruction time.
Educators Are Pushed To A Breaking Point Due To Teacher Shortages
Teachers are the best professionals to address learning loss. They know their students, have strategies for addressing learning loss, and are on the frontline daily in schools. But the biggest issue facing learning loss is keeping the best and most experienced teachers in the field.
The numbers don’t lie, according to the National Education Associate (NEA):
- 55% of educators say they are ready to leave the profession
- 74% of teachers report that they have to take over other staff member’s responsibilities due to the shortage
As more teachers leave the field, the teacher shortage makes the work current teachers do more challenging. Teachers are forced to cover other classes by giving up their planning and study halls. Their ability to work with students one-on-one becomes diminished.
Key Takeaway: Teachers that stay in education are overworked from the ongoing teacher shortage. Districts need to provide support to teachers so that they can reduce teacher burnout.
Tutoring For Learning Loss Is Resource Heavy
Students are an average of 4-5 months behind in math in reading due to disrupted learning from the pandemic. On top of this, 35% of parents are concerned about their child’s mental health. Students all over the country face enormous odds, and school districts must take an active approach to address learning loss.
One popular method states and districts are leaning on is tutoring for learning loss. Many states, like Louisiana and Texas, are developing tutoring that happens within the school day. This requires pulling out students for tutoring, increasing staffing, and giving students high-dosage tutoring. By doing it within the school day, states find they have greater control. Students are already at school, and therefore they must attend.
This method seems like a no-brainer, but in today’s school conditions, school leaders will struggle to implement this model. Here are a few reasons why:
- Teaching and staff shortage: Districts are already struggling to staff their current schools with their typical staff. Adding tutors who are skilled enough to address learning loss is a big ask for many communities.
- Learning loss is too widespread: Learning loss is so widespread that entire school populations would need to attend tutoring. Then it becomes a classroom.
Key Takeaway: Districts need to prioritize tutoring for the most at-risk students. The rest of the students can benefit from classrooms running more efficiently. Teachers know their students best, and they can quickly address student deficiencies with data in the everyday classroom.
READ MORE: Tutoring For Learning Loss
READ MORE: Texas STAAR Tutoring For Learning Loss