Poor Kids Not Getting Online Instruction
Almost overnight, the jobs of a lot of working-class parents and grandparents were shut down. Thanks to COVID-19, many were thrust into new roles—to replace their child’s teachers. This new role has added to the stress and strain already created by the virus.
We know that students are not showing up for the online classes. From the U.S. Census and other sources, we also know that most of them do not have internet services or computers at home. How is this situation–well-known before the pandemic—being addressed in our struggling communities?
My concern is that given the lack of access to instructional resources, along with the mental and educational capacity of many poor and working-class families, this current semester will be a critical setback. Students coming from impoverished homes struggle academically without a nasty virus on the scene. If there is no summer school to make up for the loss of second semester, we can count on the academic achievement gap widening.
If there is no summer school to make up for the loss of second semester, we can count on the academic achievement gap widening.
If there is no summer school to make up for the loss of second semester, we can count on the academic achievement gap widening.
Significant research has been done on the backsliding of poor students during the summer break. While parents with resources enroll their kids in computer camps, thespian teams, sports leagues or travel aboard, too many poor kids spend hours watching TV or playing outside unsupervised. Any instructional gains made during the first semester are doomed.
Research over decades indicate the learning loss increases with age so that by middle school, these students are experiencing 35-50 percent decreases in reading and math. School districts should be thinking about interventions right now. The interventions cannot be just about the academics.
We know who the haves and have nots are and it’s not always about race. A Pew research study CONTINUE READING: Poor Kids Not Getting Online Instruction - LA Progressive