December 1, 2021
The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted the education of students in Illinois and around the nation. Illinois state and district leaders wanted to better understand how student learning changed during the pandemic. Regional Educational Laboratory (REL) Midwest, at the request of the Illinois State Board of Education, conducted a study that examines data from 17 Illinois school districts over five years, including four years prior to the pandemic, to measure how student learning changed in fall 2020 relative to fall terms prior to the pandemic. The study demonstrates how learning changed in both mathematics and reading for students in grades 3—8, as well as how these changes varied across student characteristics and district size. This video provides an overview of the study design, key findings, and considerations for future research. The video also features the perspectives of researchers, state leaders, and district leaders, who discuss the importance of understanding what learning changes occurred in Illinois.
To learn more, read the full report and companion infographic.