Public Strategies

The coronavirus pandemic led to substantial unfinished learning in math and an important debate about how best to address it. Traditionally, policymakers and educators have advocated a "broad foundation skill building" approach, which systematically reteaches all below-grade content where there are knowledge gaps. "Just-in-time skill building" has received attention more recently, including in the U.S. Department of Education's <a href="https://www2.ed.gov/documents/coronavirus/reopening-2.pdf

College application and financial aid processes are complicated and can be barriers to entry, particularly for those not coming directly from high school. The U.S. Department of Education-funded Educational Opportunity Centers (EOCs) work with low income or potential first-generation college goers to address these barriers. The EOCs, mostly drop-in offices at colleges and community-based organizations, typically operate with a small cadre of staff and are required to serve a large number of in