About a year later from when the COVID-19 pandemic began in the United States, students and teachers both are still struggling with the effects of the virus. School districts across the nation are planning for the 2021-22 school year and having to address and find solutions for their losses in equitable education.
Congress’s latest COVID-19 relief proposal would require districts to use at least 20% of their aid to address the loss of learning in their schools through programs like summer school. Some districts, such as Atlanta Public Schools, are considering making summer school mandatory to help students who have suffered setbacks in their education as a result of the pandemic.
“The data on the amount of unfinished instruction that students will have from school closures is just so significant, particularly for our most vulnerable students,” Allison Socol of the Education Trust told KQED.
By not investing in summer school programs now, it can be more costly to the education of students in the long run.
Summer school is one of the best options for catching students back up since they can still be in a class with a teacher and receive personalized instruction. But, schools must be careful to not overwork teachers on top of the extra work they’ve had to put in for the past year due to the pandemic.
The New York Daily News advised for summer school sessions to be morning-only and that districts should hire college students to support teachers and help make their work less strenuous.
Teachers must be just as supported during this period as students are. If a school’s teachers are too exhausted to continue into the summer, districts can still invest in equity in their classes with their relief funding through alternative methods.
Proximity Learning specializes in and offers live instruction for students who have fallen behind or don’t have access to the quality education they deserve. We connect students with high-quality teachers through live video technology where they can interact and receive personalized guidance in real-time.
With students across the nation falling behind due to the challenges of COVID-19, it’s more important now than ever for districts to invest in bringing equity back to their schools. To do so, students need instruction where their individual learning needs are met.
To ensure that students have accessible options to learn the way they need to, Proximity Learning also offers accredited, self-paced K-12 courses during the summer. From Advanced Placement to elective classes, we can help students recover and earn the credits they need at their convenience.
Through summer school, districts can help all children regain access to lost services and catch up on skills they need to progress. With a great need to focus on equity in education across the nation due to the pandemic, Proximity Learning is here to help students, teachers and schools recover and succeed.
