Researchers find learning losses may be compounded for students due to summer break and COVID-19

by

Desare Frazier

• Published on May 5, 2021 • Comments

Victor Lang receive computer wipe and Ipad for daughter at Eastside Elementary, Clinton, March 2020
AP/Julio Cortez

Summer learning loss is always a concern as Mississippi students take an extended break from academics. This year students have had to adapt to virtual learning and other changes because of the coronavirus. Parents can help shore-up their kids comprehension over the summer.

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This year Mississippi students are not only facing the usual month or two of academic learning loss common after the summer break, they also missed months of school in 2020 and had to adjust to virtual learning this year because of COVID 19. Delta State University Professor Temika Simmons says the learning loss is true for all students, but worse for Black, Latino and low-income children.

"Often times their learning gains are lesser than their white counterparts. And then over the summer the learning loss is greater, so they're learning less than their white counterparts and then they're losing more over the summer," said Simmons.

Simmons points out the greatest learning loss is in reading and math. Over the summer, she says parents can read with their children and ask them questions about the material. She adds let them figure out the tax on purchases at the store. Von Gordon is with the William Winter Institute for Racial Reconciliation in Jackson. He says their summer program engages students through history and visiting significant sites.

"From a social and emotional perspective, they move into the next school year stronger, with a greater understanding of their own resilience
and their own ability to kind of weather storms and frankly their schools and their community's ability to do that," said Gordon. The Mississippi Department of Education has a listing of summer enrichment programs for families on its website.