Veera Korhonen
Research expert covering United States data for society
Coronavirus: impact on education in the U.S. - Statistics & Facts
The COVID-19 outbreak has impacted every part of society in the United States, from the economy to healthcare. One of the most vital parts of society that has been affected is education. Every state followed different protocols when COVID-19 forced schools to adjust their teaching methods, with most states having no school closure order in effect as of May 2021, with decisions made on a local level with recommendations provided by the state. Since the start of the 2020-21 school year, the number of K-12 schools teaching virtually has significantly decreased.
People who are in favor of reopening schools claim that there are several major issues that schools need to address when switching to virtual learning, as it hurt disadvantaged students the most. Students with disabilities don’t have the same opportunities at home when compared to in-school. Furthermore, technology access varies by student. Not all students have access to computers and tablets to further their education.
Moving education online
Despite efforts made by the government to protect kids and their families from the COVID-19 virus, virtual learning has faced many criticisms. Those working in education have shared concerns about school closures, claiming that disadvantaged children will lose out the most on learning. The learning loss due to the shift to online learning is expected to cause students to learn less income annually overall, with Black students being the most affected.People who are in favor of reopening schools claim that there are several major issues that schools need to address when switching to virtual learning, as it hurt disadvantaged students the most. Students with disabilities don’t have the same opportunities at home when compared to in-school. Furthermore, technology access varies by student. Not all students have access to computers and tablets to further their education.
Will children fall behind?
However, regardless of income level, many parents have shared concerns that their children will fall behind in school due to disruptions caused by COVID-19. Not only did most parents share the same concerns about their children falling behind, but most parents were also in favor of in-person schooling regardless of working status. A majority of Republicans were in favor of completely reopening schools, with Democrats favoring only a partial reopening. Arguments for keeping schools closed include that it will slow the spread of the virus, as educators and staff are more susceptible to the virus in comparison to the students. Additionally, faculty and staff have families at home who are high-risk for the virus.
