You will likely begin seeing news articles about the recently released report from McKinsey & Co with their analysis of students' unfinished learning in the 20-21 school year. I just read it, and I wanted to provide you with a link to the full report because it is a detailed report based on data analysis and survey results with good explanations of how they came to their conclusions. Media outlets will attempt to distill it down to the most enticing soundbites and headlines, which you know are not always accurate representations. If you're interested in this issue and have a few minutes, this report is worth a skim.
Statements that struck me included emphasis on the fact that the pandemic exacerbated existing problems in our education system and that many parents are concerned not just about their children's academic growth but also their mental health. In addition, the report concludes that unfinished learning was less severe in rural and suburban schools as well as majority-white schools compared to schools with more students of color and low-income students.
The report recommends four priority actions for school districts and includes details for each one:
Safely reopen schools for in-person learning.
Reengage students and reenroll them into effective learning environments.
Support students in recovering unfinished learning and broader needs.
Recommit and reimagine our education systems for the long term.
Pequannock is in a strong position with regard to numbers 1 & 2, as our schools have been open for in-person learning since the beginning of September, 2021 and our teachers and administrators have been focused on improving the effectiveness of all of their learning environments. We have started work toward the third priority with our summer acceleration program and will continue that work throughout the next year. Reimagining our education system for the long term is a huge effort that requires input at all levels and support for public education in our community, statewide and nationwide.