A recent study conducted by the University of Nebraska-Lincoln shows up to almost 12 million of the nation’s elementary school students lost out on between four and 22 weeks of teaching out of the school year because of the pandemic.
Assistant professor in UNL’s Department of Special Education and Communication Disorders, Jessica Namkung said due to a lack of resources, regular internet access, and parental support, students are falling more behind in school.
"We know that time out of school like summer break, results in minimal progress or even a decline in student achievement," Namkung said. "A lot of times that negative effect is more severe for students from vulnerable backgrounds."
Preliminary results show during school closures, 43% of English language learners did not receive accommodations and only half of students with learning disabilities had remote learning opportunities.