Publications

Is it Safe to Reopen Schools?

John Bailey, March 2021

One year after nationwide public school closures, a growing body of medical research and firsthand experiences of school systems worldwide can provide a sound basis for determining a reopening strategy. This report examines the collective findings of more than 120 studies and considers their implications for current decisions.

These studies cover a wide array of topics, including risks for children, transmissibility concerns, and the impact of school reopenings on community spread.

Watch the press panel with John Bailey.

A synthesis of new student surveys that have come out during the 2020–21 school year suggests that while online instruction appears to have improved since the start of the pandemic, students are truly struggling to stay motivated and to have a healthy mental state of mind.

Lisa Chu, Robin Lake

March 2021

Failing grades are on the rise across the country, especially for students who are learning online. This synthesis offers a national scan of news reports and school district documents, combined with data from educator surveys.

Betheny Gross, editor

January 2021

The pandemic has put unprecedented demands on teachers, who were asked to pivot instruction to the cloud and find new ways of connecting with families and students. Julia Kaufman and Melissa Diliberti offer fresh evidence on how teachers are faring as they navigate these unprecedented times.

Julia Kaufman
Melissa Diliberti

January 2021

College enrollment data and student surveys paint a troubling picture about postsecondary transitions during COVID-19. How can states respond?

Georgia Heyward and Sarah McCann looked at college enrollment data from the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center and 13 student perception surveys from the spring and summer to understand college-going patterns during the pandemic.

Georgia Heyward
Sarah McCann

December 2020

Putting parents at the center of school reopening: Highlights from COVID-19 parent surveys

Ashley Jochim, Padma Gundapaneni, and Cara Pangelinan set out to understand parents' attitudes about school reopening and the impacts of school closures on their children's well-being, as well as how families are adjusting their plans in response to school closures.

They find a majority of parents consistently favor some in-person learning, but support for fully in-person learning dropped significantly over the summer amid rising case counts and public health fears.

Ashley Jochim
Padma Gundapaneni
Cara Pangelinan

November 2020

Matching Supports to Student Needs: Survey results highlight where schools, policymakers can help

With the October wave of nationally representative Understanding America Study survey data of 1,335 households over time, Anna Saavedra, Amie Rapaport, and Dan Silver describe the emerging picture of who remote K-12 learners are and what resources are available to them.

Together, these data show how the gaps in computer access, childcare, and academic support can exacerbate educational inequity. Policymakers and school system leaders should focus their attention on improvements in each of these areas, particularly for lower-income households.

Anna Saavedra
Amie Rapaport
Dan Silver

November 2020

Learning as We Go: Principles for Effective Assessment During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Robin Lake and Lynn Olson summarize the findings from a panel of assessment experts on diagnostic assessments and their role in helping educators and parents support student learning. The panel is part of the Evidence Project at CRPE.

This paper outlines steps districts and schools can take as they approach testing this fall. (July 2020)

Robin Lake
Lynn Olson

July 2020